When You Factor In Family, The Average Working Mom Works 98 Hours Per Week

© Scott Griessel / Adobe Stock

Working mom with kids

© Scott Griessel / Adobe Stock

Maricar Santos via Working Mother
Maricar Santos via Working Mother
April 23, 2024 at 7:42PM UTC
Working moms, and moms in general, don't get enough credit for all that they do, which is pretty much work all the time, even when they're not getting paid. For anyone out there who doesn't understand just how diligent you are, or why you always look so darn tired all the time, you'll want to show them this: new findings that sum up just how many hours you really work per week.
Welch's recently commissioned a study of 2,000 American mothers with children ages 5 to 12. It aimed to discover the useful tools, resources and techniques moms use to keep their lives and their family's lives afloat. Their most astounding finding: the average working mom clocks in a 98-hour work week, with her day typically starting at 6:23 a.m. She doesn't end up finishing her work or family duties until 8:31 p.m., meaning she works 14 hours per day.
Yup, we had a feeling it was that much, though on the most stressful weeks, it certainly seems like much more than 98 hours a week. The moms in the study seem to agree: four in 10 say they feel like their lives are a never-ending series of tasks all week.
When it comes to me time, the average mom, according to the study, says she only gets about an hour and seven minutes to herself each day. An hour and seven minutes to yourself, while the rest of the day is dedicated to other people? Sounds about right.
So what's helping moms get through their busy weeks? The study ranked moms' 20 life-saving must-haves and at the top were baby wipes/wet wipes, followed by kids' TV channels and shows, the iPad/tablet, drive-thru meals and Netflix. Also on the list were grandparents, a reliable babysitter and, of course, wine.
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This article originally appeared on WorkingMother.com.

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