What do American mothers want;to work full-time, part-time, or not at all?

Question

As Most Working Moms Prefer Part-Time Jobs
Increasing Number of Working Mothers Would Prefer to Work Part-Time Jobs, Survey FindsThe Associated Press By DAVID CRARY AP National Writer
NEW YORK Jul 12, 2007 (AP)
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Share A sharply increasing portion of America's working mothers say their ideal situation would include a part-time job, rather than working full time or staying at home, a new national survey finds.

The Pew Research Center survey, being released Thursday, found that only 21 percent of working mothers with children under 18 viewed full-time work as the best arrangement, down from 32 percent in 1997.

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Sixty percent of the working mothers said a part-time job would be best, up from 48 percent 10 years ago. And 19 percent said not working at all would be ideal roughly the same as in 1997.

Cary Funk, a Pew

Answer 1

I stayed home with my children full time until our youngest one started school. Then I went to work part time for three years so that I would be home when they got home from school. Giving them a stable environment was the most important thing to me.

When I was hired for a full-time office position, it was more stressful for all of us. It was necessary though in order to pay off our 20% of all the hospital and doctor bills we owed. They had been piling up on us and interest was added. Our oldest daughter was born with lung and respiratory problems.

We managed to get those bills totally paid off during the 10 years I worked full time and with the money I earned we also could afford for our children to participate in extra curricular activities such as dance, football, track, gymnastics, swimming, etc.

My husband worked nights so that one of us would always be home with our children or for our children day or night.

It wasn't easy. Sometimes it was frustrating. I would have preferred all of us at home in the evening or at least together as a family doing family things.

But somehow we managed. Our children have all told both of us that they didn't appreciate us enough when they were kids. Often they felt embarrassed cause we couldn't afford to give them designer clothes. Once they grew up they realized we gave them something better than material things. They told us that we gave them stability, a sense of security and unconditional love. They always knew we would be there for them no matter what!

All of my children are grown up and have families of their own.
I haven't worked in ten years due to my own health problems, but the upside is I am available to babysit my grandchildren whenever my children ask me to.

If things had been different. If I'd been given a choice. If we could have afforded to live on just my husband's paycheck, and if he would not have ever had to take on a part time second job himself at times. I would have chosen to stay home while my children were growing up.

Answer 2

It depends on the woman. Some women are more fulfilled when they are bringing home as large a paycheck as possible to buy all the things her family wants and needs. Others just want to earn enough for the "fun stuff" while dad pays the bills, all while getting out of the house for a while. Other moms would actually prefer to stay at home with their kids, because keeping a tidy house and spending time with the children is more important to her than material things. And of course some moms don't get to do what they want...a mom may WANT to stay home with her child, but it may not financially be possible. Or a woman may want to work full-time, but someone needs to be around to pick the kids up for school. Mostly I think it's important to do whatever it takes to make life work for you and your family.

Answer 3

I assume this question is for American mothers to answer what they want as far as work. What I want is to work part time at home doing a preschool. It is the same hours as half day kindergarten. But I am not done with school yet so I work full time at home babysitting other children.

Answer 4

YOu mean just American mothers want to? So what do the rest of the world want? What a stupid question but thanks for the points!

PS I would rather stay home full time because my position as a mother is a full time job and I work hard for it! But I'm a single mom and I work out of my home!

Answer 5

I would love to be financially stable enough to stay at home and work by raising my daughter and enjoying her young years. However, since this is not financially possible at this time for our family, I will work full time (or part time) to make sure that we can maintain a decent living that allows us to provide for her comfortably.

I don't think any mother should be judged by her decision to stay at home or to go to work - it is a double edge sword, and all good mothers are just trying to do what is best for their own family and kids.

Answer 6

I would love to work from home if I could. However, in order to provide for my family I must work outside the home. However, I am a teacher and I feel fortunate that I am working while they are in school during the day and home at the same time. And we get to spend our summers at home together.

Answer 7

Im not every American mother, but personally Im loving staying at home with my children. After they are all older, I might want to go back to working part time, but for right now Im very grateful that I get to stay at home with them!

Answer 8

I prefer to work part time because I have the desire to get out of the house and see my work friends, but I also don't want to be gone as much as I would if I worked full time.

Answer 9

I work full-time but can tell you this. I would love to be with my children more. Since my children are school age now, I would like to work part-time and pick them up right after school instead of them going to study hall right after school lets out.

Answer 10

As if any one answer would represent American mothers as a whole, really.

I want to work, because it makes me feel useful. I want to be home, raising my child myself. The perfect job would allow me to work only during her school hours. Can't help you with the other millions of moms, sorry.