Work at Home Mom » Motherhood

Income Even When the Work at Home Mom Just Can’t

Anne — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:40:51 +0000

Moms are busy people. We all know that. Add “work” (of any sort) to motherhood and the busy-ness steps up a notch (or two or three). For the work at home mom, the flexibility inherent in this work arrangement can also mean that the demands of motherhood easily take precedence, and it’s hard to get the work done. There are also times when the supreme commitment to motherhood means the work just isn’t going to get done…today. In these cases, the corporate mother has sick day/vacation day/leave of absence possibilities. What does the work at home mother have? Well, if she has a home-based business that involves social marketing, the concept of leverage, and/or residual streams of income, she has what I’d call a great fit. I think these types of work at home options give maximum time control for us moms with minimal negative impact from time diversions. A missed day does not stop the flow of income. Business does not have to suffer because of motherhood stuff that calls us away from work. How great is that?!

A Mother’s Heart

Anne — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:46:44 +0000

While most of my posts focus on the logistics of working at home, there is nothing to write about today other than a mother’s heart.

You see, my oldest son is home for a week of spring break. He’s a college freshman who choose a wonderful institution of higher learning that is 1/2 way across the country. We covet the rare time we get to spend with him – and that time is now.

I feel SO blessed to be the CEO of my own home-based business such that my self-designated time off can coincide with his. It makes this mother’s heart very happy!

When Holiday Talents Don’t Shine

Anne — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:14:57 +0000

Another holiday-related post here. At this time of year especially, lots of my friends are baking delicious sounding goodies, decorating with charm, packaging and delivering creative gifts, and/or surprising their children with special events.

Just listening to these amazing pursuits wears me out. And they are amazing…to me that is. Remember, I don’t cook, sew or do crafts (full confession on the About page). Creativity in these “arts” eludes me. And when others’ creativity is in full swing, as it often is this time of year, it’s easy for me to feel lacking.

But this morning it hit me. I worked a full day at home yesterday, AND kept up with the laundry AND fixed the meals AND mothered my four children throughout the day. THAT is my “thing”. That’s what I do and yes, it smacks of a certain brand of creativity. And while the holidays don’t necessarily lend themselves to giving me a venue for showcasing my brand of creativity, I resolve to 1. rejoice in the creative talents of my friends who shine at this time of year, and 2. be at peace with the talents God has gifted me with.

It’s All in How You Look At It

Anne — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:03:59 +0000

There are various times of year when the work at home mom might feel overloaded. Holidays can be one of those times. There are extra things going on, extra responsibilities, extra motherhood stuff (like shopping), extra business tasks (year-end items), etc.

Those are great times of year to focus in on who you are. I am much happier when I have the self-perception that I am a homeschooling wife and mother….with a home-based business –— rather than the self-image of being a self-employed business woman who works from home while trying to balance motherhood, homeschooling and all the rest (which is quite a lot this time of year!). Keeping the perspective that reflects my core values makes a big difference in maintaining my sanity level .

Is Working at Home Stimulating Enough?

Anne — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:26:07 +0000

I’ll bet there are a lot of moms in the corporate world who like the challenge of their professional setting. And the interaction with other stimulating people. But I bet some of those moms wish they could work at home. For many, many reasons. And yet…there are probably many questions running through the minds of those hard working moms as they consider the possibility. Without the challenge and stimulation of the workplace, one of those questions, simply put, might be: would I go nuts being at home all the time?

Maybe not the most academic of the many questions to consider, but a valid one nonetheless. Only the mom in question can answer that for herself, but here are some personal thoughts that might be helpful to her (or you!).

Having a home-based business means melding various activity fronts within a smaller area. You’re doing mothering, homemaking, and business all from home (plus lots of other stuff most likely). My own experience is that this actually can provide even more stimulation and invigorating activity on all those fronts. They can be balanced more creatively, juxtaposed more easily, and sometimes combined with greater originality. Examples: supper is in the oven as I write this, we have family “mailing parties” for some snail mail customer contact in my business, my teens give me some great internet business advice, and I can sneak in a customer follow-up call right after answering that ever-present question, “can I have something to eat?”. You’re probably getting the picture. It’s sort of a way of life, and allows me to get more done in all three of those areas (mothering, homemaking and business) than I think would be possible if I weren’t working at home.

Now, having a work at home situation that does include some type of contact with other people does help. I’m on the phone almost every day in some business-related capacity. And definitely communicating via computer every single business day. As you evaluate home-based business options, you may want to consider something that offers that. Unless of course, you’re a loner by nature and the social element of the corporate life is your least favorite part to begin with. If that’s the case, perhaps you won’t miss it by making the transition to at-home work.

And it may be that the work at home mom needs to pay particular attention to her non-work social/emotional/spiritual/physical needs that take her outside the home if that is what she likes. But most work at home moms I know really like being at home, and being at home a lot. If you’ve never had the luxury of trying it, it may not seem appealing at first. But I think it will grow on you .

Tell Me Why

Anne — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:16:30 +0000

Who might want to consider being a work at home mom?

- moms who get jobs at their children’s schools in order to be on the kids’ schedule, but don’t find the work especially fulfilling

- moms with a professional degree who want a career AND a premium family life

- moms who want to homeschool their children and contribute to the family income

- moms who want to model entrepreneurship for their children, or just have it in their blood

- moms who find a home based business that enables them to make the world a better place

- moms who want to share the every-day miracles of life with their kids whenever the kids are home

We are a diverse, talented group (this list is just for starters)! What’s your reason for being or wanting to be a work at home mom?

What to Call What We Do

Anne — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:31:48 +0000

Sometimes I wonder whether “work at home mom” is a misnomer for who I am and what I do regarding income production. The conversation about the fact that all moms work whether producing income or not is fodder for a separate post. I’m talking about the activity I do at home that generates income.

Work at home mom sounds almost like a mom who has a “regular” job that she does at home…like the subcontracting legal research I used to do, or virtual administrative work. Stuff that is done to someone else’s specifications (the boss).

The term work at home mom does cover those resourceful women, and it’s also used to include moms who, like me, have started home-based businesses of their own. It’s used as a one-size-fits-all description, yet there are definitely differences between the sub-categories. And though home-based business owner seems a more apt title for what I do, it doesn’t acknowledge the intricate role of motherhood that is intertwined in every minute of every day.

I’ve seen used the term mom-owned business to cover my category and I do like it, but it could also be used for my friend (mother of two) who is founder and CEO of her own small manufacturing firm (NOT at home).

What to call myself?! Is the label “home-based business owner mom” too cumbersome? It gives credence to the primary role of motherhood, identifies the home-based nature of my activity and acknowledges that I am the business owner.

I’ll try it on for size and see how I like it. And stay on the lookout for other ideas!…Anyone?

We Are Made For It

Anne — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:03:42 +0000

We can use our God-given innate talents to maximize ourselves as work at home mothers. We can multi-task when necessary. We can shift gears with relative ease. We can keep on the front burner – at the same time – the grocery list, the particular needs of the seven year old at the moment, AND the follow-up call we want to make to a client. Working at home is ideal for women.

Let’s celebrate that!

What is More Glorious?

Anne — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:24:22 +0000

Some days as a work at home mother, keeping the correct emphasis on the mother part requires a lot of discipline. These words of Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty help me keep my priorities focused:

The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral — a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body.

The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God’s creative miracle to bring new saints to heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature. God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation …

What on God’s good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?

— Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty