Cause and Effect-Mother’s in the Workforce

Mother’s in the Workforce Did you know, “In the United States today, more than half of mothers with young children work, compared to 30 percent in the 1970’s” (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1999).
In this current economy single mothers have no choice but to work. Mothers have to enter the workforce to support their family. This hasn’t always been the case as we know from looking at our past. It was normal for the father to work and the mother to stay home with the children. Unfortunately, times have changed and divorce rates have gone up.To keep up with the rising costs and the splitting of a household, mothers have joined the workforce to help provide for the home. This now raises the question, if the mother is not home with the kids, how are the children effected? Three possible ways that children are affected from mothers entering the workforce are having to grow up in daycare, becoming more independent, and being less involved with family.
The first possible effect is a child having to grow up in daycare. With the need for more income, moms are no longer staying home.Children are now being taken care of all day—and sometimes night—by the daycare facilities. I am a single mother and I have to take my daughter to daycare five days a week. If I did not have my daycare facility to take my daughter, I would not be able to work. The only thing that is wrong is that these facilities have become the place for children to learn valuable life lessons. What used to be the mother’s duty, is now being placed upon the daycare centers.

They are having to help nurture and teach these children how to share, potty train, respect others, and so many other valuable life lessons.All these things used to be the job of the stay at home mom. I miss being there for the life lessons, but I have to support my family. I also have to deal with my child getting sick more often. She is normally around six to eight kids every day. Children being in daycare allows them to become more exposed to illnesses such as colds, flu, rashes, and many other sicknesses. Before, when children would stay home they were not pron to being sick.
The mother would keep them inside and away from the majority of people.Children being at daycare all the time and being around sick children could make it hard for a single mother, like myself, to keep taking off work when the kids get sick. At this point rather than not having income and being homeless, a parent would need daycare to provide for their family even if it means missing out on teaching your kids life lessons. Another possible effect could be that children become more independent. If a mother is working full time this could make a child feel alone or helpless when they are in need of attention.Children might start doing things by themselves such as eating meals, homework, or asking for help. I have notice that in being away from my daughter she wants to do things for herself.
If I ask to help her get dressed she says, “No mommy, I am a big girl and I do it myself. ” Mothers who stay at home are able to cater to their child’s every need. If the child wanted a blanket the mom would go and get one. Now with mothers at work, children are having to fulfill their own needs. This new found independence could cause the children to mature faster.I have found this to be what is happening in my own home. My little girl is only four but is trying to take on the independence of an eight year old.
The effect of independence on children is not something parents can change but it is happening at a younger age because the mothers are not there to help. Lastly, a possible effect of mothers in the workforce could be that the children become less involved with their family. Mothers having to work full time is causing children to be left to entertain themselves. Children are hiding away in their rooms or at friends houses to keep from being alone.When the family does have time home from work they find that the children are not wanting to spend time with them or have made plans with friends. I have not had this problem yet but I can see where it will be in my daughters teen years. This lack of interaction between the mother’s and children can lead to discipline problems later in life.
Children who do not become involved with their mothers can also loose their support system. If the kids were to do something and get in trouble, and there is no communication with the parents, the kids will often turn towards outside support.The absence of interaction between children and mothers can leave a lasting painful memory. When I was growing up my mother worked full time. This made it hard to talk to her about problems I was having. As the children grow older they could cut off all communication with their parents. The absence of involvement with the family is a growing problem with mothers that have to work.
Being a mother is the most amazing opportunity a woman can have. I know that mothers want the best for their children. Being a stay at home mom is a very noble and thankless job.Unfortunately, most women in today’s economy are forced to go to work after their children are born. Mainly because they are single mothers, the family needs the second income, or they had a good career before having children. There are so many things that can affect children like, growing up in daycare’s, becoming more independent, and being less involved with their mothers, whether they have a working mom or a stay at home mom. I think it all boils down to the time and effort you as a mother put in to make the most of the time that you have with your children.