In a recent Pew Research survey, 44% of non-parents said that they are not likely to have kids someday, most of them citing the cost and stress of childcare as primary reasons. These are certainly true. After all, motherhood isn’t easy, which is why we all have to acknowledge that moms are amazing people. Furthermore, while being a mom has always been tough, modern motherhood brings with it a new set of challenges, too. Shedding light on these challenges should help us understand why and how to better appreciate and care for our moms.
Work-Life Imbalance
Balancing your personal time and your career is already difficult, but adding childcare to the equation is a whole new scenario altogether. This is especially true when you consider that while 62% of households today have two working parents, women are still primarily in charge of childcare, spending between three to six hours on caretaking. Time is limited, and having to juggle all these tasks can inevitably lead to some sacrifices. As a matter of fact, despite the rise of remote work during the pandemic, 46% of unemployed moms cited childcare as their primary reason for leaving the workforce.
These figures highlight the necessity for a support system for moms, especially new mothers who are still discovering the ins and outs of raising a kid. People around moms should encourage them to take a break and pamper them to make them feel special. It can be as simple as dropping off cooked meals, giving them a few body care or skincare gifts, or sending them some book or TV show recommendations. These things will go a long way in helping them adjust and fully take on the challenges that motherhood entails.
Too Much Information
Information on parenting has been more accessible than ever. There are a plethora of blogs and how-to articles on how to raise kids. There are apps that help track developmental milestones and childcare schedules. While access to information is a good thing, too much of it can be counterproductive. Melissa Medjuck, certified birth and postpartum doula who also specializes in women’s mental health, states that during the perinatal and postpartum period, moms feel an intense burden to perform parenthood flawlessly.
A lot of sources online make us believe that there is a perfect way to raise kids, and this can lead to a lot of feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. One way to help moms avoid being overloaded with information is to assure them of their capability as parents and to remind them of their own values when it comes to parenting. As well, as help them curate their social media pages and encourage them to unsubscribe to sites that negatively affect their sense of self. Finally, help them notice the things that they are doing well and let them know that it is alright to feel a sense of pride in those.
The Price is High
It is a fact that parenting brings with it a hefty price tag – out-of-pocket costs during and after pregnancy, as well as necessary purchases as a child is growing up, can ultimately add up. In the US, some low-income families can spend up to 20% of their annual income on medical costs during the year of pregnancy and birth. As well, new parents tend to be out of work, thus losing their insurance in the process.
While there is little that a support system can do to lower the costs that parenting can entail, what you can do is offer support in other ways. For instance, offering some of your time to watch over her child results in money saved as it cuts down the need to hire a nanny or use daycare services. A community of parents can also extend help towards each other by saving baby things so that new moms do not have to spend too much buying those, too.
Overcoming these challenges is no easy feat. Moms already have their work cut out for them as they raise the future generation, so we can at least extend our support to help ease their burden.