Tough Times For Working Moms

The life of the working mother is anything but stress-free. Not only is she responsible for duties on the job, but when she gets home she has children to tend to, a house to clean, bills to pay and meals to cook. Seemingly gone are the days of the stay-at-home mom whose only concerns were to raise the children and tend to the house. Many modern mothers are the breadwinners, the decision makers and somehow find a way to juggle their career and their family. Working mothers truly do have it all, but it is not without paying a hefty price.

Career and Family Stress
While the working mother certainly appears to have it all, it is not easy to maintain a successful career and a happy home life. Managing the stress of a career, family life, bills and more can make for a very hectic life. For many mothers, having a career is not a choice, but an absolute necessity. For many families, one income simply isn't enough to support a family. If the mother is a single parent, her financial concerns can be even more daunting.

Work/Life Balance Can Be a Problem
Not everyone has the luxury of working a job from Monday to Friday between the hours of nine and five. Some employers require employees to work weekend shifts. Other employers require mandatory overtime from employees. Work/life balance can be a major challenge for working mothers when their employers require even more of their time than a 40 hour work week will allow. While a career is important, a working mother needs to be able to balance her career and her family harmoniously.

Forced to Rely on Daycare
A major source of stress for some working mothers is knowing they have to rely heavily on the assistance of a nannies or daycare centers to care for their children. It is difficult for many mothers to know that they are paying someone else to tend to their children. Many working mothers would rather be there themselves. Additionally, childcare expenses tend to be quite expensive. According to costhelper.com, the average cost of full-time childcare in the United States is $611 per month. Factor in this cost over the course of four years, and you have one major expense on your hands.

One-Income Families Are Quickly Fading Away
In past generations, a traditional family dynamic included a father figure who provided for the family and worked out of the house. The mother often stayed home, raised the children, and cooked and cleaned for the family. Today, those days seem to be gone almost entirely. Many families need two incomes just to scrape by financially. In today's modern age, it appears that many working mothers do not have a choice whether they want a career or not. Many mothers today work to help support their families.

The Bottom Line
While there are still some families that are able to survive on one income, they are certainly becoming few and far between. Modern mothers are taking on more than women in past generations have had to juggle. While the life of a working mother can be stressful, with a strong work/life balance they truly can have it all.

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