The cost of a SAHM

I know that there is often some controversy over whether it is best to stay at home with your kids or work. I am a realist and I know that most Moms have no choice in the matter. So in my opinion where in the hell is the controversy. I am one of the lucky women who gets to stay home with their kids. When I am asked what I do and I tell people that I stay at home, people do one of two things: 1) They ask me when I will be going back to work (to which I respond, hopefully never ;>) ) and 2) They look at me as if to say why in the hell would you want to do that. I love staying home, I cannot imagine a better job than being a Mom and a wife.

That all being said, it is not all roses. ALL women can relate to the many hats that we must wear. And I know that researchers have calculated the average annual cost that would be necessary to keep up a home.

Stay-at-home mother's work worth $138,095 a year
Reuters

Posted on 05/02/2007 12:11:53 PM PDT by Sub-Driver

Stay-at-home mother's work worth $138,095 a year Wed May 2, 2007 2:51PM EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - If the typical stay-at-home mother in the United States were paid for her work as housekeeper, cook and psychologist among other roles, she would earn $138,095 a year, according to research released on Wednesday.

This reflected a 3 percent raise from last year's $134,121, according to Salary.com Inc, Waltham, Massachusetts-based compensation experts.

The 10 jobs listed as comprising a mother's work were housekeeper, cook, day care center teacher, laundry machine operator, van driver, facilities manager, janitor, computer operator, chief executive officer and psychologist, it said.

The typical mother puts in a 92-hour work week, it said, working 40 hours at base pay and 52 hours overtime.

Reading these stats makes me smile, it sums up my day in a nutshell. So far today I have done 5 loads of laundry, changed 4 poopy diapers and about 12 wet diapers, changed two babies outfits 7 times in total (puking), vacuumed, cleaned two bathrooms, emptied garbage cans, filled two vitamin/pill cases for the week, fed 10 bottles, burped 20 times, put away 5 loads of laundry, played with babies and children, had family over for dinner, helped hubby work through some work stress, shopped for needed baby items, clipped coupons, etc., etc., etc. The next time someone looks at me as if to say 'all you do is stay home' I think I might just have to smack them. ;>) Or maybe I will kindly remind them that I am worth more money per year than they probably are... I am worth a whopping $138,095 a year.