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I stay @ home w/ 2 kids and wanted to share this!

From YAHOO! News
Stay-At-Home Moms Deserve High Pay, Analysis Shows By Jessica Wohl
Sun May 1, 8:19 AM ET



The old adage that "a mother's work is never done" remains as true now as ever. Today's stay-at-home Moms are learning what their predecessors always knew -- they'd be making a lot of money doing their job outside the home.

Just in time for Mother's Day, an informal study conducted by Web site Salary.com shows that stay-at-home moms would earn an average of $131,471 annually, including overtime, if they received a paycheck.

A sampling of the 5.4 million stay-at-home mothers were asked to come up with job titles that fit a general description of their daily routines.

The titles -- which reflected the most time-consuming parts of their day -- include day-care center teacher, van driver, housekeeper, cook, chief executive officer, nurse and general maintenance worker, the survey showed.

Of course, a stay-at-home parent does not work typical office hours. The hypothetical median salary is based on a 100-hour work week and assumes caring for at least two children of school age.

"The importance of this calculation or this estimate is just calling attention to the fact that being a stay-at-home mom is not a cop out, it's not the woman's way out of the workforce and it's not a job of no value," said Bill Coleman, senior vice president of compensation at Salary.com. "There is a lot of value there, and some would say it's even priceless."

Salary.com, which tracks what jobs pay, suggested that the annual base pay for a 40-hour stay-at-home mom's workweek would be $43,461. Mothers would earn an additional $88,009 a year for 60 hours of overtime each week.

"I think I should definitely make that much," said Joanna Butti, who stays at home to care for her twin boys. "It's a hard job."

Coleman said feedback on the figure was mixed. Some felt mothers deserved more, some less. In general, though, many were pleased to see a figure above $100,000.

"Stay-at-home moms are enthusiastic and upbeat about their jobs, they didn't seem to need external validation," Coleman told Reuters. "They were also happy that they were getting attention, and that somebody was out there telling the world that what they do is valuable, and perhaps more valuable than one would expect."

Mothers said you cannot attach a figure to the time spent with their kids.

"I'm giving 150 percent of myself to them many hours a day," said Debra Miley, who stays home with two-year old daughter Olivia and four-month old son Gregory. "You cannot attach a dollar value to the time that you spend nurturing your child if you're lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom."

Thanks BriansCupcake for posting the article. I stay at home with 4 boys and feel that mothers do not always receive the credit they deserve. I've heard similar stories on the news, but it is always nice to hear it again. A mothers work is never done and is invaluable.

Very interesting.

I stayed home with my children for several years and then only worked evenings so that Dad could watch them while I was at work. Only this September did I go to work during the day while the boys were in school. I miss not being at home with them all the time and feel guilty working while they are not in school but it makes the time much more precious when I'm with them. But they have never gone to daycare. There is always family here to lean on. That helps a ton!

I was very lucky to be able to stay at home with my children when they were young.
I only went back to work after the baby was in school full days.
I would not change those years for anything.

I wish all mothers who wish to, were able to be stay at home moms.

Wow hugs. Something else in common! Maybe that's one of the many reasons I like you!

Thanks for this story. I was home for ten years with my boys. When hubby's job changed, I looked for full-time work. I work in the evenings when hub is home, started this January. I love my work, but sure miss the bedtime books and hugs!!