Is it really worth to be a stay at home mom? Calculating your true value (2024)

Though most days, I wouldn’t trade what I do for the world- there are definitely times that I question why I choose to stay at home.

Let’s face it, it’s not for everyone and every single moment is not wonderful.

This is my second stint as a stay at home mom, my first coming after Sweet B was born.

I was a different person then and I was at a different period in my life. But that’s neither here nor there. Eventually I did end up going back to work, but with Squeaker, I want to stay at home longer. Still, that leads me to wonder, is being a stay at home mom worth it? Granted, yes, I’ve gotten into blogging and we’re considering homeschooling. I’m also looking into work at home ventures to help support until I can really get the blog going.

Is being a stay at home mom worth it?

Well, I think that’s a personal decision and one that you and your spouse or you and your significant other need to make. Sometimes it may be worth it to have someone there and to balance out the expenses. But sometimes it may be more beneficial to have two incomes coming in.

When I was still pregnant, Kyle and I discussed whether or not I would return to work or stay at home with Squeaker. We realized, from past experience, that if I did go back to work most of my paycheck would end up going to daycare expenses. And if that was the case, it didn’t make sense to either of us to put her in daycare.

That and I wanted the opportunity to breastfeed her for as long as possible and I figured that it would be easier if I stayed at home with her.

I also realized that staying at home meant being able to be there for Sweet B when she was off from school and not having to take a day off or find other arrangements.

But why is being a stay at home mom worth it for our family?

For us, it meant determining what our income sources were and if we could really afford it.

Had I opted to go back to work, I would have had a part time schedule with decent pay. That wasn’t something that I was looking to change because I needed to be here to get Sweet B off the bus after school.

But, would my part time pay really amount to anything for expenses?

Yes and no.

It would help with utilities and other bills.

But it wouldn’t begin to offset the cost of daycare for Squeaker.

That and I really wanted the opportunity to enjoy her and enjoy her childhood.

And, at the time, I was also in the midst of obtaining my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. But, ultimately, I ended up heading in a different direction as my career goals started to shift.

Do you attach a monetary value to your worth as a stay at home mom?

I would highly advise that you avoid this train of thought. Reason being? It can be dangerous and disheartening. Your worth is beyond monetary.

But, if you need to see the numbers, let’s consider this:

Here’s a basic job description for a stay at home mom:

• Teacher
• Chef
• Event Planner
• Housekeeper
• Accountant
• Chauffeur

Now, that’s basic.. and some moms might do more, some might do less.

So what does that all add up to salary wise?

• The low range for a daycare teacher starts at $9.91/hour
• The low range for a housekeeper starts at $8.15/hour
• The low range for a short order cook starts at $7.97/hour
• The low range for an event planner starts at $11.65/hour
• The low range for an accountant starts at $14.01/hour
• The low range for a chauffeur starts at $9.22/hour

Keeping in mind that we aren’t doing all of these things at once, let’s break it down further:

• 4 hours daily as a chauffeur = $36.88
• 4 hours daily as a housekeeper = $32.60
• 10 hours daily as a daycare teacher = $99.10
• 5 hours daily as a short order cook = $39.85

Your daily salary = $208.43

Your weekly salary = $1,042.15

Your monthly salary = $4,168.60

That doesn’t include the event planning, we’ll say 5 hours per month = $58.25

And accountant (if you’re doing budgeting monthly) 2 hours per month = $28.02

All total = $4,254.87/month

Oh wait! I forgot… silly me. You don’t get weekends off.

Your weekly salary = $1,459.01

Your monthly salary = $5,836.04

All total = $5,922.31

Now, keep in mind, those numbers are on the low end of the pay scale. And it’s not factoring in all the other things that you do as a mom.

Why Being a Stay At Home Mom Is Worth It

With both V and Sweet B being premature and having needs, it meant days filled with therapists in and out of the house. And then when they were both old enough, they were off to preschool for further early intervention services.

So even though I was a stay at home mom, it was never really just us.

With Squeaker, on the other hand, most days it’s just us.

So I get to enjoy the little things and I get to play with her. And I remember watching, in anticipation, as V or Sweet B would just miss their milestones or hit them late.

But with Squeaker?

The non-monetary value of being a stay at home mom

That was my sweet Squeaker in February of 2014, working on tummy time.

Through every nerve wrecking, painstaking month of her development- I got to be there. Every moment, every milestone, every little thing- I got to be there.

I got to facilitate this.

Of course I still voiced my concerns to Kyle about whether or not Squeaker would regress like her older sister. And so far she hasn’t. But even if she does, I’ll be prepared for it.

With Squeaker, I can resurrect plans of homeschooling and I can just enjoy the little things and the every day things. Even if we only homeschool preschool, I can still plan for this.

Not that I didn’t with Sweet B or V, but with Squeaker it is decidedly different.

So for as much as she does, occasionally, get on my nerves I remind myself she’s just being a child. And she’s curious about everything. She’s sweet and affectionate, stubborn and persistent, observant and smart.

How I measure my worth as a stay at home mom

She is why, to me, being a stay at home mom is worth it.

I get to be there for practically everything.

And more often than not, I’m learning just as much from her as I hope that she’s learning from me.