W.A.H.M.: The Pros and Cons of Working from Home
By: Jeanine Cox
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| Are you looking for a ten-step commute? It seems like the best of both worlds and an answer to a dilemma that faces many women -- how to balance work with being a mom. Working at home can eliminate the need to make what is often a painful choice, but it takes real diligence, compromise, and patience to make it work for both you and your family. | ||||
| I was the owner of a successful and demanding retail business when I discovered that I was expecting my first child. Just a couple of months into my pregnancy, I realized that I did not want to leave my baby with a care-giver all day, everyday, yet I couldn't afford not to work. I came up with an idea to start my own home-based Internet business. It took a bit of nudging in the beginning, but my husband supported my decision. We purchased a new computer, new software, and a snugly "hands free" baby carrier. After much hard work, BabyZone.com was born, and shortly thereafter so was our beautiful daughter, Nadia. | ||||
| For me, working at home was a perfect solution, especially during Nadia's infancy. I was building a company based on the topics that most interested me --pregnancy and parenting -- and Nadia spent a good portion of the day quietly asleep in my office. The best of both worlds -- at least for a little while. | ||||
| About the time my daughter began to walk, BabyZone began to grow. The company became substantially more time-consuming, and I just couldn't balance both "my babies" at the same time. I hired a mother's helper and was once again able to work and be a mom; I was still the primary caregiver to our daughter. | ||||
| My family and my business have continued to grow. My husband and I now have a second child, a bouncing baby boy, and my company has moved into a larger office outside of our home. | ||||
| I am proof that WAHMs can be successful. Working at home clearly has its advantages, but it's certainly not for everyone. Some women find it difficult to work away from an office environment and co-workers, while others have difficulty focusing on job responsibilities when their babies are so close by. I have put together this self-test, and some related suggestions, to help you determine whether or not being a WAHM is right for you: | ||||
| Think about and then answer the following questions: | ||||
| If you answered "yes" to these questions, being a WAHM may not be the right move for you. While you are closer to your kids, working from home can often be a solitary experience, and no supervisors are there to guide you. | ||||
| Think about and then answer the following questions: | ||||
| If you answered yes to most of these questions, being a WAHM may be right for you. The next decision to contemplate is whether you want to continue working with your current employer, i.e. telecommute, or whether you want to freelance or start your own business. | ||||
Telecommuting In the new-age wireless world, employers are beginning to see the advantages of letting trustworthy employees work from their homes. Depending on the responsibilities and constraints of your job, you might be able to negotiate a stay-at-home position from your employer who values your contribution. Of course if your job requires meetings and human interaction, telecommuting may be challenging. In such a case, one solution might be to schedule regular on-site hours for meetings and other office functions. | ||||
| Still, your employer may have concerns. Analyze your own and your company's needs as well as your own and present your case to your employer with confidence. Here are some issues that might need to be discussed: | ||||
Freelancing or Starting your own Company If telecommuting isn't an option, you might consider freelancing or starting your own business. Whether your specialty is secretarial services or party planning, cell phones, email and the Internet make networking easier than ever. Evaluate your skills, decide which path you want to take, and then take the time to write a detailed business plan. You can find out more about starting small businesses and putting together business plans at the Web sites listed in conjunction with this piece. Even if your endeavor doesn't become the next Intel or Starbucks, it's important to set goals and deadlines for yourself. | ||||
| In your search for the right work, be wary of "opportunities" which offer huge reimbursements and require a sign-up fee. These are likely scams and often have vague job descriptions and require no previous experience. A legitimate employer will write out a detailed job description when seeking to hire. If you're suspicious of a posting, you can research the company by asking for references and checking with the Better Business Bureau. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. | ||||
Making it all Work To succeed as a WAHM you need to prioritize and self-motivate while remaining focused on your goals. Of course, you need to balance this work with caring for your adorable baby. Your baby will, and should be, your first priority. Be prepared to go with the flow. What doesn't get done during the day might be accomplished after your baby goes to sleep. You might also consider removing all other chores from your responsibility list. Only in Martha Stewart's world can a human being successfully run her own business, be a mother, gardener and housekeeper, and cater a dinner party for 75. In the real world, you're a mother and a professional with responsibilities; what isn't a necessity should be removed from your task list. Remember that as your business grows, so will your work obligations, and it will become more and more difficult to manage without childcare or office help. As your budget allows, hire the help that enables you to be an effective WAHM. | ||||
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| About the Author |
| Jeanine Cox is the Co/Founder and Publisher of BabyZone as well as the author of The Perfect Name: A Step-by-Step Guide to Naming Your Baby. The Perfect Name is sold exclusively at Barnes & Noble Booksellers. |
