To Be or Not To Be a Work From Home Mom
Making the Choice
I've been a mother for 13 years and a working mom for 7. I've done both and know that for me motherhood is the career I'm in.
I enjoyed working, going to the office and the freedom of it all until I had my baby Jael. With my eldest kids I had the opportunity to stay home and provide their foundation. I believe that the first 5 years is the most important because its from this period in their lives where they form their basic traits. After the 5 years it's just a matter of consistency.
Motherhood differs from woman to woman. Our insights most likely derive from the foundation that we had as children. It may be that because my own mother was a stay at home mom that I'm able to value its importance.
Some women on the other hand want to have the opportunity to stay at home but are not financially secure enough to do so. I've been blessed so far to have the chance to actively do both.
Things to Consider
Working at home is a major decision to make. It will call for determination, discipline and honesty. Why honesty? Well, let me explain further.
Working in an office environment sets the pace. You are required to show up for work at a certain time and you have tasks that are given to you that you will work on either with others or with close guidance from your boss.
When you work at home you set your own pace. You need to discipline yourself to wake up at certain time and to stick to a schedule that you've created. It's very tempting to tell yourself to get a few more minutes sleep when you have no boss to report to that will dock you for minutes that you've been late.
As a freelancer there may be times that you'll need to be able to work with minimal to no supervision. Yet, you are expected to produce results. That's why you need to be honest in your resume and when you're applying for any job. Taking on too much can also kill your chances of establishing a good online reputation.
Now unless you have an online job that requires you to be online at a certain time (mostly personal assistants and the like) you can choose to work whatever time you like, It's up to you to meet your hours because in the end if you don't it's your loss. Meaning your loss of good pay.
Work at Home or at an Office?
Would you rather work at home or work at an office?
The Good vs. the Bad
The idea of being your own boss and lounging around while working sounds great but along with the good comes with some bad. Being a work at home mom has its challenges. I'm a juggler. I juggle work and kids and making a home. Are you determined to make it work? Will this make you happy? These are some questions you'll have to ask yourself before you plow ahead.
Working for a company gives you many benefits. You have an HMO (medical care provided by company), government benefits, 13th month pay, bonuses and the like. These are pretty much standard. The one solid thing you have being an employee is stability.
Working online doesn't give you job security. You can have a job one minute and lose it the next. You don't automatically get those benefits. You'll need to be responsible enough to make your own payments and contributions. If you're lucky you may get that rare employer that gives you a raise or bonuses.
Weighing the good and the bad you'll need to have your own strategy to make financial ends meet and a technique to create your own job security. I myself hold down 2 jobs. I have 1 full time job and a part time job. It gives me a jam packed work week but because I'm determined and this makes me happy (because I get to actually see my kids and interact with them more).
The Ultimate Goal
The ultimate goal is happiness. There are people that find that a career and all it brings with it are what makes them happy. There are some that are focused on family. To each his own. What's important is to do what makes you happy. To live without regrets.
This has probably been the most tiring part of my life (aside from the early years of marriage!) but I don't feel as tired because I love what I'm doing and I'm happy!
My biggest regret would be to miss out on actively participating in my kids lives. Especially if I had missed out on seeing my baby Jael's first smile or his first step. Life is a learning process and most of the time it'll be trials and errors.
Take chances but don't regret. Think things through. Often we know we can do something but are afraid to try. Don't live your life just to live. Live your life to the fullest possible capability. You won't regret it!
