The question of whether or not to stay at home to raise children is one of the most debated topics of motherhood. Endless studies and tests have been conducted, thousands of surveys have been distributed, and if you were looking for a personal opinion, you would have to look no further than the closest mother to give them a partial look at raising their children. But while the traditional view of mothers as homemakers remains alive and well in some areas, the modern working mother has earned a successful place in our society and continues to prove herself as both a powerful mother and a professional in the business world. Although stay-at-home mothers are rewarded with the benefit of helping their children grow up, the economic benefits of extra income, the mundane accomplishments of stay-at-home moms, and the satisfying and balanced lives of working mothers demonstrate the fact that being a working mother it is a more beneficial option than staying at home. Keeping the mother at home can save families a great deal of money, but having a working mother adds stability and financial support to keep her family comfortable. The stay-at-home mother represents an economic resource for her family by providing services that would otherwise cost money, an important factor to consider when faced with the economy's bleak outlook and rising prices that continue to rise. Mothers who stay at home to raise their children save money by not hiring a nanny or using a daycare; on average, a family will spend $250 - $500 per week on a nanny, but when the mother provides that service, they will save $20,800 each year (Sefton). Keeping their mother at home helps them perform other family-related tasks. Mothers who f...... middle of paper......find." ScienceDaily, December 12, 2011. Web. May 8, 2012. Hekker, Terry Martin. "Should You Stop Working When You Have Kids?" Cosmopolitan 240.6 (2006): 224. MasterFILE Premier Web. May 7, 2012. Karaim, Reed “Women Should Not Be Encouraged to Be Stay-at-Home Mothers.” Print.Mitchell, Kathleen. “Mission: Near-Impossible Struggle for Working Mothers to Balance Career and home life." Businesswest 27.22 (2012): 49. MasterFILE Premier Web, May 7, 2012. Niemann, Sibyl Stay-at-Home Mothers." Male/female roles. Farmington Hills: Thomson Gale, 2005. Print.Sefton, Barbara Wylan. “The Market Value of the Stay-at-Home Mother.” Mothering 86 (1998): 26. Health Source - Consumer Edition May 7, 2012. Work and Stay-at-Home Moms 2011. Moms' Club Infographic 2012.