Relationship
Pardon for working moms: New study reveals positive impact on child development

Pardon for working moms: New study reveals positive impact on child development

Researchers at Columbia University in the United States have confirmed what rational mothers and fathers already knew: what counts most is the relationship we develop with our children and the happiness of the family unit.

The research included 1,000 children from birth to 7 years old and considered a number of different factors: vocabulary, reading, academic tests and family characteristics. Teachers and parents also rated the children’s behavior.

Commenting on the consequences of a mother returning to the workplace, Jane Waldfogel, co-author of the study, commented: “In reality, a lot of other things change the moment you go to work, including the quality of childcare, mental health of the mother, and relationships with family and household income. We’ve looked at all of these.” While the study found that some babies raised by full-time working mothers scored slightly lower on cognitive tests, the positive effects of working mothers outweighed the negatives.

The result of this study contrasts sharply with previous studies, namely UNICEF research from 2008, which concluded that mothers who returned to work before their child’s first birthday were “playing” with their child’s development. An earlier study from the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex in the UK reached a similar conclusion.

My blog, Career Women Make Bad Mothers, highlighted a number of positive effects that working mothers have on their children, which have also been confirmed by this latest research. What is most interesting about this recent study is the recognition that children are also affected by family dynamics, that is, a happy family makes a happy child. Let’s consider some of the other positive effects of women pursuing their careers after work.

Parent benefit
Dads may benefit from moms working, as they feel less pressure to provide financial security for the family. Maybe it gives them the flexibility to make different career decisions. They can also improve their work-life balance as they are more involved with the children to support the mother’s career. The Center for Work and Family at Boston College reported that parents today equate being a good parent with ‘being there’ and spending time with their children, rather than simply being the breadwinner.

Benefits of the mother-father partnership
Sharing responsibility for financial security, as well as the well-being of the family, results in mothers and fathers appreciating the role of breadwinner and parent. Neither role is particularly easy, but understanding firsthand what’s involved makes each partner appreciate the other’s contribution.

If I hadn’t had a career, I couldn’t have understood why my other half had to work so many hours. (The brilliance does not occur between 9 and 5). Having worked hard to advance my own career, I understand very well what it takes to be successful. In contrast, if my other half hadn’t been actively involved in raising our kids, he might not have understood the mental challenge of dealing with two-year-old tantrums or teenage mood swings.

Mothers Benefit
Women can benefit greatly from a challenging career, bringing back home energy, enthusiasm, and relevant skills like problem solving, strategic planning, and conflict resolution, just to name a few. I would also say that it is this back and forth between the two environments that keeps you fresh and energized and allows you to bring patience and perspective to each environment as a result of stepping back.

Organization benefit
While many professions have equal or higher incomes from women at the entry level, the number of professional women drops sharply at higher levels. Certainly one explanation for this decline is the number of women who do not continue their professions after starting a family. Organizations need a gender balance to ensure sound decision-making, innovation, and alignment with the interests of customers and shareholders. Organizations benefit when professional women return from maternity leave and continue to contribute to the growth and sustainability of the business.

Don’t wait for another study to determine if you’re making the right decisions for your family. Use your common sense. Be logical. Know yourself and make decisions with confidence. Everyone benefits when women happily combine career and family: women benefit, men benefit, children benefit, and their profession benefits.

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