Working Moms Counter Study Claiming Their Kids Are Unhealthy

Oct. 17, 2009— -- After examining 12,572 five-year-old British kids, the Institute of Child Health found three major bad habits among children of working moms: They drink more sugary beverages between meals, watch TV or use the computer at least two hours a day and they get less exercise.

The study seems to confirm many working moms' worst fears, sparking controversy and heated debates in the never-ending mommy wars.

ABC News correspondent JuJu Chang, a working mother of three boys ages 9, 6 and 2, sat down with a panel of four working mothers.

JUJU CHANG: I think this report sort of confirms what every working mom fears, right? Secret fear is, "Oh, my kids would be better off if I were at home."

MARGARITA MIRANDA-ABATE: You know, my first reaction was, "Why do we need to even go there?" I mean, why do we need to pit working moms against stay-at-home moms? That was my first thought. Because at this point, we should be beyond that. Either we have a choice or some women don't have a choice to work.

SARAH WELCH: My first reaction was [that] it tripped every guilt trigger that I have. I think the headline was something like, "Working mothers' children unfit." I was like, "Did I just read 'Working mothers unfit?' Working mothers unfit for children?" Then I was, sort of, "Oh, my God, am I hurting my child by choosing to work?"

SHERRIE MATUSZ: You don't need to be with your kids every minute for them to be healthy and happy.

LAMONIA BROWN: OK, here we go again. You got another thing that working mothers do to harm their kids. Please give me a break. I wanted to see: OK, where did this data come from? What are they basing this on? There are so many things that make kids unhealthy, it cannot possibly be that I go to work.

CHANG: This study doesn't say the kids are unhealthy; it highlights specific unhealthy habits that can promote weight gain. The data is based on working mothers' self-reporting, and dads are not included in the study.

MIRANDA-ABATE: I think the biggest pitfall for working moms, or for any parents, in keeping them healthy, is just time. I do the best I can. I'm a very involved parent.