Fielded by Proof Insights on behalf of Mother Untitled (now The Power Pause)
A study of stay-at-home motherhood in 2023
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A study of stay-at-home motherhood in 2023 /
It’s time to bring stay-at-home mothers into the conversation.
When a college-educated woman leaves or downshifts her paid job to lean into motherhood, what does she gain and what does she give up —and how is she changed for the long-haul? "The Power Pause (formerly Mother Untitled)’s first-ever proprietary study answers these questions and sends a clear message to the world: Stay-at-home mothers matter. This group is worth studying and deserves advocacy.
/ Stay-at-home mothers don’t belong on the fringes of the work and family discourse.
More than 50% of working moms said they are extremely or very likely to reduce their hours or downshift to a less taxing job in the next two years.
1 in 3 working moms said they are somewhat, very, or extremely likely to leave their jobs for stay-at-home parenthood in the next two years.
/ Why mothers pause
77%
Didn’t want to miss out on children’s learning/developmental milestones
83%
Wanted to spend more time with my child
62%
Childcare was too expensive
79%
of stay-at-home mothers say most people don’t understand the work that goes into being a stay-at-home mom.
68% of stay-at-home mothers feel underappreciated.
Read more
From finances to childcare, professional fulfillment, and work-life balance, there’s so much to weigh when it comes to deciding whether to return to work after maternity leave.
/Most stay-at-home mothers don’t regret their choice, but the financial stress can still be overwhelming.
75%
of stay-at-home mothers say the trade-off in household income was worth it.
So, what do they worry about?
Depending on a partner for income is the number one worry.
Read more
From school tuition to braces to family vacations, stay-at-home mothers are used to saving and planning for everyone else. But experts say there’s plenty moms should do to financially protect themselves, too.
More than half of mothers report that relying on their partner for income is one of their biggest sources of stress.
/Stay-at-home mothers prioritize their kids’ mental health but not their own.
How stay-at-home mothers measure their success:
Mental Health
listed their kids’ mental health
listed their own mental health.
Physical Health
listed their kid’s physical health
listed their own physical health.
Read more
A new school year isn’t just a fresh start for kids. It can be an ideal time for moms to prioritize their needs and start healthy new habits. Here’s how.
/Friendship in stay-at-home motherhood is crucial, but the “mom squad” can be hard to find.
44%
of stay-at-home moms say it’s hard to make friends as a stay-at-home mom.
More than 1 in 10 stay-at-home mothers said they don’t have any mom friends.
Half of stay-at-home mothers say that leaving their job decreased the size of their mom friend circle. Only 16 percent say it increased. The rest say it stayed the same size.
Pre-existing networks are the most fruitful source of mom friends in stay-at-home motherhood:
38%
Friends before motherhood
34%
Work
30%
Mutual Friends
Read more
The AMP Survey revealed exactly how moms make friends with one another, and like everything in parenting, the details may surprise you.
/Stay-at-home motherhood is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week job, yet few mothers regularly outsource the care of their children.
Stay-at-home mothers say:
37%
they feel guilty for “paying someone to watch their kids because they don’t earn their own salary.”
73%
they struggle to find someone they trust to stay with their children.
59%
the cost of childcare is a barrier.
29%
they have never used childcare, including family help.
Read more
When you’re suddenly down to one income, paying for childcare, no matter how sporadic, can feel like an extravagance. Here’s how stay-at-home mothers across the country make it work.
Leaving your kids in a babysitter’s care takes a level of trust that may not come naturally. Here’s how to ensure the caregiver you choose puts your mind at ease.
In their words
/A chapter of stay-at-home motherhood shapes how women approach looking for their next job .
45%
of stay-at-home moms said they gave some or a lot of thought to how being a stay-at-home mom would affect their career path before pausing their careers.
1 in 3
stay-at-home mothers worry about the gap in their resume.
29%
of stay-at-home mothers are worried about their diminishing work skills.
Top 3 factors stay-at-home moms will prioritize as they seek their next paid jobs:
Read more
Finding a flexible position after a caregiving pause is possible when armed with this expert advice.
A career coach shows you how to write a resume that puts the focus on your skills and achievements—not your time away from the workforce.
/ methodology
The survey was fielded by the independent research firm Proof Insights from March 24 to April 3, 2023, to 1,000 members of the general population and to 1,200 mothers who considered themselves full-time or part-time stay-at-home mothers or were actively considering leaving their jobs for stay-at-home motherhood. All of the respondents in the mother sample were ages 25 to 54, had earned bachelor’s degrees, had children under 18 in the home and had a household income of at least $25,000 and at least $35,000 for respondents over age 35. The data in the study aligns with the U.S. census across age, ethnicity, and income, and the mother sample reflects the natural demographic proportions of women who met the study’s age, income, and education qualifications.