"World's Toughest Job"

jlaOK · April 2014

Have you guys seen this American Greeting Cards video about motherhood being the "world's toughest job"? https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/worlds-toughest-job-ad-american-fake-job-interview-23334187. Curious to get your thoughts about it. While I understand the sentiment I think that it is a bit extreme. Yes, being a mother is tough....but so is being a father. Also, we try to do such a good job to find balance in our lives (house keepers, meal planning, working out, etc.) why discount that by playing the martyr?

Here is a response to it that I tend to agree with more.
https://www.salon.com/2014/04/15/motherhood_isnt_the_worlds_toughest_job/

This isn't really a working mom issue, but an interesting one.

djm31012 · April 2014

I read it. I agree with the statement in the response that says I dont consider motherhood a job. Because I dont. I have a job/career...motherhood for me has been the greatest gift albeit the most challenging at times. And being a working mother none the less has been the hardest thing I have ever done (i posted last week about my hours/lack of flexibility but its probably also part of who I am that I hate not being with my son all day, I am sure many working moms have perfect balance and are happier in their situation than I am).

However...the rest of this response is a total feminist movement and I am sorry but I just cant handle those types of people. I dont feel disadvantaged for being a woman...I feel like I have been treated very well/fair at work (this isnt 1970 people) and I have moved up the ranks as well as any other man or woman here. It is my choosing to take a step back, leave earlier or skip networking events because I want to be home with my boy..that has nothing to do with my company or my bosses, its my choosing. Dont get me started on the comment of reproductive rights as they call it...bc I have no interest in arguing about that.....but I think the answer is extreme. My response is chill out--it was a way to praise motherhood and the sacrafices SAHM have made. I agree with it, and I agree that WM make similar sacrafices. No choice is better than the other.

ss265 · April 2014

I love that response! I saw the video and honestly thought they were exaggerating a lot. Working 135 hours a week without sitting? Really? And I hated that fathers were left out of it.

itsmevkb · April 2014

I really don't get the need for moms to be martyrs and agree that being a mom isn't my JOB. I am a mother just as I am also a daughter, a wife, a friend, and a very intelligent woman who doesn't need to be thanked every second of every day for bearing children. And, I agree that ads like this and the sentiments behind it minimize fathers who do the same work as mothers day in and day out.

Leap08 · April 2014

I think their "job" description is completely absurd. Working 135 hours a week without sitting down? Do you know any moms that do that? Never eating until after the kids eat? I don't do that and don't know anyone who does. I sleep a normal amount at night and believe most parents (except those with newborns) do. Beyond all that, I don't consider being a mom a job, and it really bothers me that they left dads out altogether.

itsmevkb · April 2014

ss265 said:

I love that response! I saw the video and honestly thought they were exaggerating a lot. Working 135 hours a week without sitting? Really? And I hated that fathers were left out of it.

I didn't watch the whole video. Did they include never getting to go to the bathroom alone because that one is always my favorite.

mb314 · April 2014

I admit that I didn't watch the video because I hate facebook posts that are like "You'll never believe the response!" Ugh shoot me.

But I loved the commentary that Jezebel.com did on it. https://jezebel.com/worlds-toughest-job-viral-video-is-obvious-manipulativ-1563475258

Also, those are actors, not real people applying for a job.

Helenahhandbasket · April 2014

I have a hard time thinking about motherhood as a job.

I decided to be a mother. I have to have a job. Both are work, but there's a huge difference between the two, if you ask me.

djm31012 · April 2014

@beaubecca you bring up some good points. I cant agree on the pay scale comment just because that does not apply to my particular circumstance. I do agree that women get mommy tracked but I think alot of that is our own doing, like you said, just in our nature to put family and kids first. My husband is a great partner and does do an equal amount of the heavy lifting with raising our son...but maybe not all men are like that and the burden falls solely on the mom. I totally think this was over the top, dont get me wrong...but I just dont think it can really be said that women are expected to be at home in the kitchen anymore....working mothers are more prevalent than stay at home moms right now....and its very well accepted.

dashofreality · April 2014

Honestly, I think that this ridiculousness is hurting our children. With the increase in SAHMs and the escalation of the working mom vs. SAHM debate, we are turning parenting into some competitive game. While there were plenty of issues back in the 50's, mothers back then did not have their personal identities wrapped up in their children. They had their own lives and the children were not the end all and be all. And their children's success/failures/achievements were definitely not viewed as direct reflections on their parents worth.

Personally, I believe this mentality is what is creating helicopter parents and these 'teacup' children. We are all so wrapped up in either justifying staying at home or justifying that we can be good moms and work, that we are focusing too much on our children. How many articles are on Pinterest for the 4349 ways to entertain your kids this summer? How about we let our kids figure out their own ways to entertain themselves? There has to be a balance between the ''be seen and not heard" and this martyr mom 'look at all that I sacrifice and do for my kids' crap.

VOR · April 2014

As SOON as I started the video, I knew exactly where it was going. I HOPED that it was going to be about PARENTS, not moms. But no, of course not. And even then, it was exaggerated. No sleep? 135 hours w/o sitting?

Please.

JackieB15 · April 2014

First - why have I never been on this board before?

Second - This video really bothers me. The "requirements" are greatly exaggerated and I don't consider being a mom a job. To me it's a privilege that comes with rewards far greater than any pay you could give me.

Third - I'm excited to be able to say that I didn't like the video because some poor woman in my BMB dared to say she thought it was manipulative and got torn to shreds and accused of being cold-hearted and "obviously a FTM." Then I got scared and couldn't comment (I'm a wimp when it comes to the bump.)

ASmallWonder · April 2014

Yeah I hated that video. I'm sure it comes from a place of SAHMs feeling under appreciated, which shouldn't happen, but does. But let's not over state what they do either. That video was so extreme that there is a very small percentage of SAHMs for which it's accurate. Never sitting? Not eating? Not sleeping? Sure, there are days like that and working mothers and stay at home fathers and working fathers all have those days too. But no, do the math. They're claiming you have something like 4 hours a day to yourself as SAHM. I don't know of any parent who routinely sleeps only 4 hours.

The whole thing is absurd.

jlaOK · April 2014

I also thought that bringing up "working" on Thanksgiving and Christmas was absurd. Those are my favorite times of the year.

aglenn · April 2014

Yeah, like some of the pps have said, let's remember that this is a greeting card ad. For what it is, I think it's got some cute irony going on, although I find it mostly eyeroll-worthy. As a social commentary statement, it leaves a lot to be desired...but that is not what it is.

I don't get the fascination with this ad. I think in general we all know, and most adults outside thebump SHOULD know, that parenting is hard. The workplace culture often likes to ignore that and make us feel like we should mostly pretend our families don't exist, and that's unhealthy for everyone.

JackieB15 · April 2014

I do have to admit that while the "job interview" portion annoyed me (didn't offend, just annoyed) I did get teary when people started talking about their moms. That always happens and happened before I was a mom when I would think about my mom. She's awesome.

ASmallWonder · April 2014

I just think it's dumb that anyone feels they need to exaggerate what parenting entails. None of what they said is true all of the time but why isn't the accurate truth enough?

alli2672 · April 2014

PrivacyWanted said:

y'all I am so happy i'm not the only one who didn't get the warm fuzzies from that video!

I really liked the Slate article response, thanks OP!

And I wouldn't necessarily take offense to it- but if I see one more FB SAHM "friend" posting it with something along the lines of "see I'm finally apperciated" I will scream.

That's really sad. I wonder what things are like in her home for her to feel that she needs to turn to a commercial or FB to feel appreciated.

jlaOK · April 2014

CourtandNate said:

I have to agree with @amy052006 in that it is to push mother's day, not a dig at dads. I think it was exaggerated and kind of comical, but did not take offense or feel martyred by it either. I will be the odd man out and say it didn't bother me and I thought it was cutesy... not necessarily accurate.

While I do get that it is a push on mother's day, I still feel like it missed the mark. There are ways to show appreciation for what mom's do without making it seem as though being a mom sucks. One that comes to mind is the P&G add that aired during the Olympics. Although that too had no mention of dads, I feel like it had a waaaay better message.

Here's the video if you don't know what I'm referring to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57e4t-fhXDs

cecilyandgautam · April 2014

I think the message that it's so so hard to be a parent, only the most selfless people ready to give up everything would embrace the responsibilities of parenthood freaks people out. I'm from a town where getting married, if at all, before your mid-30s is considered "young", giving up your youth, etc and parenthood before you're already pushing the bounds of your fertile years is considered weird, to say the least. It's assumed you had a big oops baby if you choose to have one in your 20s.

When my friends and coworkers say how the prospect of marriage and parenthood totally freaks them out, it's clear that these messages of "motherhood is the hardest job you'll ever have - you never get a break, ever, not even to sleep" really is sinking in with some people. They think it means never having free time again, never getting to see your friends - for some people, the idea of parenthood is like the end of life as they know it.

These martyrdom-based exaggerations aren't just about making tired, overworked mothers feel appreciated. It's also freaking some people out who actually think it's true.

mlee116 · April 2014

amy052006 said:

It's a viral video for a greeting e-card company. Looking for drive traffic for Mother's Day cards. It's kind of shocking people don't realize that and are turning it into more than it is, but ok.

Yeah, I agree. I had pretty much the same reaction I have whenever I hear that estimated salary of a SAHM that comes out every year...which is to roll my eyes and move on.

Yes, it was over exaggerated and yes, there may be a few people out there who will use this video as an excuse to play the martyr role. However, most moms I know will take it with a grain of salt, whether they are WMs, SAHMS, PT, whatever. And IMO, their reaction will depend on how satisfied they are with their life and situation. Unfortunately there are moms who don't feel appreciated and look forward to Mother's Day bc they know that for at least one day, they might get the praise they need.

Personally, I feel really appreciated at home and work. I'm a good mom and am good at balancing everything I need to. I don't need a video or anything else to convince myself (or others) of my worth.

rubber_chicken · April 2014

I really hate this kind of nonsense. Sure, I do a lot of laundry and cooking now, but I did a lot of laundry and cooking when I was a single twenty-something, and I'm sure I'll still be doing laundry and cooking when I'm an empty-nester. Childless people do chores too.

What I find surprising about parenthood is the worry. Part of that is because our daughter has multiple severe food allergies -- I have never felt so anxious or helpless as when we started learning about food allergies. But even with that, even with worrying about our daughter's very survival...

...I have to say that parenting is much easier than I thought it would be. Yeah, there's a lot of scheduling and juggling going on, as we both work, but it's not particularly hard. I'm not exhausted. Hell, most of the time it's fun.

The only thing I really miss is going to the movies.

emberlee3 · April 2014

jlaOK said:

I also thought that bringing up "working" on Thanksgiving and Christmas was absurd. Those are my favorite times of the year.

I did not watch the video because the whole idea makes me want to barf. But plenty of mothers (and people in general) work on Thanksgiving and Christmas, anyway. I work one or the other each year. Plus I celebrate with my family. And I don't act like a martyr about either one.

cecilyandgautam · April 2014

amy052006 said:

cecilyandgautam said:

I think the message that it's so so hard to be a parent, only the most selfless people ready to give up everything would embrace the responsibilities of parenthood freaks people out. I'm from a town where getting married, if at all, before your mid-30s is considered "young", giving up your youth, etc and parenthood before you're already pushing the bounds of your fertile years is considered weird, to say the least. It's assumed you had a big oops baby if you choose to have one in your 20s.

When my friends and coworkers say how the prospect of marriage and parenthood totally freaks them out, it's clear that these messages of "motherhood is the hardest job you'll ever have - you never get a break, ever, not even to sleep" really is sinking in with some people. They think it means never having free time again, never getting to see your friends - for some people, the idea of parenthood is like the end of life as they know it.

These martyrdom-based exaggerations aren't just about making tired, overworked mothers feel appreciated. It's also freaking some people out who actually think it's true.

But there IS a flip side to that. Honestly, parenthood IS the most difficult thing I have ever done. And I actually think it is sort of fucked up if parenthood isn't the "end of life as you know it". Parents trying to carry on like they are 20 with no responsibilities -- that is pathetic.

Is feeding, bathing, dressing and generally keeping kids alive the hardest thing I ever did -- hell no. But the worry, the making sure you raising good people -- that is the hardest thing I ever did. And I think to blow that off is just ridiculous -- raising good people isn't easy, and when people are so nonchalant about it, I imagine it can make other parents question what is wrong with them. Why is it so hard for me?

I don't know anyone blowing it off and I do realize it's a real struggle for some more than others (I imagine my attitude would be really different if my newborn had had reflux and never slept, for example) but my life before kids was busy and hectic - largely filled with activities I was asked to do and that I felt obliged to accept, not all of which I really enjoyed. Now that I'm a mom, I have a free pass to decline service projects I don't want to do, socializing with people I don't actually enjoy - I feel much less obliged to others outside my family and it's liberating.

So, I was busy before and I'm busy now, but now I'm busy with the family I've always wanted, the family I love, who make me laugh more than I have ever before in my life, and I take breaks as I need and want them. Those breaks are spent only with the people I truly cherish as friends, rather than those I feel like I'm supposed to spend time with. I genuinely enjoy and want to do the things that my daily life entails now. So this notion that life ends when you become a mother is just really foreign to me. Maybe that's true for people who didn't have many responsibilities before hand? Or who weren't busy?

[btw - what's with 20 year olds having no responsibilities? I've been paying my own bills, working, etc since I graduated from college. I got married in my 20s. Not all 20 years live on their parents' couch and go clubbing. Plenty are living lives that are compatible with being responsible for another person.]

Fullcircle06 · April 2014

Helenahhandbasket said:

I have a hard time thinking about motherhood as a job.

I decided to be a mother. I have to have a job. Both are work, but there's a huge difference between the two, if you ask me.

Agree with this. My husband was pissed that they said nothing about dads.

*sparky* · April 2014

So I just got back from an OB visit and in one of the Pregnancy magazines I was reading there was a full page spread in which they have now inflated the value of what moms do every year (chauffeur, personal shopper, etc., etc.) to be worth $357K.

And then I see this video!

I get that moms are wonderful and we certainly do a lot for our families, but I agree with a lot of you that inflating/exaggerating it the way some people tend to is a little ridiculous. I mean, not sitting for 135 hours, and never eating until after your kids have eaten? And this "job" would pay 357K a year? Yeah, right.

As some of you have said, being a mom is something you choose to do and there is no reason to put a price tag on it, or to create this mommy martyr.

Plus there are tons of people without kids who have to do all of this crap for themselves every day too and they're not getting pats on the back for it or ficititious wages.

I guess the video is cute as a greeting card gimmic but then I see people posting it on FB who are obviously taking it way too seriously.

[Deleted User] · April 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

MommyAtty · April 2014

I keep wanting to reply to the SAHM Facebook posts, "If that's what you're doing, then you're doing it wrong." One of the moms who posted has a 3rd grader and 6th grader. If she's still having to wait for them to eat first, then she's raising morons.

groovygrl · April 2014

I am glad others rolled their eyes at that video...I thought it was a sweet little advertisement but not really based in reality & obviously crafted to get a little teary reaction. It worked for what it was intended for, obviously, since it was all over the internet the last few days. I loved that P&G one though

.
But eh, it is what it is IMO.
Now that Thai ad with the guy who helps everyone & gives the little girl money for school every day did make cry a little, I admit!

. Again, an ad intended to get at your emotions but I liked it...

molisar · April 2014

groovygrl said:

I am glad others rolled their eyes at that video...I thought it was a sweet little advertisement but not really based in reality & obviously crafted to get a little teary reaction. It worked for what it was intended for, obviously, since it was all over the internet the last few days. I loved that P&G one though .
But eh, it is what it is IMO.
Now that Thai ad with the guy who helps everyone & gives the little girl money for school every day did make cry a little, I admit! . Again, an ad intended to get at your emotions but I liked it...

Agreed - good advertisement. Moms are blowing up my FB with this silly ad, which kinda annoys me because it's like they are looking for an award that they chose to have kids. It does get under my skin as my husband is a PT stay at home dad. I can only hope they do something similar for Father's Day.

My new favorite family commercials are HoneyMaid's Wholesome Family commercials.

dglvrk2 · April 2014

molisar said:

groovygrl said:

I am glad others rolled their eyes at that video...I thought it was a sweet little advertisement but not really based in reality & obviously crafted to get a little teary reaction. It worked for what it was intended for, obviously, since it was all over the internet the last few days. I loved that P&G one though .
But eh, it is what it is IMO.
Now that Thai ad with the guy who helps everyone & gives the little girl money for school every day did make cry a little, I admit! . Again, an ad intended to get at your emotions but I liked it...

Agreed - good advertisement. Moms are blowing up my FB with this silly ad, which kinda annoys me because it's like they are looking for an award that they chose to have kids. It does get under my skin as my husband is a PT stay at home dad. I can only hope they do something similar for Father's Day.

My new favorite family commercials are HoneyMaid's Wholesome Family commercials.

Yes! My DH is a PT stay at home dad. I'm the one who works FT and will likely be traveling for work frequently in the foreseeable future. I'd love to see a comparable Father's Day ad.

88sharonlee · April 2014

Ok so I stopped reading all the responses because at one point I'm just like 'who cares'!
It's a somewhat sweet commercial that uses an extreme to hit a nerve and drive home a point, it's not a research paper- we don't need to be all up in arms.

Of course it's exaggerated, they are trying to be funny, but I think it would have actually been better if they started off slower and made the requirements a touch more realistic.

Not because it would have been more accurate (again commercials don't need to be realistic) but because it would have been more interesting if the applicants were actually considering the job for a little bit.

Want a personalized experience?

"World's Toughest Job"

Re: "World's Toughest Job"

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

"World's Toughest Job"

Re: &quot;World's Toughest Job&quot;

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Re: "World's Toughest Job"