The Femme Files

She Works Hard for the Money!

She wakes herself up extra early in the morning only to ensure the rest of the household is up, too. Breakfast is on the table not long after. Lunches are packed; backpacks and briefcases are by the door. She’ll make sure the kids are clothed and coiffed, which she’ll also have to manage for herself.  Then it’s off to school and work.

These are only the first few waking hours of her day.

Thereafter it’s the 9 to 5 hustle and bustle-which is only the interim because the kids will have to be collected; dinner will have to be prepared and homework will need some helping. If there’s a minute to spare, she would love to fit in some exercise or relaxation, but this will be unlikely as she has laundry and other domestic duties to fulfil.

This day is just another ordinary day of an ordinary working mum…But is it all that ordinary?

 Because it seems pretty extraordinary how women handle all that’s on their plates these days. Their juggling skills and balancing act are comparable to that of a circus freak- minus the well deserved recognition and round of applause.

Speaking of a minus, mums are also missing out on the six figures they deserve for all they do.

According to Salary.com’s 2011 survey, “What is mom is worth?”, based on over 6,500 women, it has been determined that if payment could be given to the time stay-at- home mums spend performing the top 10 job functions in the home, her salary would equate to an annual salary of $115,432.

These jobs (arranged by the number of hours working them) include housekeeper, childcare, chef, computer operator, facilities manager, chauffeur, psychologist, launderer, janitor and chief executive officer.

Meanwhile, a working mum’s “at home” salary of performing these jobs would near $63,472 in addition to the salary she earns from the workplace- which could easily translate over six figures.

Wouldn’t that be nice if mums could receive payment for their domestic contributions?!

Given they don’t (and probably won’t ever will), it just goes to show how women are extraordinary creatures, capable of selflessly giving themselves and juggling life’s commitments for the sake of their family.

Femmefile readers, if you are one of these women, you deserve a much needed break! Let you partner know how much your new annual salary (and yourself) are actually worth! It may very well be his time to work a bit of overtime.