It’s three o’clock on a Monday afternoon, and if you’re a working mother, your thoughts may
be racing through a long list of clashing responsibilities.
You probably have a list of things to finish before turning off your computer for the day, your kids will probably be dismissed from school soon, and you don’t know what to have for lunch. Even with their packed schedules and not being able to give much time to their kids, there is a huge impact of working mothers on child development.
Being a working mother just complicates the already difficult task of parenting. Being a parent is never easy. Some of the studies have also described the benefits of having a parent at home due to the stress, time limits, and constant juggling act that affect both parents and children due to professional responsibilities of a working mother.
But in actuality, children who have working parents benefit from numerous things, such as improved academic performance, enhanced social development, and a stronger feeling of self-worth. The simplest approach to comprehending how a working mother affects her child is to look at the data, which demonstrates that the advantages of having a working parent greatly exceed the negative effects of working mothers on child development.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
It is a saying that originated in Jamaica in the early 18th century. This simply means that the child will only do things that its parents will do and not what they want them to do.
According to psychology, kids pick up new skills and behaviors by witnessing and listening to others. As a result, kids can pick up character traits like perseverance, resilience, and determination by watching and listening to their working mothers.
Empowering Children: Traits Fostered by Working Mothers
From the moment a child is born, Mom typically becomes the primary caregiver and influencer. However, when Mom works full-time, it can significantly shape her children’s upbringing and often leaves mothers feeling guilty.
This leaves the working mothers with constant questions like:
Does working full-time affect my child?
Does working full-time have any impact on child development?
But don’t you worry, all the working mommies out there as we will walk you through the positive effects of working mothers on child development and also the various qualities that you as a working mother unknowingly teach and impart to your child.
Given below are some of those qualities that would help children of working mothers to succeed in life and be better human beings.
- Gaining self-reliance
Families with two working parents have certain roles for each member of the family to do. Children may apply theory to real-world situations and gain useful skills by taking on responsibility and having faith in their abilities. They get efficiency and a sense of accountability from this process, which equips them with obstacles they will face in the real world in the future. Youngsters get the ability to solve issues on their own and apply their thinking skills to accomplish goals.
- Enhanced Social Abilities
Children of working mothers typically exhibit superior social abilities and are inclined towards independence and self-sufficiency. Because they are exposed to a greater variety of social circumstances and interactions, they are also likely to have stronger emotional intelligence.
A 2011 study that was conducted and published in the journal Child Development found that children whose mothers worked when they were young had higher levels of social development and self-esteem than children whose mothers did not work.
- Steady Work Ethics
According to a 2018 study, daughters of working mothers have greater earnings and are more likely to be employed as adults.
Children who don’t have their mothers give in to their wishes are more likely to have a strong work ethic as adults. Working mothers set the standard in this way. Children see their mothers working long hours and putting forth a lot of effort to succeed. Since they understand the value of diligence, children aspire to be like their parents.
- Time’s worth
Working mothers’ work responsibilities frequently leave them with little free time. On the other hand, children may benefit from this as well, learning to cherish and maximize their time with their mothers. Working moms frequently prioritize quality time above the quantity of time spent together, which can be even more valuable for both the parent and the child.
The time and effort that working women devote to spending quality time with their children is typically much appreciated by the children.
- Ability to Think Critically
Despite constant advancements, education still prioritizes memorizing facts above the capacity for critical thought.
Critical thinking skills are especially valued by employers because they are so hard to be present in younger applicants. One of the major working mother advantages is that the children whose mothers work develop critical thinking skills as a major aspect of their personal.
Impact of Working Mothers on Child Development: What it really means?
Working mothers have a major and beneficial influence on children’s development. Studies repeatedly demonstrate that children of working mothers flourish emotionally, socially, and academically which is completely contrary to traditional notions.
Children who have a working mother can learn valuable lessons like ambition, independence, and resilience. It also broadens their outlook on gender roles and introduces children to a variety of role models.
Working mothers frequently do a great job of juggling their obligations and setting a good example for their kids. In the end, raising children with a working mother can help them grow up to be well-rounded, self-assured, and adaptive people who can handle the challenges of the modern world.
Does teaching your children these qualities require you to be a working mother?
Not at all!
These characteristics are, but of course, secondary advantages of being a working mother. Therefore, if you’re experiencing working mom guilt for not supervising your child’s field trip, keep in mind that your employment teaches your children valuable life lessons that will help them succeed in the long run.If you are still not satisfied and have a guilt of working then you can also go through my article on how to conquer working mom guilt so that you can lead a peaceful life which is good for both your work and your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are children of working moms more successful?
According to a recent study conducted by the Harvard Business School, daughters of working mothers may earn up to 23% more in their lifetime than the daughters of stay-at-home mothers.
Are children of working mothers happier?
According to a study done by researchers at Harvard University, it was found that adults and children with working mothers have the same level of happiness as kids whose mothers stayed at home.
What are the benefits of working mothers for children?
Children benefit from working mothers because they give them a positive role model. Children pick up a lot from seeing their mothers, including professional achievement. They also learn time management, professionalism, and juggling multiple duties.
What are the positive effects of working mothers?
Working mothers become excellent role models.
Children get to understand that women are much more than just housewives. Alternatively, a woman may choose to pursue a professional career and work outside the home. This gives kids the impression that a woman’s role can encompass a successful career in addition to taking care of the home.
My Thoughts: Why Are Working Mothers Important?
There is a wide range of perspectives on working mothers. Working mothers are thought to
be the best for children’s development by some, while others think the opposite.
Others still think that as long as working mothers don’t overwork themselves or under-parent their children, everything is OK. The truth can be found somewhere in the middle, as is the case with most things.
Finally, working women play a vital and diverse role in the development of their children. Even while juggling work and family obligations may present difficulties, evidence indicates that working mothers’ children can succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
Working women can have a good impact on their children’s development by creating strong support networks, communicating well, and using creative childcare techniques.
Eventually, a child’s results are shaped by the nature of the parent-child bond and the supportive environment that is offered, not by the mother’s particular job position. It is thus becoming more and more clear that the impact of working mothers on child development is a rich field deserving of further investigation and assistance as we learn more about the complexity of contemporary family relations.
If you relate to this article and found information given in this article useful then do share your thoughts with me about what you think can be other qualities which a child receives from its working mother.
I would be more than happy to include those qualities in my list and we can also discuss them further.