NEW YORK — Many of us could argue that moms reign supreme as role models and caregivers. It turns out, many moms agree with that sentiment. In fact, 73 percent 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 percent of moms look to other moms for support and advice and find it helpful. An additional 77 percent of moms reported feeling empowered when they see other moms sharing their hardships and experiences.
Online mom network
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 percent of moms found that social media helped them discover new parenting strategies and techniques, and 78 percent 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 percent compare themselves to other parents online, and 62 percent second guess their parenting decisions. Eight in 10 feel pressure to live up to the standards of parenting advice they see online.
Those surveyed 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,” says senior editor of Care.com Maressa Brown, in a statement. “They’re building a network of support they can lean on when dealing with the challenges and celebrating the joys that come with motherhood.”
Mom’s biggest challenges
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 percent engage in hobbies or activities that make them happy, 49 percent try to get enough sleep and rest, and 42 percent 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 percent of moms agreed that they might feel guilty for accepting help, leading to feelings of failure.
To combat these negative feelings, 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%).
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).