The Mommy Maid
July 22, 2011 No Comments
It’s not Molly Maid any more, it’s Mommy Maid.
As we all know, women still shoulder most of the housework. Yet as much as we acknowledge this, we tend to minimize just how much work they’re putting in. It’s time that those of us who get away duty-free learn the cold hard truth: moms are devoting 70 hours a week to household duties, says a new study.
Yes, a grueling 70 hours a week without breaks and lack of cash reward. Researchers estimate women would be making around $57,000 if they were employed in the housekeeping industry. Even this doesn’t seem like enough, but it’s still a disturbing figure.
If moms are doing the work without the pay cheque to make it feel worthwhile, are they supposed to be paid in love and respect? At least. But even this seems hard to come by. “When you’ve got a young child at home you’re constantly on the go and it’s a job that mums rarely get any thanks or recognition for,” says Daniella Delaney, editor of Practical Parenting and Pregnancy magazine.
It’s a thankless job that extends beyond the family unit. “The modern mom is under a huge amount of pressure to give their best in all areas of their lives and their contribution to society often goes unnoticed,” says Sylvia Chind from Three, the mobile phone company who performed the survey.
A normal day in the life of a modern mommy consists of getting up bleary-eyed after only six hours’ sleep, spending 53 minutes getting their children ready for school, going to their “real” jobs, then coming home and cooking dinner, helping kids with homework and then spending 53 minutes getting them to bed so they can have a precious hour (if that) to themselves. To put it all in perspective, at the end of the day, a mom “puts in longer shifts than a junior doctor.”
For those of us who take our moms for granted, this is a loud wake up call. Moms are much more than maids. They deserve love, respect and especially a break once in awhile.
Contact the author here: tinybart@morningquickie.com
