Children’s Physical Health Suffers When Mothers are Absent
Children’s sleep is severely compromised when both parents work outside the home. Working mothers are not available during the day to see that their children stay on a healthy sleep schedule, and many wake their children up in the morning in order to get to work on time and keep them up at night because they haven’t seen them all day. The result is sleep deprivation, which negatively affects children’s behavior and cognitive abilities. In addition to sleep deprivation, the percentage of overweight children has tripled since mothers began to enter the workforce in droves. Rather than sitting down to a healthy meal prepared by Mom, today’s children are eating excessive amounts of prepared meals and are snacking after school in front of the television rather than playing outside.
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Though all this might happen in a house where the mother works, this does not happen just because the mother is working. I know both sides to this, as I have been both sides to this. I did stayed home with my children for a few years. I have and am a working mom . My children do not stay up late, they do not wake up any early then they do for school. We do not eat crap, we do not sit in front of the television all evening. When I come home from work I or my HUSBAND cooks a full dinner. We do homework together. Yes, studies during the summer too! We all play for a little or do crafts after studing. Then my HUSBAND and/or I give the kids baths and get them off to bed at a descen time. I know that 40 years ago the womens work was in the home, but 40 years ago one salary was enough. Now that 2 salaries are usually needed the MAN needs to pitch in around the house.
I know not everyone raises their families the same, however, I don't any families that are as described in this arguement. I am not saying there aren't families out there that are just as described, but I can tell you it is not the majority of families with working moms . All but 1 of my girl friends are working moms and this does not describe their children or life style at all.
Why is a working mother worse for child than a working father?
Sleep is a very important part of a developing child's life, but it is not something that is only affected when both parents work outside of the home. Being an honors high school student there are many everyday activities such as homework, college preperation, and having a semblance of a social life that can affect one's sleep. Experts say that children should get at least 9 hours of sleep a night, but this is unrealistic with the amount of things a child has to accomplish in a day. This can also be attributed to a the statistic of overweight children. This rise in obesity can be linked to how many activites a child does leaving no time to get in three well-balanced meals a day. These two instances should not be blamed on working moms, rather on socitey and the pressure it puts on children to be the best at everything they do.
"In addition to sleep deprivation, the percentage of overweight children has tripled since mothers began to enter the workforce in droves." How can it be determined what causes overweight children? At the time women began to enter the workforce I am sure there were other social changes that lent a hand to the obesity epidemic, such as the increasing number of fast food chains. Also, just because a parent is out working does not mean the children can not exercise. Once again it all goes back to lifestyle, for there are many families that still believe in keeping their children healthy, even while working.
When a mother is keeping a hawk's eye on her child for twenty-four hours of each day of the week, she is able to control each and every item that enters her child's mouth. In this way, her presence most definitely effects the child's weight, for she is the one who determines what is healthy and what is not. If the child is being watched by someone else, they may want to take the easy route and give the child sweets or the like simply to keep them happy. By being around her child all day, a mother is also able to teach the child what is healthy and what is not. She can instill her own values in the child and he will model her and her habits, rather than a stranger's.
I can also agree with SweenyToddInc, however, when she comments on the actual cause of weight gain. When a mother decides she needs to enter the workforce, it may be because the economy is down, similar to today. According to a recent article in the NY Times, "Energy-dense munchies cost on average $1.76 per 1,000 calories, compared with $18.16 per 1,000 calories for low-energy but nutritious foods." It is the slumping economy that can therefore be attributed to the mother's absence (due to working) and the child's weight gain occurring simultaneously. There are far too many factors leading to weight gain for one to place the blame on the mother's absence.
The main point of the argument is that the child’s health is comprised due to the mother working outside the home. First of all, in the argument, the responsibility is put on the mother to manage her child’s sleeping and eating schedule, which is certainly a job that any person who cares for the child can do. It is an obvious hasty generalization that “…many wake their children up in the morning…and keep them up at night…the result is sleep deprivation”. Although it may be true that this occasionally happens, the health and well-being of a child is most certainly a priority for a mother, thus she would not force her schedule upon her child to result in a medical condition. The following argument addresses the rising obesity of children, where a cause and effect fallacy is made. It is mentioned that children have become overweight due to mothers entering the workforce. This association cannot be made, though, because there is no evidence to support that claim. Obesity in children has risen for many different reasons and cannot be associated to just the rise of mothers in the workforce. It is possible that all children, regardless of the status of their mothers in the workforce, are eating excessive amounts of prepared food and watching television.
The one that you supposedly have to support your view (your mere outdated opinion that the shackles of sex and gender role are still in place) that actually doesn't.... that is great. I loved it.
I am lucky enough, or not lucky some would say, to have experienced both sides of childhood; living with mother always at home and living without a mother at home. My mother stayed at home and tended to the home like tradition would have it and I enjoyed this very much. When I was fourteen my mom decided to go back to work. Immediately I saw a difference in my families eating habits and overall health. The number of family meals we had weekly dramatically decreased solely due to the fact that my mother was too tired to prepare a decent meal for a large family of six. So, the primary solution was to eat out or snack at home. I saw a difference in the way I was raised and my younger brothers were, and I have to say I was glad to be brought up by a stay at home mom. Since it is a known fact that families that communicate and help each other with their problems, I truly believe that working moms put their kids behind.
plenty of SAHM having no clue whatsoever as to what a sleep schedule is and keeping up kids to attend get togathers and family dinners and what not. In essence working moms are more aware and caerful with time management and keep school nights and weekends more in line. What is your claim based on since my observation is exactly the opposite...sleep deprivation is not a result of a working mom but a result of lack of knowledge on the part of the parent regarding the need for age appropriate sleep amount and priority of a parent. Some families just dont give sleep and schedules importance, esp. if they have plenty of time to begin with.
Are you against all working moms or just the ones who don't work as professionals liek lawyer, docs, engineers. Apparently then you think women should not be docs, engineers, teachers, lawyers, officers, anything. I am a working mom, my original profession is a physician but for one or another reason i couldnt work as one but i pursued my Masters and work with a Govt. agency full time. Both my kids are in bed by 7, they eat 3 healthy meals a day, well the 3 year old does, the 6 month old is breastfed and solid fed and I pump and provide milk for him for daycare. They both STTN and have a lot of time with me and their dad on weekends. It amazes me to see such narrow mindedness in this time and age, and even more that it is in a book that is actually selling, this is actually funny.
Hey Najma,
I am just curious as to what you completed your masters in. I was planning to go to med school but I have two kids and have been thinking if I might want to do my masters in something else.I do not know if I should enter medical school at 32. I am so overwhelmed with feelings of guilt already and want some suggestions!
looking forward to your advice !
Thanks,
What a load of rubbish!! I am a working mother and i fix my schedule to allow me to spend time with my daughter without keeping her up late at night. I cook all her meals, and have a live in nanny so that she is not woken up early to go to daycare - the examples you use in your opinion are examples of bad parenting, not the norm!! Are you suggesting that a family should go without the additional income that the working mom provides? Clearly you must be on the "wealthy" side of life, allowing you to stay at home with your children. You should try living on my side where two incomes are sorely needed, then come back and give your opinion again.
I am saddened by your book and by your apparent inability to spend some time in another woman's shoes. What about the mothers who are forced back to work due to a failing economy? A result that she could have not predicted nor affected? Will my children be ruined by having a working mother? How dare you draw the line like that - as if everyone has a choice, everytime. Sometimes there is no choice - not even if you believe you can make any situation different. By the way, writing, publishing and promoting a book is considered "work" the last time I looked - what were your children suffering as a result of your clear dedication to your work?
Your argument is very misguided indeed. Perhaps one day the money you've earning working on your book will run out, your husband will lose his job, and you too will be forced to make choices you don't want to. Learning that your children, likely your most precious possessions, will be ruined as a result of your "choice", will likely not help matters. Thanks for helping one woman get a terrible night sleep. Good luck to you and your very selfish proclamations.
Why is it the mother's responsibility, and not the father's, to make sure that "their children stay on a healthy sleep schedule" and to prepare healthy meals for the children to eat? Your argument is extremely sexist.
The problems you are talking about may be real, but they're not the mother's fault. Working parents shouldn't selfishly keep their children up late at night; that's just stupid, and unrelated to the gender ratios of the workforce. Ideally parents should negotiate for flexible schedules so that one or the other parent can be there to make sure they get to school in the morning and check that they get home safe. Also, parents can provide healthy food for their kids and teach their children healthy habits instead of just resorting to fast food and TV dinners. There are ways to make healthy eating quick and easy, but popular opinion hasn't caught on.
You're giving examples of irresponsible parenting and saying it would all be fixed if women didn't work -- but the problems would also be fixed if men didn't work, or if parents were smarter and more responsible. This is a very misguided argument.