When Both Parents Work
Raising a family while working outside the home offers benefits for parents and children.
You and your spouse can enjoy the sense of accomplishment and added financial security that
may come from pursuing two careers. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that children
tend to feel proud and learn greater independence when both parents succeed in the workplace.
Even so, balancing family and career can be challenging. At times, you
may feel guilty about time spent away from children, exhausted from juggling
workplace and household responsibilities or discouraged by schedules that limit
personal time.
Striking a healthy balance between family and career involves planning and compromise.
This article offers information and suggestions to help you:
- Evaluate the cost of working versus staying at home.
- Select child-care and workplace options for your family.
- Simplify household routines.
- Make the most of family time.
- Allow time for yourself.
- Manage a household as a single parent.
- Cope with the responsibilities when a military spouse is deployed.
- Pursue the role of a stay-at-home dad.
- Balance your time with a multi-generational family.
By making conscious choices, setting realistic expectations and
managing time and resources wisely, you and your spouse can maintain a
stable and nurturing home environment while pursuing two careers.
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To Balance Family And Career
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- Establish your core values and priorities.
- Make conscious choices.
- Set realistic expectations.
- Manage time and resources wisely.
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Should Both Parents Work?
There is no right or wrong answer to the question of whether or not both
parents should work. Your own decision may change with time and circumstances.
Consider the following factors as you determine the best option for your family.
- Each parent’s career goals.
- Each parent’s future earning potential and opportunities for advancement.
- Each parent’s job and medical insurance benefits.
- Each parent’s continuing education goals.
- Each parent’s ability to manage stress.
- Children’s ages, personalities and needs.
- Nearby family or friends for support.
- The cost of working versus staying at home.
- Each parent’s time and effort to maintain good
health.
| Factors To Consider
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Both Parents At Work
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One Parent At Home
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- Higher family income.
- Shared household responsibilities.
- Child-care and work-related expenses.
- Guilt over time away from children.
- Too tired or busy to enjoy family time.
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- Lower family income.
- More opportunity to nurture children.
- More divided household responsibilities.
- Lower expenses.
- More time for family and social activities.
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Did You Know?
The American Academy of Pediatrics says a child who is emotionally well-adjusted,
well-loved and well-nurtured will thrive whether or not both parents work outside the home.
The Cost Of Working
Do not assume both you and your spouse must work for financial stability.
Sometimes, a second income barely offsets the costs of child-care, increased
federal income tax and other
work-related expenses. Take time to calculate the cost of maintaining two
careers. Use the Work-Related Expense Work Sheet to help you.
Also consider the intangible costs of both parents working outside the home. These may include:
- Added fatigue and stress.
- Strain on personal relationships.
- Limited involvement in children’s school and extracurricular activities.
- Less attention given to raising children.
- Less personal time.
You may determine that the benefits of a second career do not outweigh the costs of working.
Making Your Decision
When making a decision for your family, focus on your family’s situation,
your strengths and weaknesses and your ability to juggle multiple responsibilities.
Remember that working does not automatically mean you will neglect your children, just
as staying at home does not guarantee you will be a model parent. The important thing is to
find a solution that works best for your family and goals.
Topics covered in this section are:
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Education
Education