A lot of moms either claim the status of “stay-at-home-mom” or wish they could claim that status, but not all moms define the term the same way. The ability to put a unique definition on what a stay-at-home-mom is allows each mom the freedom to create her own ideal lifestyle.

Traditional Stay-At-Home Mom Concept

The traditional at home mom that many people think of is that of a woman who keeps the house spotless, kids are always entertained and dinner is on the table when the husband walks through the door. While in reality this rarely happens, there is a stay-at-home mom who does nothing but care for the house and children.

This mom is connected within her community, sets up play-dates with other moms, enjoys shopping and finds ways to stay busy. A job is unnecessary and so there is no need to make the time for work. Additionally, work is not important to this mom’s identity as she enjoys just being mom.

Work-At-Home Mom

The work at home mom either needs to work to help pay the bills or enjoys working as a part of her identity. Working does not take away from her joy of taking care of her children, and she prides herself in her ability to juggle both work and home life.

Entitled Stay-At-Home Mom

The entitled stay-at-home mom doesn’t work because she doesn’t want to, and may put her children in daycare just because she can. Often daycare or a private nanny become an escape from the children, and way to have time to do whatever activities she wants on any given day.

All moms, whether you stay home, work from home, or wish you could stay home, can reflect on what kind of mom you are and why. Understanding that a stay-at-home mom has many different definitions may help take some of the pressure off of societal norms that attempt to make you feel guilty for working or not working.

(photo by Daniel Wagaman)