Hi and welcome back to the savvy psychologist podcast. I'm your host

Dr. Ellen Hendrickson and I'll help you meet life's challenges with

evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

So like Tyboo and Beanie Babies, the Mommy Wars are so 1990s.

But ask any group of moms, or anyone for that matter, whether it's better for

moms to work or stay at home, and you'll likely get some strong and emotional answers.

Surprisingly, you'll also find that each group is both insecure and proud in its own way.

So working moms often talk about the guilt of not being around,

and the pride they take in their work, their

identity as a professional and their multiple hats.

Stay-at-home moms talk about feeling devalued, but are simultaneously proud of investing

in their children and their contributions to their families, schools, and communities.

Now, in terms of numbers, working moms are in the majority.

In the US, 71% of moms with kids young enough to live at home

hold the job other than mommy. And in a whopping 40% of households with kids, mom is either the only one bringing home a paycheck

or else is making more than her partner. At the same time, however, a growing number of

moms are staying home with their kids. After a low point in 1999

with 23% of moms staying home, trends show that the ranks of stay-at-home moms are

swelling. And to complicate matters, even though most moms work, a 2014 Pew Research Center

survey found that the majority of Americans, 60 percent, to be exact, think that kids are better off with a parent at home full time.

So what's the answer? Well it turns out there is science to support all moms, working or at home.

So let's take a look at each side. So first, the benefits of stay-at-home moms. So a 2013 study

...