Mothering changes for better or worse

Most mothers of 50 years ago, even those of 25 years ago, didn’t work outside the home. So did their children get better parenting and more attention?

Experts are divided. Some say parenting is much better. Other experts disagree.

One University of Maryland study shows that women in 1965 spent 5.3 hours a day with their children. In 1998, the time had increased to 5.5 hours, 12 minutes more.

The study shows that though more women work, they carve out 40 hours a week for their children, the same number of hours in a standard work week.

How do they do it? No one said it was easy. They give up their own leisure time, (what’s THAT???) and surveys show that they spend less time on housework.

What about you?

Working women sleep less by five to six hours a week. (No wonder those pesky bags are hanging around under my eyes).

Plus, mothers today are increasingly likely to be single, not being able to share parenting duties with a husband. So they are more stressed; not necessarily such a great thing in life.

Todays mothers are better educated. Surveys show that the better educated a mom is, the more she will interact with her children.

The extra 12 minutes could be important too. There’s no telling what kind of activity today’s moms can cram into 12 minutes. That is the equivalent to at least two books at bedtime…

Cheesestick anyone? Let’s hop in the car and go to Carl’s soccer game and after that we’ll make it in time for Kung Fu and Lila’s piano lessons…sigh, those twelve minutes go fast!