In a recent article posted to the BBC’s website, reports a new Australian study, “Do Working Mothers Raise Couch Potatoes?” has netted some interesting and results. The study suggests children of mothers who work part-time are healthier than those of their full-time or stay-at-home counterparts.
The children in the 2 year study of 4,500 per-schoolers were less likely to watch TV and eat junk food and less likely to become obese. The study suggests it’s a matter of quality time over quantity of time spent with children. The magic number of hours worked seemed to be 34 a week, anything beyond that, or for stay at home moms, the kids were more likely to have less healthy habits. Researchers do not know the answer as to why anything over or under creates a different behavioral result and no doubt they will keep studying the topic.
One thing that comes to mind for me is of course the balance issue. In this case it’s not about balanced time or scheduling, but mental balance of the inner self for these mothers. And a more balance life for mom where she is feeling important or valuable in some way outside the house, might contribute to her being a better mom. If a mother is feeling a sense of purpose that is solely about her, (not her partner or children) her interaction with her children might be different and quite possible with her husband too. Not only that, how children perceive their moms might also be different, contributing to a more meaningful subconscious connection in the times they’re together.
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