For Moms who don't work...fabulous.

[ABSTRUSE]

Stay-At-Home Moms Deserve High Pay, Analysis Shows By Jessica Wohl




NEW YORK (Reuters) - The old adage that "a mother's work is never done" remains as true now as ever. Today's stay-at-home Moms are learning what their predecessors always knew -- they'd be making a lot of money doing their job outside the home.

Just in time for Mother's Day, an informal study conducted by Web site Salary.com shows that stay-at-home moms would earn an average of $131,471 annually, including overtime, if they received a paycheck.

A sampling of the 5.4 million stay-at-home mothers were asked to come up with job titles that fit a general description of their daily routines.

The titles -- which reflected the most time-consuming parts of their day -- include day-care center teacher, van driver, housekeeper, cook, chief executive officer, nurse and general maintenance worker, the survey showed.

Of course, a stay-at-home parent does not work typical office hours. The hypothetical median salary is based on a 100-hour work week and assumes caring for at least two children of school age.

"The importance of this calculation or this estimate is just calling attention to the fact that being a stay-at-home mom is not a cop out, it's not the woman's way out of the workforce and it's not a job of no value," said Bill Coleman, senior vice president of compensation at Salary.com. "There is a lot of value there, and some would say it's even priceless."

Salary.com, which tracks what jobs pay, suggested that the annual base pay for a 40-hour stay-at-home mom's workweek would be $43,461. Mothers would earn an additional $88,009 a year for 60 hours of overtime each week.

"I think I should definitely make that much," said Joanna Butti, who stays at home to care for her twin boys. "It's a hard job."

Coleman said feedback on the figure was mixed. Some felt mothers deserved more, some less. In general, though, many were pleased to see a figure above $100,000.

"Stay-at-home moms are enthusiastic and upbeat about their jobs, they didn't seem to need external validation," Coleman told Reuters. "They were also happy that they were getting attention, and that somebody was out there telling the world that what they do is valuable, and perhaps more valuable than one would expect."

Mothers said you cannot attach a figure to the time spent with their kids.

"I'm giving 150 percent of myself to them many hours a day," said Debra Miley, who stays home with two-year old daughter Olivia and four-month old son Gregory. "You cannot attach a dollar value to the time that you spend nurturing your child if you're lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom."

 

[sophia jane]

Thanks for posting that Abs. I'm a stay at home mom, and I needed that reminder of my worth.

SJ

 

[gauchecritic]

This type of survey comes up every so often and never once does it mention the father, the fact that the job is all found, no health and safety laws to adhere to, no weekly staff meetings, complete and utter freedom of whether you actually do the job you're supposed to do, all the sub-contracting, and never, ever (unlike the song "No Charge") never once do they mention the priceless reward of unconditional love.

 

[Dar~]

Hell Yes!

 

[BlackSnake]

What about the moms that do less than an awsome job....the minority of stay at home moms.

The baby is still sitting at the breakfast table at 10am in only a diper. Food thrown everywhere; the floor, table, not to mension the baby's hair. And the baby is screaming while the puppy is licking the bottoms of the baby's feet.

The dog's food bowl is knocked over and little Rover has left a present next to the sofa.

This fabulous mom is locked in the bathroom smoking a cigarette talking to her girlfriend about how worthless the man who put her in the $130 thousand dollar home and new SUV complained about the lack of coffee because she was still in bed when he left at 5:30am to beat the morning traffic.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

What about the moms that do less than an awsome job....the minority of stay at home moms.

The baby is still sitting at the breakfast table at 10am in only a diper. Food thrown everywhere; the floor, table, not to mension the baby's hair. And the baby is screaming while the puppy is licking the bottoms of the baby's feet.

The dog's food bowl is knocked over and little Rover has left a present next to the sofa.

This fabulous mom is locked in the bathroom smoking a cigarette talking to her girlfriend about how worthless the man who put her in the $130 thousand dollar home and new SUV complained about the lack of coffee because she was still in bed when he left at 5:30am to beat the morning traffic.

Dump the bitch.
Women like that make it difficult for other women to not become victims...they are an embarassment to other women.

 

[entitled]

This type of survey comes up every so often and never once does it mention the father, the fact that the job is all found, no health and safety laws to adhere to, no weekly staff meetings, complete and utter freedom of whether you actually do the job you're supposed to do, all the sub-contracting, and never, ever (unlike the song "No Charge") never once do they mention the priceless reward of unconditional love.

The father: the one who works outside the home, so is rarely there to help with said job - compared to the lackey go-fer in the office. May not do a whole lot, but sure does help when needed.

No health and safety laws: Myth. If a child is endangered in any way by being unhealthy, neglected, or unsafe, they can be taken. Said mother would lose her job.

Weekly staff meetings: Make it daily and you might get it. Breakfast, lunch, and supper. Not only planned by the mother, but usually made and presented by her as well. Also cleaned up by the mother in many instances, which makes her a janitor on top of everything else.

Complete and utter freedom in actually doing job: See health and safety laws.

Sub-contracting: Extra curricular activities. All before school, after school, and weekend activities that must be planned and executed. For parents with more than one child, this may involve trying to be in three places at once.

Unconditional love: Expires at puberty.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Unconditional love: Expires at puberty.

Expires at age two.

 

[sweetnpetite]

What about the moms that do less than an awsome job....the minority of stay at home moms.

The baby is still sitting at the breakfast table at 10am in only a diper. Food thrown everywhere; the floor, table, not to mension the baby's hair. And the baby is screaming while the puppy is licking the bottoms of the baby's feet.

The dog's food bowl is knocked over and little Rover has left a present next to the sofa.

This fabulous mom is locked in the bathroom smoking a cigarette talking to her girlfriend about how worthless the man who put her in the $130 thousand dollar home and new SUV complained about the lack of coffee because she was still in bed when he left at 5:30am to beat the morning traffic.

1) Most of us have had at least had one [only 1- I wish!] day like that.

2) You'd be suprised by the amount of work that goes into even to the most minimal effort when it comes to being 'mommy'. At the end of the day if the kids are in your custody and alive, there's a good chance you've 'earned your keep.'

3) If they had to pay us for the guilt we feel, or are often made to feel that we should feel whenever we take *any* time for ourselves, they just couldn't afford us. Even when we're 'off' we're not 'off'- we're not allowed.

4) If the dog is licking the baby's feet, there's a good chance that the baby is laughing and not screaming. 2 points to the dog for keeping baby amused and getting his little toes clean Neither the dog nor the baby are likely to suffer any ill effects from this change.

ps- At 10am, baby doesn't need to be wearing anything more than a diaper. Unless the heats been turned off, in which case you've got bigger problems.

---I gave myself away didn't I?

 

[cloudy]

This type of survey comes up every so often and never once does it mention the father, the fact that the job is all found, no health and safety laws to adhere to, no weekly staff meetings, complete and utter freedom of whether you actually do the job you're supposed to do, all the sub-contracting, and never, ever (unlike the song "No Charge") never once do they mention the priceless reward of unconditional love.

Who?

Oh, you mean the guy that complains because he might have to spend 30 minutes playing with his son outside when he gets home from work so that I can get supper cooked for him?

The guy that claims that everything in the house, the car I drive, even the clothes I wear are his because I "don't work," and therefore, every penny is his?

You're talking about the guy that sees to it that I have the princely sum of three dollars in my wallet at the moment, no gas in the car, yet knows that my sisters are at my mothers 50 miles away (keep in mind, I see them maybe once every five years), and says, "oh, boo, hoo"?

Are you asking about the guy that has health insurance at work, but won't pay the money so that I and his son have it?

You're talking about that guy?

Oh, yeah, he deserves to be made a saint, for sure.

 

[gauchecritic]

No, no. You misconstrue. I specifically said 'the father' not some guy. Different people altogether.

Sheesh, can't anyone have any fun any more?

 

[sophia jane]

1) Most of us have had at least had one [only 1- I wish!] day like that.

2) You'd be suprised by the amount of work that goes into even to the most minimal effort when it comes to being 'mommy'. At the end of the day if the kids are in your custody and alive, there's a good chance you've 'earned your keep.'

3) If they had to pay us for the guilt we feel, or are often made to feel that we should feel whenever we take *any* time for ourselves, they just couldn't afford us. Even when we're 'off' we're not 'off'- we're not allowed.

4) If the dog is licking the baby's feet, there's a good chance that the baby is laughing and not screaming. 2 points to the dog for keeping baby amused and getting his little toes clean Neither the dog nor the baby are likely to suffer any ill effects from this change.

ps- At 10am, baby doesn't need to be wearing anything more than a diaper. Unless the heats been turned off, in which case you've got bigger problems.

---I gave myself away didn't I?

I am so with you.
We should get paid for the guilt. Or at least get free therapy for it.
My middle child is still in his pajamas at 9:22 am, but then so am I. I don't think this makes me a bad mom, but maybe it does.

And Cloudy- I'm sorry about that guy. Alot of what you said was very familiar.

SJ

 

[entitled]

3) If they had to pay us for the guilt we feel, or are often made to feel that we should feel whenever we take *any* time for ourselves, they just couldn't afford us. Even when we're 'off' we're not 'off'- we're not allowed.

Which is why the cell phone gets turned off whenever i leave the house by myself. If they can't get ahold of me, the guilt trip is delayed until whenever -i- decide would be a good time to get back home. (Haha! Take THAT!!)

i guess i've got it better than most stay at home moms in some areas. my kids still love me unconditionally, despite hurt feelings sometimes. All of them. Even the one that's about to turn 6.

i'm allowed to do "me" things sometimes. A couple of times a year i'm even allowed to go event-ing (SCA style) to weekend events all by my very lonesome. Of course, this came after explaining to both the Husband and the inlaws that it was either time to myself, no strings attached, or admittance into the place where they have lots of people with pretty white coats. The only stipulation attached is that either i set up my merchant booth or i sit in with the henna lady as an apprentice for a while. Can't spend Hubby's money at the event, only what i make while there. Unless He doesn't find out about it.

i also get some help around the house. Hubby does the dishes. The kids like to help measure and stir while i'm cooking. The two older ones try to help pick up their toys and such at the end of the day. They know that if they don't, the toys are considered trash.

Still, i know that i wouldn't have all of this if Hubby and i hadn't gone through some seriously bad times. We just learned to communicate a little better. He pays attention to my needs, and i pay attention to His, and we both ended up a little better off. Thank goodness for small miracles.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Which is why the cell phone gets turned off whenever i leave the house by myself. If they can't get ahold of me, the guilt trip is delayed until whenever -i- decide would be a good time to get back home. (Haha! Take THAT!!)

My problem generally is that any time my kids are away for any length of time (like when they go to there dad's) people constantly ask me- "Don't you miss them?" or say things like, "I couldn't stand being away from my kids for that long."

So the guilt gets you anyway. Because you don't feel guilty enough yet. Because, no, you weren't missing them that much, you were glad to have some time to yourself. Because you cried for one whole day when they left and since then you've been on cloud nine. But you hardly dare tell people that- what will they think?

So you lie. "I miss them terribly."

Now you feel guilty for lying.

 

[entitled]

So you lie. "I miss them terribly."

Now you feel guilty for lying.

The thing is, i don't lie about it. i'll be the first to admit that i enjoy being away from them every once in a while. i -like- having a weekend away from my 'job' twice a year. If people can't handle the fact that i enjoy my 'vacation' time without having to worry constantly about what my children are doing, who they're doing it with, and why, those people can piss off and stay away from me. They're told as much when they make judgemental remarks.

These people that are doing this guilt trip thing on you are probably those people that work away from home. They're not around their children 24/7 and probably don't realize what it's like to be in your situation. They also won't listen if you try to explain what it's like. Trust me. Unless you tell them it's like being stuck at the office 24 hours a day for all but a few days out of the year. Then it might get through.

 

[Seattle Zack]

This is an idiotic "survey" or analysis or whatever you want to call it. So, by that measure, a stay-at-home mom is "on the job" 15, 16 hours a day? No time for watching "Oprah" or "The View" or "Lifetime TV"? C'mon.

So, her decision-making process on launching a new product line is equally as valid as a real CEO pulling down six figures? You buy stock in that company? I didn't think so.

In any standard business model, a person can only "earn" as much as a company will pay him or her to perform a service or produce a product that a consumer will pay for. So what product is this mom producing? What service is she providing? She's caring for her kids? Good for her. What the fuck? Who should pay her to do it?

(like when they go to there dad's) Now you feel guilty

Perhaps they're learning grammar. Or spelling.

 

[cloudy]

This is an idiotic "survey" or analysis or whatever you want to call it. So, by that measure, a stay-at-home mom is "on the job" 15, 16 hours a day? No time for watching "Oprah" or "The View" or "Lifetime TV"? C'mon.

So, her decision-making process on launching a new product line is equally as valid as a real CEO pulling down six figures? You buy stock in that company? I didn't think so.

In any standard business model, a person can only "earn" as much as a company will pay him or her to perform a service or produce a product that a consumer will pay for. So what product is this mom producing? What service is she providing? She's caring for her kids? Good for her. What the fuck? Who should pay her to do it?



Perhaps they're learning grammar. Or spelling.

You really don't like women much, do you? I don't think I've ever seen a post from you that wasn't derogatory towards women. They have people that you can talk to about those issues, you know.

 

[Pure]

Hi Seattle Z,

you said,
//In any standard business model, a person can only "earn" as much as a company will pay him or her to perform a service or produce a product that a consumer will pay for. So what product is this mom producing? What service is she providing? She's caring for her kids? Good for her. What the fuck? Who should pay her to do it?//

ordinary economics (with a few exceptions, such as piece work [envelope stuffing] at home) ordinarily looks at the market, where goods and services are exchanged, for money. housework is by definition excluded.

BUT, your point about there being no service or product in not correct:
She (and sometimes the stay at home dad) is producing a new human, who cares for him or herself, has social skills etc; She (re) produces the young adult that eventually leaves home and sets up his/her own household. That young adult, has of course been shaped by school [where teachers *are paid] and peers, but unless it's boarding school that's only about 6 hrs a day.

Further, occasionally someone who has become a widower, and whose job has long hours, has to *hire* a 'mother' 'housekeeper' 'nanny' person for the kids. In that case, it's obvious that a not-trivial amount of salary must be offered, even if there is 'free' room and board for a 'live in'. Indeed many who employ 'nanny-housekeepers' resort to the illegal immigrants so that the price can be kept 'affordable.' Hiring a knowledgeable English speaking citizen, who knows about unemployment insurance contributions, is going to be costly. Indeed out of the range of any but the best off.

 

[Samandiriel]

I appreciate my mom a whole lot more now.

 

[sophia jane]

This is an idiotic "survey" or analysis or whatever you want to call it. So, by that measure, a stay-at-home mom is "on the job" 15, 16 hours a day? No time for watching "Oprah" or "The View" or "Lifetime TV"? C'mon.

So, her decision-making process on launching a new product line is equally as valid as a real CEO pulling down six figures? You buy stock in that company? I didn't think so.

In any standard business model, a person can only "earn" as much as a company will pay him or her to perform a service or produce a product that a consumer will pay for. So what product is this mom producing? What service is she providing? She's caring for her kids? Good for her. What the fuck? Who should pay her to do it?



Perhaps they're learning grammar. Or spelling.

I have never seen a more "idiotic" or uneducated observation. The product that mom is producing is a human being. She is providing the most important job in anyones life. Teaching a child to think, to care, to love... without a mother we would all end up with opinions like yours. The more time that a mother or any parent spends with their children is more time spent molding what kind of person they will be. You obviously had a void of parenthood in your life in order to come to such unbelievable leaps of stupidity. Children really do hold the future in thier hands and the service that their caretakers and builders provide is nothing short of PRICELESS.

Submitted by The Father of SJ's children.

 

[entitled]

This is an idiotic "survey" or analysis or whatever you want to call it. So, by that measure, a stay-at-home mom is "on the job" 15, 16 hours a day? No time for watching "Oprah" or "The View" or "Lifetime TV"? C'mon.

Of course there's time for things like this! That's why those who are lucky enough to be able to afford it often have multiple TV sets. One for in the kitchen - to watch while cooking or doing dishes. One to watch while folding laundry (an endless chore for ANY parent). There's even a possibility that the stay at home parent is lucky enough to get a short break for lunch. i'm personally lucky to have enough time to wolf down a PBJ and open a soda in between doing everything else for everybody else.

So, her decision-making process on launching a new product line is equally as valid as a real CEO pulling down six figures? You buy stock in that company? I didn't think so.

Indeed it is. A parent has to weigh options before doing anything for the first time. A new product line would be a planned child (or possibly another major investment, like a vehicle or major appliance). Things such as expense in relation to income has to be looked at, along with how this new 'product line' would effect the relationship between said parent and other 'investors' in the company. You know, those people called spouse, siblings, in-laws, grandparents, etc.

Perhaps the 'product lines' you speak of are differing ways of treating her children or exposing them to different things as they grow. If so, these decisions might be more valid than those of a CEO somewhere. Each time she changes her approach it has a direct effect on her children. They learn different things. They are shown that there is more than one way to look at a situation. They broaden their horizons by her exposing them to different ideas and experiences. All of this directly affects the future of these children and what they both can and will do.

i would personally rather 'buy stock' or contribute to a household that 'employs' a stay at home parent than a major corporation, so long as the parent does their job well. Then again, i wouldn't invest in a corporation whose employees didn't do their jobs.

In any standard business model, a person can only "earn" as much as a company will pay him or her to perform a service or produce a product that a consumer will pay for. So what product is this mom producing? What service is she providing? She's caring for her kids? Good for her. What the fuck? Who should pay her to do it?

As so many have said, this mom is producing children. She is producing people who will be entering the workforce in a number of years. Her services include not only the care of these children, but also providing a solid base of knowledge to draw upon in their adulthood, a sense of empathy and sympathy that hired care providers cannot. She installs in these children a sense of duty by choosing to stay home with them and taking care of her own duties. They are her responsibilities. If she doesn't take care of her responsibilities, her children will follow her example as they age.

To be quite honest, these services are absolutely priceless.

Perhaps they're learning grammar. Or spelling.

Perhaps you should learn a little more about producing proper sentences - instead of sentence fragments - before making a comment such as this.

 

[CharleyH]

Stay-At-Home Moms Deserve High Pay, Analysis Shows By Jessica Wohl

Well ... AFTER my experience today, I am not sure staying at home is good for a child. A friend at my old work, and YES we had great benefits, has been off for 1 1/2 years, with 5 weeks vacation still coming. She goes back to work tomorrow, and has tried to intoduce the boy into day care for 2 months now. The moment she leaves? HE CRIES. He cries for 8 hours, every day. I think adaptation is good for a child, and oh I HAVE seen the little satans I call neices and nephews, with their stay at home mom.

Should stay at home moms get paid? As a woman, I say no because a stay at home usband does not. We live in a different world from 1950. A woman can work, and teach her child the valuable lessons of experience.

Adaptation is a rare commodity, and it is choice to make your child rely on you or not. Now, if you have so little control over your husbands to NOT get daycare or nanny?

Just my take

 

[entitled]

He cries for 8 hours, every day. I think adaptation is good for a child, and oh I HAVE seen the little satans I call neices and nephews, with their stay at home mom.

This can happen, yes. It does happen with certain people. Other people, with different parenting styles, never have a problem. None of my children have a problem with my being gone. i believe a lot of is has to do with how they're treated by the stay at home parent.

Should stay at home moms get paid? As a woman, I say no because a stay at home usband does not. We live in a different world from 1950. A woman can work, and teach her child the valuable lessons of experience.

We don't get paid. Be happy.

A woman can do both, as can a man, but it is more difficult to instill your own personal morality and the experiences of your life if you're not around your children as much. Perhaps the world today is so different from the world in 1950 because more women are working outside the home instead of staying home with their children. We've come a long way since then, but there has been a high cost because of it.

Adaptation is a rare commodity, and it is choice to make your child rely on you or not.

Again, this is a parenting choice. Those people who require their children to rely on them for everything will have children that throw kicking, screaming hissy fits every time they're left anywhere. Those that choose to stay at home and teach their children to be self-reliant don't have that problem as often.

Now, if you have so little control over your husbands to NOT get daycare or nanny?

Who said anything about this being a control issue? This is a choice. i first decided to stay home with my children because of health issues. After that was under control, i chose to stay home with them because it makes no sort of sense to take them to daycare, go to work for the wages people get in this area, then turn the whole paycheck over to the daycare center. i would much rather raise my children myself, in my own home, instilling my values into them.

All but the youngest will be going to school next year, which may change things. my Husband has been encouraging me to get a part-time job in the fall. So far, i have chosen not to do so. It still makes no sense to pay somebody else to raise my children just so i can make enough on a paycheck to cover those costs. Instead, i will stay home with my youngest, working at my small business during the hours my Husband is home.

 

[CharleyH]

A woman can do both, as can a man, but it is more difficult to instill your own personal morality and the experiences of your life if you're not around your children as much. Perhaps the world today is so different from the world in 1950 because more women are working outside the home instead of staying home with their children. We've come a long way since then, but there has been a high cost because of it.

Again, this is a parenting choice. Those people who require their children to rely on them for everything will have children that throw kicking, screaming hissy fits every time they're left anywhere. Those that choose to stay at home and teach their children to be self-reliant don't have that problem as often..

OK

 

[LadyJeanne]

I'd like to take this opportunity to give a big hooray and thank you to both of my parents who raised two kids and sent them to college. Both mom and dad worked the entire time at miserable jobs, split shifts with lots of overtime, so that one of them would be around for us even though that meant they had very little time when they were home together.