‘Just a mom?’ A man calculated true cost of 'stay-at-home moms’ and it's a six-figure number

Stay-at-home moms are mostly underestimated; they're often mocked for not doing anything productive. This is because they do not charge money for their labor, which ironically makes them undervalued. Zach Watson (@zachmentalloadcoach), a mental coach, wanted to break the stereotypical notion and decided to calculate the true cost of stay-at-home moms, which is surprisingly a six-figure number. He posted the video on his Instagram account, where it has been viewed 6 million times since.

A stay-at-home partner, in most cases, a mom, works as a private chef, preparing three meals daily. Watson estimated that if they charged money for it, then it would have been around $33,852 annually. They also work as housekeepers; if hired from outside, they would charge $36 for two hours ($13,104 per annum). The primary goal for all stay-at-home partners is taking care of the kids, and if that labor is calculated, then Watson said it would be $150,696 per year for their mental, physical, and emotional labor. "Driving for pickups, drop-offs, and errands 2 hours a day at $20 per hour, that's $14,560 a year," he added. Apart from the big responsibilities, the stay-at-home moms also handle laundry, grocery shopping, etc., which also adds up to a significant amount. "Event planner for birthdays, holidays, and trips, $500 a month — that's $6,000 a year — just for the mental load of it," Watson explained. What's surprising is that most housewives do all of these and more without sick leaves or PTOs. In total, Watson calculated that the stay-at-home partners work for $247,444/year for free. "Next time someone calls you 'just a mom,' show them this video," he said.

Her Index surveyed 3,490 American mothers, and they were shocked to know their experiences. The team revealed that a majority (75%) of respondents said that their 'unpaid labor' at home often goes unnoticed. The same study shared that 100% of the women said that "mom" is the most requested person at home, and their emotional labor is rarely acknowledged. Moreover, they found that the moms are always so busy with household responsibilities that 58% feel self-care is impossible, and most spend 0% of their day on it. This means that despite working around the clock, stay-at-home moms are hardly recognized, mostly because society associates money with value and productivity, leaving unpaid labor invisible.

Meanwhile, people were blown away by Watson's calculations; for instance, @valiakriston wrote, "Every woman should copy down this list and show it to their husband when they ask, 'What did you do all day?'" Similarly, @livekidfree commented, "Patriarchy convinces women to do this labor for free, that it’s our duty and obligation, and that we should aspire to be the absolute best mother and homemaker there ever was. So much of what we’re expected to take on is rooted in making men’s lives as easy and joyful as possible, insulating them from the suck of wife/motherhood while we disintegrate. No thanks." @littlekelxox confessed, "Mind-blowing... absolutely… and well said… I'm proud to be a mom. I wouldn't change it for the world. But it's sad when some say I'm just a stay-at-home mom... it's easy, and it's no value I bring to the table."

You can follow Zach Watson, M. Ed (@zachmentalloadcoach) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.

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