Being the primary caregiver of your baby is probably the toughest job there is. In addition to all the diapers, laundry and housework, there’s the actual childrearing: from the nitty-gritty stuff – like kissing boo-boos, calming fears and coping with tantrums – to the day-to-day shaping of a child into a confident, capable, caring human being.

But, as paradoxical as it may sound, many stay-at-home moms say that these are the very things that also make it the best job there is. Just being there – day in, day out – is rewarding in a way many stay-at-home mothers say they could not have imagined before their children were born.
Of course, the choice to stay home comes with both ups and downs (as most jobs do). A mother who is at home full time faces a variety of challenges:

• The work day is long, much longer than eight hours, plus 24-hour ‘on-call’ duty. And, while finding time for yourself is important, it’s often not very easy.
• Many mothers feel their work is undervalued and taken for granted.
• It’s easy to doubt yourself, to wonder if you’re up to the challenge of being with your children all day, every day.
• Many stay-at-home moms feel guilty, especially when they’re angry with their children, unhappy, bored or lonely (being at home with kids all day can be isolating).
• There’s a lot to learn: how to live on one income, to recognize the value of non-paying work and to mark progress by your children’s progress, not by pay raises and reviews.
• On the other hand, stay-at-home moms reap the many rewards of being there full time:
• They see every step of progress their kids make: the first smile, the first word, the first step.
• They witness those unpredictable, ‘intangible’ moments: the times your child kisses you out of sympathy, hugs his baby sister or says something outrageously funny and original.
• They can raise their kids solely according to their values.
• Stay-at-home moms have more time to just let their children be children, removed (at least somewhat) from the hustle and bustle of adult life. Although there’s a lot to be done every day, the pace is nonetheless more relaxed. An entire morning can be spent on a trip to the park or the grocery store – and that’s OK.
• Stay-at-home moms know, deep down, that they are the best caregivers for their children and that the many hours spent nurturing will pay off in the future.

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