Wh y mums should work ? There has always been a debate on whether or not mothers should work or stay at home in their children’s formative years, this has always been a hot topic in both the media and many households, provoking strong emotions and press headlines such as: ‘Sorry working moms, day care is bad for your kid’ (Huffington Post) or ‘The case for working mothers: your kids will be just fine’ (The Telegraph) A working mum has to balance both home and work life, which makes her learn how to organise every area of her life better and quicker. In order to do justice to the personal and professional roles she plays, the skills of time management, organisation and multitasking are something she must excel at otherwise her job / business may be in trouble. But what are some of the benefits you might ask? Working mums have well adjusted children - This can be true for some, some children of working mums learn to adjust with other people around them instead of solely depending on their mum’s (or dad’s) presence. Because they are left with caregivers like grandparents or child minders, they learn to adjust to new faces and interact with new people faster. This could add to the development of their social skills. Working mums have kids who are more independent - Working women have children who grow up to be more independent than those of stay-at-home moms. They get used to not being dependent on any one constant presence and learn the skills of self-sufficiency and independence much faster than children of SAHM’s. Whether you decide to stay at home or go back to work after having children, how old your child is when you decide to return to work and how many hours you work are all important factors in the developmental environment. 44
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Another factor many people consider, by bringing in money and raising the overall family income, working mothers may be able to provide a more stimulating and safer environment for their children. This isn’t just a matter of more expensive toys or learning material but also better living conditions, better nutrition and reduced family stress. However, long working hours and work-related stress could have an impact on the quality and quantity of interactions mothers can have with their children – interactions that are crucial for developing cognitive skills and language growth. In the end the decision is yours, there are pro’s and con’s for any route you decide to take. If you are not in a position to stay home, just know that you are not alone and your child(ren) will turn out just fine.