The Pros and Cons Of Working More Hours For A Parent

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Being a working parent is no small feat, and it can often be quite a difficult balancing act. The idea of working more hours may seem overwhelming and daunting, but on the other hand, some parents have no choice. Especially in the current climate that we find ourselves living in. As with anything in life, there are pros and cons and this article will go through the good, the bad, and the ugly reality of working more hours as a parent. 

The Pros

Providing For Your Family

Kicking off the pros list we have probably the most obvious of answers, which is being able to provide a good quality of life for your family. Simply put, working more hours equates to more money. With more money, you can pay for better education, recreational activities, good food, and travel. 

Teaching Your Children How To Be Independent

By working more, you are inadvertently teaching your children the importance of being independent. Naturally, this depends on the age of your children but being at work more will force them to learn how to fend for themselves. 

Being A Role Model

Picking up those extra hours, working those long shifts, and working hard will be absorbed and acknowledged by your children. Whether that is subconsciously or not, your children will learn from your example. This will teach them a lot about the value of money, and the realities of working adult life. 

Quality Not Quantity

With less time to spare with your family, you will all quickly learn the value of time! It teaches your children the importance of quality time over quantity of time. Alongside this, it gives you a chance to miss each other. This is a good thing because you learn to appreciate each other more, as well as appreciate the time that you do get to spend together.

The Cons

Being Taken Advantage Of

As working parents, sometimes you may not know your rights and employers can take advantage of this. The folks at ECLaw.com explained that you should always learn your rights. By knowing your rights you can avoid being put in a situation where your employer tries to cheat you. There are numerous ways that employers take advantage of their workers, for instance, unpaid overtime, refusing family leaves, and in the more extreme cases unfair dismissal. 

Less Quality Time

Another con that occurs when a parent works more hours, is that there is less time for family quality time. This can be difficult for parents and children alike, as they begin to feel distant from one another. Bonding time can definitely take a hit when the extra hours are being picked up.

Expensive Childcare

There is little child care assistance available in the US, and so self-funding childcare can become quite expensive. It seems counterproductive to work more hours to have money for your family, just to then spend that money on childcare, as opposed to what you really want to spend your money on. 

Hiring a nanny isn’t always the most beneficial option for your family, with the extra costs and the time it takes to find a trustworthy, likable and suitable person to put with your children can be very difficult!

Developmental Effects

This will vary from child to child, however, with the absence of a parent, this can affect a child’s developmental process. In more extreme cases, attachment disorders and issues can arise. It can also lead to resentment, when a child needs their parent and said parent is not there, sometimes that can plant a seed of bitterness within the child. 

Now What?

Now that we have gone through some of the common pros and cons of working more hours as a parent, you may still be unsure of what to make of this information. Quite simply, there is no right or wrong when it comes to being a working parent. Needs need to be met, and often parents are just trying to make ends meet and do what is right by their family. 

It’s a balancing act. The happy medium between those pros and cons can be met if you have an awareness of them. Understanding the legalities and rights of being a working parent is crucial to help you find that balance. Never settle for unpaid overtime again! Being a parent is already a full-time role, but picking up those extra hours should not come at the cost of your family.

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