Vicki Shawl didn't know she wanted to be a stay-at-home mother, until she became a mother!

She says, “I learn more from my kids than i ever did from my masters' degree.”

But even though she can get outside with her girls when she wants to and enjoy the fresh air, she's learned staying at home is no walk in the park!

“I thought I’d do all the activities they do at preschool, get things done, keep everything clean and found it's hard!”

On top of keeping Willow, Ava and Haley happy and healthy and running the household, she also makes baby carriers and slings, to sell for a little extra money!
“I don't think our society don’t put benefit on what moms do, 27 hours a day job add in 3-4 extra hours because I'm often multi-tasking, cooking, changing diapers, cleaning.

Vicki belongs to the Charleston Chapter of a national organization called “Mothers and More”. The group's focus for this month: to recognize all the work mothers do, paid, and unpaid!
All mothers have something in common by providing care to their children full-time. We know the work takes real time, effort and energy and has social and economic value.

The figure calculated by compensation experts at salary-dot-com, if they were paid for all their work, stay-at-home moms would make more than $134,000 a year!
Moms who work outside the home would add an additional $85,000 to what they already make.

But despite the challenges, Vicki’s right where she wants to be and getting away for an hour or so with other moms every now and then helps her stay on track.
Vicki says, “it helps you to reflect on who you are as a woman, mom, wife, partner and helps put your life into perspective. It’s nice to hear other moms say the same thing.”