40 People Share Why Being a Stay-at-Home Mom Is the Hardest Job... And Why Some Think it Isn’t

You'll often hear talk about why stay-at-home moms, or SAHMs, have some of the hardest lives. Others aren't as dramatic about it, but still admit that it's a tough job. Still, some feel that it's not hard at all, and that SAHMs pity themselves far too hard. They even go so far as to say that stay-at-home moms have it made. Maybe it's all a little true, but you can decide after checking out why people think one way or the other.

All the Same Chores

One argument against stay-at-home moms is the fact that everything they do at home still has to be done by people who also work a regular job. People who work office jobs still have to fold clothes, clean the kitchen, sweep floors, etc.

So, in that sense, how could being a SAHM possibly be harder than working a normal job? It just seems like less work to some people. But admittedly, there might be a few counterpoints somewhere further down on this list.

Riddle Me This

Another argument against stay-at-home moms is the fact that other people make an actual profession out of watching kids all day. Daycare workers have to look after many kids every day, and they seem to do it just fine, right?

We feel that this argument is a little disingenuous. Being a SAHM involves more than just caring for a kid, and daycare workers often have other staff to take care of things a SAHM would normally have to do herself.

All of That and More

Indeed, the things that a SAHM has to do are things that everyone has to do. Everyone who has kids has to take care of them, and everyone has to grocery shop, among other things. But is it really true that the people who work nine-to-five jobs have to do all of that themselves?

After all, if you work such a job, you probably leave your kids in the care of another during that time. If you have a partner, they probably also take a fair share of your burden here. Still, we do understand the argument.

The Monotony of it All

Here's a strong argument for why being a stay-at-home mom, or any parent, is tough. It's the fact that the whole thing is just so immensely monotonous. Every day, you do the same stuff. You face the same routine, face the same problems, and deal with the same noise every day.

It can be maddening. It's definitely not very exciting or stimulating - which is a problem since that excitement is what most people need in their day-to-day lives. Still, lots of people work jobs that are just as monotonous every day, so is it really a unique problem?