According to a recent study from the University of London’s Centre for Longitudinal Studies, children whose mothers work during their early years do as well at school as those with stay-at-home moms. The analysis looked at six studies covering 40,000 children over the last 40 years and found no link between mothers who continued working and children achieving less at school or misbehaving.
“There has traditionally been a concern that the employment of mothers comes at the expense of child development,” said the study’s author, Heather Joshi. “But as the percentage of mothers in work has gone up, any impact on children has diminished.”
Well, there you have it. Moms, park your guilt at the office door.
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Guilt follows me around like a mosquito that I just can’t seem to make go away. And it followed me around even when my kids were little and I was able to stay home with them.
Next month’s cover story explores the idea that balance and flexibility are different for every employee – and every organization. Dow Chemical’s David Mongrue sums up what I believe should be every employer’s guiding principle: “We define boundaries and accountabilities, but give our employees room to deliver.”
What do you think? Do you agree? Share your thoughts in the comments.
