By SWNS STAFF
NEWS COPY W/ VIDEO + INFOGRAPHIC
Moms are confident in themselves as 73% feel they are the best mom in the world.
According to a new survey of 2,000 moms, eight in 10 moms believe that they are the driving force of their family and that the family would be lost without them.
When it comes to their superhero traits, moms are confident in their problem-solving (52%), nurturing (50%), multitasking (41%), organization/time management (36%), and communication (34%) skills.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Care.com, the survey found that 83% of moms look to other moms for support and advice finding it helpful.
An additional 77% of moms reported feeling empowered when they see other moms sharing their hardships and experiences.
When looking for advice on parenting or family-related topics, moms also turn to family members (56%), their partners (52%), online parenting forums (46%), online blogs (43%), and social media (36%).
Online platforms and social media in particular are helpful as 71% of moms found that social media helped them discover new parenting strategies and techniques, and 78% think that online representations of moms are relatable in some ways.
But there are also negative effects of social media use among moms, as 66% compare themselves to other parents online, and 62% to second guess their parenting decisions.
Eight in 10 feel pressure to live up to the standards of parenting advice they see online.
Moms suggest that moms can inspire one another by providing emotional support and encouragement (68%), being honest about the difficulties of motherhood (62%), and sharing advice and tips (53%).
“There’s no one-size-fits-all parenting playbook, but this research suggests that moms want and benefit from community and connection with other moms,” said Maressa Brown, senior editor of Care.com. “They’re building a network of support they can lean on when dealing with the challenges and celebrating the joys that come with motherhood.”
The biggest challenge moms face is managing their kid’s educational activities (53%) followed by a lack of time for self-care (51%) and financial struggles (48%).
For those that prioritize self-care, 60% engage in hobbies or activities that make them happy, 49% try to get enough sleep and rest, and 42% connect with other moms for support and encouragement.
Still, seven in 10 wish they had more time for themselves, and eight in 10 agree that moms would love to hire help for family and home responsibilities if they could get it.
Despite that strong desire, there’s a stigma around hiring help, as 72% of moms agreed that they might feel guilty for accepting help, leading to feelings of failure.
Despite these challenges, moms keep themselves motivated by using affirmations such as “I am a great mom, and my kids love me” (36%) and “I am doing the best I can, and that’s enough” (26%).
TOP 5 SKILLS MOMS ARE CONFIDENT THEY HAVE
- Problem-solving - 52%
- Nurturing - 50%
- Multitasking 41%
- Organization/time management - 36%
- Communication - 34%
TOP CHALLENGES MOMS FACE
- Managing your child's education and school-related activities -53%
- Lack of time for self-care and personal interests -51%
- Financial struggles and budgeting -48%
- Navigating your child's health and medical needs -45%
- Dealing with behavioral or disciplinary issues with your child -37%
- Balancing work and family responsibilities -34%
BEST WAYS MOMS PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE
- I engage in hobbies or activities that make me happy -60%
- I try to get enough sleep and rest -49%
- I connect with other moms for support and encouragement -42%
- I exercise regularly -41%
- I practice mindfulness or meditation -40%
- I schedule alone time for myself regularly -36%
Survey methodology:
This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 US moms was commissioned by Care.com between March 24 and March 31, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).