The Blessings of Having a Working Mother

Having a mom that stays home fulltime is a luxury that not many families have nowadays. Many mothers are single and support their children by themselves. Even in two-parent households, families often need two incomes to stay afloat financially. And some moms simply aren’t suited to being at home with their children fulltime. They need the professional challenges and camaraderie of the workplace in order to feel satisfied and whole.

The challenge for many working mothers is that they feel guilty because they aren’t with their children 24/7. As a result, they can’t give their children some of those wonderful extras that stay at home moms are able to provide. For instance, working moms aren’t able to greet their children when they come home from school with a tray of fresh baked cookies. They can’t help out in the classroom every week. And they likely aren’t serving on the PTA.

However, it is important to remember that there is no right way to be a mother. Great mothers don’t fit any particular mold. So, while stay at home moms bring certain blessings to their children, working moms have their own unique blessings to offer. In fact, working moms bring blessings to their children that they may not even realize.

The following are some of the wonderful blessings that working moms provide to their children. If you are a working mom, read on and be reminded of what a great mom you are!

Working moms are role models for professionalism.

Children watch everything their mothers do. When a mom gets up early, dresses smartly and goes the extra mile for her job, her kids see that. When a mom helps her kids with their school projects after a long day of work, her kids recognize her sacrifice (even if they may not always say “thank you”!). And when a mom gets a promotion or advances in her job, her children feel proud of her. And someday, when the kids have jobs of their own, they will want to follow in their mom’s footsteps.

So, working moms need to remember that they aren’t just going to work each day. They are modeling professional behavior and work ethic for their children. And by doing so, they are planting the seeds for success in their kids.

“Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate.” – Anonymous

Having a working mom inspires responsible behavior.

When you are a working mom, the evenings are short. Typically, there is only just enough time to get dinner on the table, throw in a load or two of laundry, and otherwise get everyone organized for the next day.

With mom’s time being so tight, kids are forced to take responsibility for themselves. They have to do their homework and chores on their own because mom simply doesn’t have time to nag them. And kids will rise to the challenge. They are smart enough to know that when the family has a tight schedule during the week, they have to do their part by getting their chores and homework done. Not only does that give kids a sense of confidence in their own abilities, but it makes them feel like they are a necessary part of the family unit.

“We need to teach the next generation of children from day one that they are responsible for their lives.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Kids benefit from having different caregivers.

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Working moms truly are reliant on others to take care of their children when they are at work. Unfortunately, sometimes moms feel guilty about that. They think that they are doing their children a disservice if they aren’t with them 24/7.

However, believe it or not, there is such a thing as “too much mom.” Children need more than one person to take care of them. Kids do best when they have a variety of influences and people who care about them.

In fact, children benefit immensely from the solid relationships that they form with babysitters, grandparents, aunts and uncles. And they need the positive feedback and mentoring provided by teachers and coaches. By having good relationships with different caregivers, children will have the confidence to go out into the world, knowing that they can successfully interact with all kinds of people.

“It takes a village to raise a child.” – African Proverb

When mom is at work, kids have to problem solve.

Mothers naturally want to shield their children from every problem. They want to solve all their kids’ issues so that their children never have to feel hurt or frustration. But that kind of protection doesn’t necessarily help kids. Kids need to be able to face problems and figure out ways to solve them – on their own.

Far too many kids grow up without solid problem-solving skills. As a result, when they reach adulthood, they fall apart when confronted with the first obstacle. The ability to solve problems is an important skill that can make the difference between a child ultimately being successful or not.

By virtue of being unavailable for part of the day, working moms aren’t around to handle every situation that arises with their children. And when mom isn’t there to step in, kids are forced to figure it out. They have to find ways to creatively solve their problems on their own. That is a good way for a child to build confidence in his or her abilities. And it is great preparation for adulthood.

“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” – Duke Ellington

Stay confident as a working mom.

If you are a working mom, feel confident that you bring many blessings to your children. You are doing more than putting food on the table and a roof over your children’s heads. You are a role model for your children for professionalism and work ethic.

Remember that the time you are away from your children while at work isn’t a detriment to them. Instead, it’s an opportunity for them to rise to the challenge of having to be organized and responsible – without mom looking over their shoulder! Those are critical skills that will last them a lifetime.

So, working mothers - feel confident! You are a blessing to your children.