Stay-at-Home Moms (SAHMS): Cheer Up! The World Has Started Noticing You
You stay at home to serve humanity
“The work of a stay-at-home mom is never done and often unrecognised, but it’s the most important job in the world.” — Anna Faris
Society only values what’s measured in monetary terms.
Often, it’s the priceless things that hold societies together.
For example, the services rendered by stay-at-home mothers are intangible and immeasurable. We’ve failed to give them the attention they deserve.
Stay-at-home mothers are unpaid caregivers, mentors, household workers, and therapists, all rolled into one. If monetised, these tasks will command a huge monthly salary. It takes a superhuman effort to perform such diverse roles, and that too without appreciation, acknowledgement, compensation, or reward.
Performing multiple tasks without rest and emotional support takes a toll on their physical and mental health.
It’s the access to and availability of maternal care and attention that shape the quality of childhood. Children who are starved of their mother’s attention and love grow into unhappy and insecure adults. Happy children grow into responsible adults who help to build stable societies.
The times have changed. It took a pandemic to jolt the world into noticing and acknowledging the vital role played by full-time mothers in raising healthy and emotionally resilient children.
Donald Schaefer, an octogenarian from Florida, uses his TikTok and Instagram accounts to post videos that address the problems faced by stay-at-home mothers. He offers tips on how to manage their tasks and financial advice to take care of the family budget. He also provides emotional support for them.
In a “special message to stay-at-home mums,” Schaefer lavishes praise on them and tells them they are valued more than they realise. He says they are doing an incredible job, and what they are doing “matters immensely.”
He says,
"Sometimes, in the midst of the chaos of daily routines and endless chores it’s easy to forget how important your role is, but every meal cooked, every scraped knee kissed, every bedtime story read, it all adds up to shaping the future generation.”
He asks them to take care of themselves. They should prioritise their well-being to avoid getting stressed too much.
Schaefer sums up his morale-boosting message as:
“Trust me. You are the heart and soul of your family and your efforts create a warm and nurturing environment where everyone can thrive. Keep shining your light and know that you are appreciated, loved and admired more than you’ll ever know. You’re doing an amazing job, and the world is a better place because of you.”
Stay-at-home parents, especially full-time mothers, should never feel guilty about not having a regular job. Their selfless caregiving and the multiple roles they perform will earn them a huge salary if we were to monetise them.
If necessary and possible, SAHMS can earn a side income working from home if they possess monetisable skills.
Society needs to delink social status from holding a job. Full-time mothers who perform unpaid caregiving inside their homes demand our respect and support.
Let’s also stop comparing working women with stay-at-home mothers. They perform different roles, live different lives, and have different circumstances. They both face unique challenges.
Thanks for reading!
