Make Motherhood Great Again
by Victoria Manning
Since 1975, 30 percent more mothers of children under age 6 choose outside employment during key developmental years.
More children today are being raised by strangers than their own family. In 2023, 74 percent of mothers with children under 18 and 69 percent under age 6 were in the workforce. Those statistics are up significantly from 1975 when 55 percent with children under 18 and 39 percent under age 6 were employed.
Motherhood isn't easy, especially in households without extended family close by to provide support. It's exhausting both physically and emotionally—yet it's ultimately the most rewarding career on the planet.
It's estimated the equivalent salary of work done by a full-time mom would be $140,315 in 2024. Yet there is no dollar value that can be placed on the daily love only a mother can give her children that nurtures them to be successful men and women. The bond moms have after carrying our son or daughter living inside us for 9 months is irreplaceable.
Unfortunately, over the last several decades society has placed a stigma on "stay-at-home" mothers. The media propaganda message is if you're a woman the only way to be successful is to break the so-called glass ceiling. I've heard mothers belittle themselves when asked what they do. The response is all too often, "I'm just a mom."
Let's Look At the Important Job of "Just a Mom."
Language Instructor: Mothers teach their children intricacies of language—how to properly form a sound, then a word, and then a sentence. The feeling of hearing a child's first words and being able to communicate with them is beyond expression.
Spiritual Advisor: Mothers instruct their children about God and faith in many ways. Reading a children's Bible, exploring nature and God's creation, even explaining how God made them in His image. Most importantly, moms teach about God through their love and actions.
Coach: Instructing your child how to hold a spoon, how to stand, or take their first steps is so rewarding. Tossing a ball, playing hide and seek, or learning to swim are milestones I wouldn't want to miss.
Medical Provider: A mother nurturing her child when they are sick physically or emotionally is a task that provides a secure foundation for a child's growth.
In addition to these roles, moms are chefs, chauffeurs, financial managers, and more.
Of course, dads are imperative in the life of their children. God created men and women differently and to serve in different roles. The father can provide the safety and financial security for the family so a mother can focus on raising and nurturing their children. Being the breadwinner for a family is no small task and can be a heavy burden to carry. A father's role is no less important than a mother’s.
The intention here is not to belittle working moms, but to show value in those who choose a career raising their children. I have plenty of friends who are moms employed outside the home who have successfully raised children. The problem is in a world that values money over family, the stay-at-home-mom is not regarded as successful.
It wasn't easy being a college educated mother using my degree to change diapers, wipe snotty noses, and referee sibling fights. There were days I envied my friends who had successful careers and were able to participate in daily adult conversations. Now that my sons are successful young adults, I have no regrets that my husband and I sacrificed an income so I could be their full-time caretaker and teacher.
Motherhood is perhaps the most important yet underappreciated job in the world. Let's change the stigma and make mothers proud to proclaim, "I'm a stay-at-home mom!" Let's Make Motherhood Great Again.