New findings from the Pew Research Center show that a lot has changed for working moms and dads. What's suprising is how parents feel about it.
The number of moms who say they would prefer to work full-time is 37 percent, up from from 21 percent in 2007. The economy may be to blame, according to the report: Of those struggling financially, 47 percent wanted to work full time, compared to only 31 percent of those living with less financial pressure.
Yet a whopping 45 percent of moms and 41 percent of dads say the best thing for a young child is to have a mother who works part-time. Only 16 percent of dads said having a mom who works full time is best for children. So moms want to be working more, but a large number of parents feel that it's not best for the kids.
As the conversation about work-life balance continues, the most important part of the study may lie in the agreement on one thing. Regardless of who brings home more bacon or who helps with more homework, moms and dads equally reported feeling stressed about balancing the increasing demands of both work and family life -- and that's not good for anyone.
Lela Davidson is the author of Blacklisted from the PTA, and Who Peed on My Yoga Mat? Her thoughts on marriage, motherhood, and life-after-40 have appeared in hundreds of magazines, websites, and anthologies.
