Moms Say They’re Not Getting Much Help From Dad
Turns out, feeling like a "married single mom" is more common than we thought.
By Caitlin Brody for TheBump.com
Being a mommy is a full-time job, but when you pair that with your own career and your relationship, not to mention running a household, you're bound to feel like you do it all. So ForbesWoman and The Bump surveyed over 1,200 mamas to get the dirt on how stay-at-home and working moms are dealing with balancing, well, everything, and we were pretty surprised to hear that 39% of both groups of mamas sometimes feel like a "married single mom," even though they're raising baby with a partner.
Back-to-work guide for new moms
So what does that mean exactly? Well, 91% of stay-at-home moms say they contribute more than half of the household work, and 98% do more than half of the parenting work. And while working moms seem to have it a little more balanced (hey, they are out of the house for most of the day), 77% say they still contribute more than half of the housework, and 85% do more than half of the parenting work. Phew! Talk about a big workload -- seriously, you're all Supermoms in our book!
But most important, what's going on with your other half, mama? Overall, moms say they feel resentment toward their partner because of these unbalances, and we all know that's not healthy...for anyone. In fact, roughly one-third of the moms surveyed say they definitely feel their partner could be more helpful or supportive. Half of stay-at-home moms say they don't get a mommy break...ever, and the majority of both working and stay-at-home moms feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities.
Why you hate your husband (after baby arrives)
In some cases, this blame really could be put on the guys. One new mom vented on The Bump's Facebook wall that her husband doesn't help out with the parenting, but he still manages to make his golf games. But it's not all so cut-and-dried. In fact, some moms have a bit of a Supermom complex and are opting to take on most of the work themselves: "When he's at work, it gives me the chance to stay home and raise my babies," says another mom on Facebook, who clearly wants to take on the bulk of parenting. Whether it's a choice or whether dad needs to step up his game seems to ultimately depend on each family's unique situation -- but no matter what, communication between a couple is key.
Photo: Thinkstock / The Bump
© 2011 The Knot Inc. All rights reserved.
More from TheBump.com
Worst parenting advice ever heard
Best sex positions for getting pregnant
Get postbaby skin and hair help here!
Baby name battles
Budget baby shower tips
