The Worth of a Mom

A study recently conducted by Edelman Financial Services tried to identify the many occupations that typical mother might be said to hold over the course of a year. The researchers also examined salary data supplied by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, trade groups, and human resource and staffing firms. Putting all the information together, Edelman estimated that a mother's worth is approximately $507,000 per year! Here is a breakdown of the various tasks typically performed by a mother and the corresponding median salaries:

Animal Caretaker - $17,500
Executive Chef - $40,000
Computer Systems Analyst - $44,000
Financial Manager - $39,000
Food/Beverage Service Worker - $20,000
General Office Clerk - $19,000
Registered Nurse - $35,000
Management Analyst - $41,000
Childcare Worker - $13,000
Housekeeper - $9,000
Psychologist - $29,000
Bus Driver - $32,400
Elementary School Principal - $58,600
Dietitian/Nutritionist - $41,600
Property Manager - $22,600
Social Worker - $30,000
Recreation Worker - $15,500

The Edelman study suggested that since a mother wears many hats and is on duty 24/7, she deserves a full-time, annual salary for all 17 positions. And since the retirement, health, and insurance benefits that workers in these positions typically receive were not factored in, the figures should actually be higher!

Quite a flattering list, don't you think? But I noticed that a few items were left out of the calculations. For example:

Kissing a boo-boo - priceless
Fixing a favorite mean just the way they like it - priceless
Making them feel special on their birthdays - priceless
Getting up during the night for feedings or illness - priceless
Adjudicating sibling disputes - priceless
Searching the entire house for a lost gerbil - priceless
Cheering enthusiastically from the sidelines - priceless
Scratching their backs while they lie in bed - priceless
Baking warm cookies for an after-school snack - priceless
Telling stories at bedtime - priceless
Holding their hands during vaccinations - priceless
Giving a hug, a smile, a word of encouragement - priceless

There really are some things money just can't buy! While Edelman's research may have been on the right track, the truth is a mother's worth is incalculable. Few can duplicate our loving touch. What price tag can be placed on the sense of warmth and comfort we bring to our homes? On the feeling of protection and safety our children enjoy just because we're nearby? On our uncanny ability to sense our children's needs before they even ask?





Taken from "The Power of a Positive Mom" written by Karol Ladd