A stay-at-home mother (alternatively, stay-at-home mom or SAHM) is a mother who is the primary caregiver of the children. The male equivalent is the stay-at-home dad. The gender-neutral term is stay-at-home parent. Stay-at-home mom is distinct from a mother taking paid or unpaid parental leave from her job. The stay-at-home mom is forgoing paid employment in order to care for her children by choice or by circumstance. A stay-at-home mother might stay out of the paid workforce for a few months, a few years, or many years.
Many mothers find that their choice to be at home is driven by a complex mix of factors, including their understanding of the science of human development in the context of contemporary society.[1][2][3][4] They are also likely to consider their values, desires and instincts.[5][6] Some mothers are driven by circumstances: a child's special needs and/or medical condition may require great amounts of time, care and attention; [7] the family may lack affordable, quality childcare;[8] a family residing in a rural area may find it impractical to travel for childcare.[9] Other mothers may prefer and desire to stay at home with their children but must work out of the home to make an income to support the family.[10]
The stay-at-home mother's role entails physical, emotional and cognitive labor. This work is not exclusive to stay-at-home mothers; mothers who earn income still take on much of this labor as well. Fathers may share some of these responsibilities. While a mother may do the physical work of preparing meals, running errands and grocery shopping, cleaning the home, doing laundry, and providing care to her child or children, she also often anticipates her family's needs, identifies ways to satisfy them, makes decisions and monitors progress.[11] She plans the daily meals, outings and activities, baths, naps and bedtime. She not only provides physical care through a child's illness, she consults medical professionals as necessary. She also often takes the lead in managing routine medical and dental appointments, thinking about and planning time together with extended family, and planning for holidays and special occasions. Other tasks may include researching, hiring, and managing outside help including house cleaners, repairmen, or tutors and babysitters.
There is no term that has popularly replaced stay-at-home mom or stay-at-home mother. At-home mothers are diverse; they range across the spectrum of characteristics such as age, economic status, educational and career achievements, political and religious beliefs, and more.[12]
- ^ Narvaez, Darcia (2014). Neurobiology and the development of human morality: evolution, culture, and wisdom. The Norton series on interpersonal neurobiology. New York London: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-0-393-70655-0.
- ^ "Key Concepts - Science of Child Development". Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ Garner, Andrew; Yogman, Michael (August 1, 2021). "Preventing Childhood Toxic Stress: Partnering With Families and Communities to Promote Relational Health". Pediatrics. 148 (2).
- ^ "Why Early Relational Health Matters". Nurture Connection. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ de Marneffe, Daphne (May 14, 2019). Maternal Desire: On Children, Love, and the Inner Life. Scribner. ISBN 9781501198274.
- ^ World, Kindred. "Kindred World". Kindred World. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ Weaver, Meaghann; Nuemann, Marie; Lord, Blyth; Wiener, Lori; Lee, Junghyae; Hinds, Pamela (December 1, 2020). "Honoring the Good Parent Intentions of Courageous Parents: A Thematic Summary from a US-Based National Survey". Children. 7 (12).
- ^ "Who's paying now?: The explicit and implicit costs of the current early care and education system". Economic Policy Institute. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ Colyer, J. and National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services. (2023). Childcare Need and Availability in Rural Areas. Accessed April 9, 2024 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/advisory-committees/rural/nac-rural-child-care-brief-23.pdf
- ^ "How can I be a SAHM? I can't afford it.. - April 2022 Babies | Forums | What to Expect". community.whattoexpect.com. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ Daminger, Allison, “The Cognitive Dimension of Household Labor,” American Sociological Review, 2019, vol. 84(4)609-633
- ^ Hakim, Catherine (September 1, 2004). Key Issues in Women's Work: Female Diversity and the Polarisation of Women's Employment. Routledge-Cavendish. ISBN 9781904385165.