Mother – noun – a person who does the work of twenty. For free. (see also superhero, warrior, saint).
Sunday is Mother’s Day. No amount of pay can adequately communicate how much a mother is really worth. Her value is priceless. They say you can’t put a price on love, but can you put a price on what a mother is worth?
Salary.com thinks you can and their annual lets you calculate just how much all your mom work is worth based on real salary data.
From a survey of over 6,000 moms, they found that these super-human women perform a huge range of jobs all rolled into one: from CEO to Psychologist, a mom’s work is never done.
The survey estimated:
- Stay-at-home moms work an average of 94 hours a week and would collect a salary of $113,586 a year.
- Working mothers spend 40 hours a week at work outside the home, but then come home and perform an average of 58 hours a week on household and childcare duties worth $67,436 a year.
Add to the usual responsibilities, the added job of college prep coach, and your worth is invaluable to your teenager.
Moms deserve a medal and more than one special day a year. After dealing with conflict, emotions, stress and tough decisions during college prep it’s easy to be overwhelmed and exhausted.
Here are 20 jobs every mom of a college-bound student performs:
- Head Cheerleader and College Coach
- Organization Expert (for all the high school awards, past essays, report cards, and college material)
- Taxi Driver (to and from sporting events and college fairs)
- Life Coach (guiding to make the right college choice based on fit)
- Anger Management Coach (during the many heated discussions over college)
- Family Therapist (intervention at least once a week}
- Errand Runner (for all those college-related tasks)
- English Teacher (specializing proofreading and editing of essays)
- (planning for all college costs)
- Personal Assistant (staying on top of deadlines, application submissions, test prep booking)
- Personal Shopper (preparing for the inevitable move-out day)
- Travel Agent (making arrangements for all college visits)
- Event Coordinator (specializing in all senior celebrations)
- Sleep Scientist (making sure your teen gets enough sleep and providing late night study support as needed)
- Safety Patrol (watching for any risky behavior to address before college)
- PhD in Reverse Psychology (especially before and after the college decision)
- Separation Anxiety Counselor (preparing for college move-in day)
- Parent Mediator (running interference between all the well-meaning advice and what your teen really wants and needs)
- Scholarship Coach (this will require many hours of searching and constant motivation)
- Investment Counselor (completing the FAFSA, deciphering the award letter, deciphering student loans based on college ROI)
Having been a mother for over 40 years, I can’t remember ever receiving a check for mothering. I have, however, received homemade cards, flowers, drawings, wonderful memories, and many heartfelt “thanks” and “love you, mom”. Those gifts are worth more than money, although a trip to Paris might be nice!