The Challenge of Being a Mom
Motherhood is a gift that grows exponentially in satisfaction and happiness as the maternal instinct strengthens. However, the desire to be a mother has been declining to the extent that women have been opting for greater opportunities for personal and professional growth, both in developed and emerging countries.
According to the Convention on Maternity Protection (Geneva, 1999), women started massively entering the labor force in the early 1920s and in 1950 the rate stood at 59%. From the second half of the twentieth century the phenomenon of gender equality, that began to take shape many years before, was strengthened and women began to fight harder for all which their were entitled, exceeding 70% incorporation in economic activity at the beginning of the century.
Ironically, as the percentage of women in the workplace increased, the number of children in each household decreased. This is probably because the challenge of being a mother can be less or more difficult depending on multiple facts, such as the profession and the country of residence. For example, according to the organization “Save the Children”, Finland, Sweden and Norway are considered the best countries in the world to have children.
Norway gives 120 € per child up to 18 years, and maternity leave is 392 days long with 80% of the salary (322 days long with 100% of their salary). In Sweden, the maternal leave is 16 months long, split between father and mother: 2 months for the mother, 2 for the father and the remaining 12 months to be shared between both, with 80% of their salaries, and if they have never worked, they receive 400 € a month.
Other interesting facts about the benefits of being mothers in these countries:
– In Sweden, it is not allowed to take the kids to daycare born globalmomschallenge before the first year, so they must be cared for by one of their parents during that time.
– In Finland, the family of the newborn is entitled with a maternity grant, which includes clothes and everything necessary for baby care until he or she reaches the first year of life.
In the case of Spain, maternity leave is 16 weeks long, with 100 % of the salary. Additionally, unemployed single mothers receive 100 € a month for each child, although when they get married, this aid is removed immediately. Unfortunately, even though Spain is well positioned globally, it is one of the European countries with less aid to women in this condition.
However, no matter where they live or where they are from or how they look like, we recognize the well done job of all mothers in general, warrior women, full of courage, perseverance and patience. Multitasking women that can become teachers, nurses, psychologists, stylists, cooks, chauffeurs, nutritionists, decorators, lawyers and also wipes tears. Therefore, and because each and every one of us has a mother, wait no more to tell her I LOVE YOU MOM!
