It used to be that moms simply stayed at home. Today, many moms work. Most of my friends work. A lot started out working and then stopped. In this case, I am talking about working full time.
The good: Most will agree that the biggest benefit to working is financial stability. With two people earning an income, if one gets laid off, there is still food on the table.
I work full time for a number of reasons, personal, professional and financial… I need to work, I couldn't stay at home, it's not my personality. Professi onally I just didn't feel like I was at a point in my career where I could walk away for a few years and not lose ground. I earned my masters degree when I was eight months pregnant and working full time throughout. And financially achieving our long term goals would be far more difficult if I didn't work full time. We would get by, but we wouldn't be saving or planning for the future if I wasn't working. I work because it's the right thing for me and my family. We should be able to make these choices both men and women.
For this aspect of the decision making process, many take into account how financially stable they are. Since most people don't have enough to fill in if one loses one's job, this is the deciding factor for many people.
I always like to say that a happy mom makes happy children. Some moms are simply happier going out to work. They need the adult interaction and the feeling of accomplishment that being a professional brings. This is a valid claim.
The challenges: Very few involved in the discussions spoke about the challenges of working. I believe it's because it's pretty clear cut what the challenges might be. I'm basing this section primarily off the reasons parents who stopped working did.
Firstly, what happens when there's a break in the routine? Parents find the lack of flexibility hard to deal with when a child is sick or has a day off. Parents also feel like they have less of a say in the upbringing of their children. It hurts them when they miss out on milestones.
The most compelling challenge here is balancing your personal needs. Some women can't afford to go to work, even if they feel they can't manage without either. Their salaries simply wouldn't cover the extra costs (daycare, work clothes, cleaning help), or they can't handle the double duty it would require. These people often choose the next option.
