What Is A Realistic Income For A Stay At Home Mom?
Imagine a job where when duty calls you have to be on point. Up and ready for the days up and down in’s and out and whatever twist and turns can occur and believe me they will. You have to be willing to roll your sleeves up and get down to the nitty gritty. You cant be afraid to get dirty or smelly. And guess what? This is the life of everyday stay at home moms.
A lot of people ask what is a realistic income for a stay at home mom? Some people may argue whether or not it is a real job. You know since there are no benefits, no breaks, no benefits or paid vacations. But, in my point of view it is a real job. It is just as demanding as any other job if not more. Instead of your boss sitting in his office behind a desk barking orders at everyone that passes by. Your boss is crawling around between your legs pulling at your clothes, whining, crying, demanding more attention all while your are cooking, cleaning, handling finances, paying bills, organizing the family vacation, managing the grocery list, checking email, doing laundry, organizing clothes, preparing a dinner plan, making space for you other to come home from school or daycare so they can do their homework, etc, etc, etc…
So still think its a easy job and anyone can do it. Guarantee take a corporate woman so use to hanging out with her friends at lunch and taking coffee breaks and enjoying her little chats with her co-workers and put her to stay at home with her kids for one day and she will go back to her office running. This is not a job for the weak or as I like to say quick quitter. This is a lifetime position.
Before we can begin to consider a realistic income for stay-at-home moms, let’s consider a few more of the realities of the position. What gets done or doesn’t get done, remains in place into the following day. This is a one-woman operation! All decisions rest on mom, severely guided by the little ones. There is no one to ask for a day off, or to request early leave. Everything revolves around the care and needs of the children.
Stay-at-home moms really provide services performed in a multitude of other professions outside the home. From housekeeper, to problem-solver, through cook, hairdresser, waitress, banker, accountant, handyman, the list of services provided are endless. And add on top of all these, the role of wife. In many ways, it’s a hands-on learning experience. And each day brings it’s own unique set of experiences from which to learn.
In comparison, clock-punching might seem much better to some people. Stay-at-home moms have no set hours, everyday is a deadline, and the attire for the position isn’t from some expensive designer. Half of what is planned never gets done, at least not today, perhaps tomorrow. But for those who delight in this life opportunity, the clothing is comfortable, practical, and the hours are time well spent.
Perhaps some think it possible to perform typical job duties to enhance the income of the household while at home with children. However, the reality is that in all likelihood, the income that might be earned would be less than it would cost to pay another for childcare for the entire week. The time it would take to earn anything substantial while being a stay-at-home mom would hardly be worth it. Stay-at-home moms learn that five minutes to relax with a good cup of tea takes precedence over any amount of money they could earn in those sacred five minutes that come too seldom.
So what is a realistic income for a stay at home mom? To me is should be about 15,000 a year more or less depending how many kids you have. Sure we don’t have to spend money on 10 dollar lattes or 50 lunch plates. But are we not entitled to go out every once in a while and feel like we are more than just a mom. And get our nails and hair done and buy something special to make us feel like the woman we deserved to be seen as for we are the ones that are caring for our future doctors lawyers web site designers maybe even the next president who knows. All of us stay at home moms agree the best payment come from seeing our kids grow up everyday right before our very eyes. Knowing that we were the one that taught them how to walk and talk and be the tiny little person they are. But hey a salary wouldn’t hurt right? All those that agree let me hear you.