We Should Rethink Calling Motherhood a ‘Job’

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What do women do? A lot of them are mothers, and let’s face it—being a mom is one of the most significant roles out there. But women also have other important roles and can excel in just about any field.

Imagine if a lesson about Presidents started like this: What did George Washington do? He was a dad! Sure, being a dad is crucial, but he also led the nation to independence and set the stage for a new government. It sounds silly, right? We don’t usually tie a man’s achievements to their role as a father. Yet, when we talk about accomplished women, we often bring up motherhood as if it’s the main thing that defines them. Even in discussions geared toward kids, like my son’s history lessons.

Interestingly, most of the remarkable women he learned about—like Marie Curie, Rosa Parks, and Frida Kahlo—didn’t have kids. The only mom in his curriculum was Sacagawea, who, while navigating the wild with a baby, showed some serious grit. It makes me wonder if the curriculum emphasized motherhood as the “most important job” to reassure non-working mothers or remind working ones of their priorities. I mean, come on—Harriet Tubman led the Underground Railroad; I’m just over here making lunches and organizing playdates.

The reality is, we’re often caught up in debates about what our roles mean. Many stay-at-home moms feel slighted that working moms get more recognition, while working moms sometimes feel the pressure of being reminded that nothing tops motherhood. This back-and-forth isn’t just a social media squabble; it seeps into how we teach our kids about women’s accomplishments, and that’s a problem.

We shouldn’t teach our 7-year-olds that motherhood is the only measure of a woman’s life. Honestly, motherhood isn’t a job. I don’t get a paycheck, can’t be fired from it, and can’t just walk away when things get tough. Sure, it’s hard work, and I complain about it, just like a job, but it’s something entirely different. It’s time we start acknowledging that.

My son often daydreams about becoming a father one day. Sure, he mixes in some kid-like ideas, like letting his future kids wear shorts in winter, but he visualizes himself as a parent without conflating it with his other dreams—like becoming a professional soccer player. There’s no reason we should mix up those roles either.

Maybe it’s time for all of us—curriculum writers, friends, and moms—to take a cue from that. For more insights on pregnancy and home insemination, you can check out this post about the home insemination kit and for more resources on the topic, here’s a great article that covers various related aspects. If you’re looking for statistics on infertility, this resource is excellent.

In summary, we need to shift how we view motherhood—not as a job but as a unique and essential part of life that shouldn’t overshadow the many other roles women can and do play.