Some of these seem like completely random “jobs”.  What the heck is a “computer operator?”  Is that the amount of time you spend on Facebook?  What’s the difference between a “Facilities Manager” and “Chief Executive Officer” - seems like one would be in charge of the other.  Not to mention that “Janitor” and “Housekeeper” would cover the same jobs.  In fact, the only thing up there that really is different from what ALL women (and many men) do every day is the Day Care Center Teacher.  

Thanks to www.salary.com, I was able to find the average salaries for these jobs and was able to work out the hourly wages.  I’ve deleted the categories that don’t apply, merged the ones that are too similar (and deleted the Chief Executive Officer, which earns $336 per hour) and added a few more that apply to me.  I’ve estimated how much I spend on each item each week.  Below is what MY salary would be for the things I do around the house.  My “Anti-SAHM Salary”, if you like.

So where is MY virtual check?  Because you can websites online that let you print out "Mom Checks" with the dollar amount that "mom" is worth.  Where are the websites for "Everyone Else Checks"?  I understand that difference, I really do.  I certainly don't feel that I'm entitled to even a pretend paycheck for doing the things around the house that need to get done.  Because my own husband doesn't acknowledge the time I put in around the house, I can understand that SAHMs don't want to be taken for granted.  However, this is just one more division in the SAHM vs. Working Mom vs. Childfree battle that always seems to be raging just under the surface of every woman.

The thing that bothers me the most about these “SAHM salaries” is that most of what they do is what the rest of us do every day - they just have more kid-oriented activities in their days.  Which, again, is their choice.  Should they get paid for it, even in theory?  No.  I don’t get paid for having dogs.  I don’t get paid because I live in a house, which requires more work (and a LOT more money) than an apartment.  These are things that you just do in life.  Most of them don’t really require any skills, per se.  Does a price REALLY need to be attached?  Anyone can have kids.  Anyone can be a SAHM.  Not everyone can be a lawyer, or doctor, or construction worker.  When I read about these mom salaries, it just underscores how they are incredibly insecure and need to feel better about their choice to remain out of the workforce.

Is it a bad choice to make?  No.  Being a SAHM is a personal decision.  It is made out of several different factors: cost of childcare, wanting to spend her children’s formative years with them, even purely selfish reasons.  But that doesn’t make it a right or wrong decision.  I’m sorry some SAHMs feel that their decision is under attack.  I know even the childfree are divided on the issue.  Personally, I think that if a mom WANTS to be a SAHM, then she should be if possible.  If being a SAHM will make her unhappy, she definitely shouldn’t do it.  The main focus here is what is best for the child, and either way, a miserable mom will not provide a nurturing environment.  If a SAHM needs to have her decision validated, then maybe it wasn't the best decision for her.  I understand it's not always a choice - sometimes the cost of childcare is too high.  But, then again, if you can't afford childcare and you don't want to stay at home, then you shouldn't have kids.

But back to my main point - being a SAHM is NOT A JOB.  A job is what you do to pay the bills.  It is something that is required to get by in life, and if you enjoy it, that's a nice little bonus.  Being a daycare provider is a job.  Being a preschool teacher is a job.  Being a nanny is a job.   Being a mom is a lifestyle, whether that mom works or stays at home.  And a lifestyle doesn’t warrant a salary, even a figurative one.

What's your Anti-SAHM Salary?  Let us know in The Childfree Life forums!