A study by Salary.com figured that stay-at-home moms should earn $134,121 a year if they were compensated for their 91.6 hours of work each week! And of course moms who work outside the home deserve extra pay for the 49.8 hours of work they do at home (The Week, May 12, 2006).

While it seems unlikely that paychecks for that amount will suddenly start appearing, the study is a reminder of the often-overlooked value of motherhood. Truthfully, the value is greatly underestimated, since much of what a mother does to love and prepare the next generation is priceless.

How can husbands and children even begin to repay this debt? Love and appreciation are a start—they may be free, but mothers value them highly.

Further Reading:
"Turning the Hearts: I Remember Mama," June United News. Online at "www.ucg.org/un/un0606/treasuredigest.htm#8.