Pros and Cons of Both Parents Working

Photo: (Photo : Marvin Meyer via Unsplash)

According to a survey released by the Pew Research Center, both parents work full-time in nearly half of US families. Forty-six percent of two-parent households have both parents working full-time compared to only 31 percent in 1970. 

The US does not offer mandatory paid parental leave, little childcare assistance, and no universal health care for families who are above the poverty level. Add to the fact that raising children is expensive, so parents have to work hard to earn a living. 

Economically, families who have both parents working full-time tend to be better off than other families. But how does this affect the children? 

Here are the pros and cons of both parents working full-time. 

Pros of both parents working

Families with both parents working enjoy several benefits. Perhaps these benefits account for the growing number of dual-income families. 

Here are some of the upsides. 

Provide a quality lifestyle

Since both parents are working, it means double earnings to provide a better quality of life to their children. Parents could have more savings to provide for better education, travel, and leisure for their children. Other than providing for the children's needs, parents could also provide their wants. 

Increase stress coping mechanism 

Parents who work full-time would have to juggle home and work to fit into their schedules, and children who watch their parents do so would make them learn how to handle such situations growing up.

Sharing of experiences

Parents experience many life lessons when they work, which they could share with their children, and in turn, children would have a better understanding of adult life and what the future holds for them. 

Teaches independence

Children who have both parents working become more independent. They have to stand on their own feet and decide on things on their own because they know that their parents are busy with work. These children tend to grow up exhibiting confidence in themselves. 

Teaches the value of time

If both parents are working eight hours a day or more, they only get to spend very few hours at home with their children. It will teach children to give importance to the time that they have to bond with their parents

Cons of both parents working

Of course, everything has a downside. Here are some reasons why some parents are not both employed or working.  

Limited time for bonding

When both parents are working, the time they spend bonding with their children is lessened because once they arrive home, they are too tired for play or to spend time with their children. As the children are growing up, their relationship with their parents, unfortunately, develops a gap. 

Psychological effects

When both parents are working, they need to invest in childcare to take care of their children during their absence. Such a setup affects children psychologically because the majority of their parent's time would be spent outside the home, and there is no one to turn to but the nanny. 

Mood swings and changes in behavior

Children who are left with nannies tend to have more mood swings than those who are with their parents or at least one parent during most of the hours in a day. Some children would seek love and attention from their parents, so being unable to receive what they want could lead to changes in behavior. 

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