Mothers’ Stories

Working moms vs Stay-at-home moms: Who's the real superhero?

Working moms vs Stay-at-home moms: Who's the real superhero?
Published : November 21 , 2018
Latest Update : November 23 , 2023
Sarah Shafagoj, a proud mama to three boys 10, 8 and 2.5,  She studied marketing at the University of Jordan and she is... more

First of all, let me dedicate this to all the women out there, especially the moms. Whatever you are doing, my dear, you are awesome at it!

This subject that I'm discussing today is not new at all but I would like to shed light on it once again because it is vital for us women and mothers to remember that we are doing our best, no matter what we chose to do in life. 

Personally, I am a stay-at-home mom. Three kids later and I am convinced that this is the master of all jobs. Naturally, it's an unpaid job but it's one that comes with so many beautiful, rewarding moments.

But when I think about working mothers I think to myself: How do they do it? Is it the right thing to do, to juggle between work and motherhood? Are working moms better than us who choose not to have a paid nine-to-five? Do they have better self-esteem and feel more productive than those of us who stay at home?"

I had many of my questions answered when I discussed this with my two of my friends who happen to be working mothers. So let's start with some truth bombs. 

My friends Ghalia and Rasha

It is not easy at all. I salute all the moms who choose to work or who actually have to work to ensure a more financially-stable home and family life. 

What piqued my interest is that, as we all know, having a job requires better time-management. Working moms' schedules are pretty tight and the pressure that comes along with them is serious. They have to organize everything and plan out their grocery shopping and cooking ahead of time. Even when it comes to something personal like a salon appointment or personal errands, it all needs to be planned out and thought through very efficiently. It's hard.

The one thing both my mom friends mentioned was guilt

One of my favorite pictures

Oh my, it is the guilt of being away from home for long hours, of not being there when the kids come home from school, their minds being preoccupied thinking about their children while having to meet deadlines and cope with bosses and colleagues, and the list goes on. But on the bright side, they are using their knowledge and skills in their field to add value to society. They have their own income, which makes them feel less dependent on their spouses, especially when money is tight sometimes. This may result in them having more quality time when spending their free time with their kids. It simply has pros and cons like any other decision you make. And again, I have so much respect for them and their ability to handle such pressure. 

Now allow me to show you the other side of the spectrum, the stay-at-home moms: the ones who may have given up on their dream jobs and their ambitions to stay at home and be there for their kids - I salute you too. Yes, we may have more time to get things done but this doesn't mean we are doing any less. I am saying this to myself before saying it to anyone else. Mothers who choose to be at home are doing a great job too. There is always something that needs to be done and getting it done also requires being organized and the ability to manage time well. 

Rasha and Ghalia with their kids

I encourage every woman to never give up on the job she wants. Maybe it's a home business that you wanted to start or a course you wanted to take. If you want something, go for it. Do it when the time is right for you and when you're ready enough to manage your time well. Don't think less of yourself, which I know is not always easy. You will want more and trust me, working moms will come across similar struggles where they'll feel like they want to be more present at home. After all, the grass is always greener on the other side. 


My main reason for writing this blog is to point out that these two categories are not to be compared. At the end of the day, we are all doing our best and we should know that everyone is fighting their own battle. We shouldn't judge or shame one another for making the choice that suits us best. Let's be more supportive and understanding. 

TOPICS THAT MAY INTEREST YOU

Most Popular