We all know that moms work extremely hard, and that little that they do is validated by a paycheck. In all honesty, most stay-at-home moms don’t take on that role for the money; it’s something they wish to do in order to provide the very best experiences for their children and families.
If the duties and job description of most moms was analyzed, however, it would put most of us in a league with many CEO’s. Studies polling thousands of stay-at-home moms revealed both the kinds of activities that they performed on a daily basis, as well as the countless hours spent making sure their homes, families, and lives were as organized as possible. An average of 96-100 hours per week were devoted to making the ship run smoothly; let’s take a look at just what these rockstar moms are worth:
What do stay-at-home moms do?
A mom takes on numerous responsibilities from the moment her children are born. Taking into account a modest hourly wage, the following activities were totaled using recent statistics on salary.com. Let’s see what the average mom of today is making during the minutia of her day:
Daycare teacher $9213.00
From the moment our children are born, we want the best growth and stimulation for their minds and bodies. Even when we aren’t consciously teaching our children concepts, we are putting toys, entertainment, and stimulation before our children that is designed to promote growth and learning. We correct when we need to, and we celebrate milestones that are achieved. This type of learning is happening day in, day out, and it is invaluable to our children.
CEO $9163.00
Yes, we have children, but there is a house to run, too! Floors must be washed, laundry folded and put away, and the dog needs to be taken for a walk. Not to mention, there are several after school meetings and activities to keep track of. As CEO of the household, mom coordinates all of these activities and makes sure that everything gets done….she is truly amazing.
Psychologist $14,573.00
Problems come up, issues arise that need solving, and sometimes this needs to be done on the spot, in the moment. We don’t have time to make appointments with professionals to help our family members problem solve. We step into the role of psychologist, gladly taking on the issues of the day and showing a better way to resolve them.
Chef $9487.00
A family’s gotta eat, don’t we? While we don’t always appreciate the nutritive value of that which is placed before us, mom always finds a way to bring love to us through the wonderful food that she prepares. Sometimes it’s chicken nuggets in the car on the way to soccer practice, but the fact is, we aren’t going hungry. Thanks, mom!
Housekeeper $17,511.00
Someone’s got to pick up all of those toys, game pieces, and pieces of dirty laundry! Mom tirelessly follows her family around the house, tidying up, dusting, vacuuming, and doing dishes. She takes pride in creating a clean and beautiful home for her family, but it wouldn’t hurt if some of you pitched in once in a while, too!
Facilities manager $17,735.00
Mom is making appointments for carpet cleaning, painting and landscaping, and she is the go-to person for party planning and all things social. Managing all of these details is time consuming and, at times, stressful. Mom makes it look easy as she pulls the strings behind the scenes, presenting the picture of a well-oiled machine.
Crisis Management $3908.00
From time to time, situations come up that need a firm hand and a calm countenance. Mom can be counted on for both–from cleaning out sick buckets to whipping up a batch of cookies for a last minute bake sale, she can be counted on to get the job done with calm assurance.
Chauffer $5688.00
Soccer practice, piano lessons, and sleepovers…….mom to the rescue! Transporting kids is half her day, and she even has time to stop at Caribou for a mocha skim latte for herself. A caffeinated driver is a happy driver!
This snapshot of duties, plus countless others, is estimated to net almost $130,000 per year, according to recent polls. With increased demand comes the need for additional compensation as well. Consider showing mom a little bit more appreciation and offering assistance from time to time, as we know she doesn’t necessarily get a daily coffee break……or even a bathroom break. Hail to the heroes who keep our bellies full, our hearts happy, and our homes clean!
