Going Back to Work?

I totally get it. It's something I hear a lot from mom's. They want to be there for their kids but they need something to call their own and to engage their brain.

I have a home based business that I work completely from home over the phone & PC. I meet great people and I'm using my brain. It gives me something to call my own but all the flexibility and time freedom needed to keep my family my first priority.

I don't have to leave home to do parties so I'm not racking up a bunch of expenses to track like mileage, inventory, display merchandise, etc. and I don't have to worry about people's lack of disposable income for my income. Because seriously in this economy who has any "disposable" income for fun things.

I think I have the best of both worlds. I don't have to worry about traffic, work wardrobe, etc. Yet I can be productive and generate an income while utilizing my brain.

C.-Busy WAHM to 4 y/o virtual twins
owner: www.BeHappierAtHome.com

My goodness you deserve to have some adult time!! Do not think you are being selfish at all! You are only human. I have found one of the toughest thing about being a mom is losing who you were for so many years prior to becoming a mom. Well I had to get over that! :)

Working and having adult conversations is amazing! I work only part time completly around my husbands schedule doing at home parties and I decided to do this because I needed some grown up sanity to make myself a better mom! And it is so much better I get to live an amazing life of being a stay at home mom, there all the time for whatever my son is going through and then I also get to go and do a job I love meeting new adult people for a couple hours a week! (thats all I needed)

Life is meant to be fun and fully enjoyed at all stages and as long as you have a supporting husband, then you will make it just fine in the roles of motherhood, and adulthood :) Being a mom is the only commitment you have made any job can come and go you will never be stuck there!

I felt the same way you do now. I returned to work with a part time job, so I only missed a few hours and half of that was naptime for my son. Volunteering is a way that I also had intellectual stimulation and doesn't require a large committment.

It is positive for the girls to have others take care of them too, so don't beat yourself up for needing some adult exposure.

I am a Partylite Consultant. I love what I do and have several Mom's with baby's that do this business. You can start for free by have some friends and family over for your Grand OPening show. With a $350.00 show, you get everything in your starter Kit Free. You can set up for people to view the current book online and take orders over the computer and by phone. Set up party's with your friends that also have babys and offer them a free shopping spree for doing so. They get free product and you get paid. We average $35.00 hr on up for doing this.
Partylite is a very supportive business that offers you to be the CEO of your own business. This is the Only Home based business out there that is Free to start, with no limits on income. My Regional Vice President makes a 6 figure income doing exactly what I'm doing.
If you are interested in learning more, contact me.
____@____.com
www.partylite.biz/debywhalen
this is my website. :)

Happy mom=happy family!

I've worked one day a week since my oldest was born. It's just enough to feel like I haven't completely lost touch with the adult world (or my brain!) If I had to work more I would miss my girls too much. And I work in a chiropractic office so I get to feel like I'm doing the world some good while I'm there too. You're not wanting time away to party or do something selfish, so I say go for it! As long as your baby is with someone you trust you're entitled to think about something else once in a while!

Dear C.
I have had 6 children,3 by birth and 3 that came with my new marriage. If there is anything you can do is make some time for yourself! It is hard, but I know I use to just have to get out for 3 to 4 hours two or three times a week. I felt like a whole person with interest of my own. I love my kids to death,but I came home a happier person.I usually go when they are in school and I'm home by the time they return. I try to have a dinner already planned and I do a quick clean before I leave.It is a lot less stressful that way.I have alway been self employed from doing flower arrangements, to net working for a current company. I love getting out of my jeans and tennis shoes and having a real lunch thats not at Mickey D's. So plan ahead and get out a bit.If you have a minute and are looking check out my web site. Good luck to you and keep your sanity!

C.
www.getfitlivsxinney.com

Dear C.,
I think you should do it !!
Is not selfish if it makes you happy and more relaxed mom to your children, yes relaxed, because you are having some time for you and will give you a good energy.
Definetly part time but do something you like no something you would like to get out in a week!!
Hugs
I.

I don't think you're crazy and I think feeling a little selfish is a normal natural reaction.

I was in your position a year ago. A toddler and two newborns in a new town. I didn't know anyone and we had no family nearby. Going to the grocery store was a way to interact with another adult during the day.

I started volunteering periodically (only on one of my husband's days off because I REFUSE to stick my children in day care). We joined a cooperative preschool so my oldest and I would get to interact with people outside of the house. I also joined the Board of my Home Owners Association, and then joined the Board of my oldest son's preschool. I get lots of intellectual interaction, and most of my efforts benefit my community and my son's school AND my children don't end up in a day "orphanage" while I do all of this. It's been a win-win for us!

C., I so wish I had this problem, however, my husband enjoys his "toys" too much for me to stay home! I do have a business of my own as well as working full time as a nurse. It's with Arbonne International. We do in home spa parties so you are able to connect with other women for a few hours each week. Nice little break from the joys of home! It's only $29.00 to start and we help you the entire time. My cousin has been doing this for 2 years now, after quitting her Real Estate business to stay home with her 6 children, and makes over $9000.00 per month. My mom is not so fortunate, she lives in a small town of 1200 people in West Texas and only makes $3000.00 a month working part-time. Plus, they both drive a white mercedes that the company pays them to own. I finally realized what they have and have decided to do it too! Let me know if you would like more information. We could get together and have coffee! My girls would love your little ones! They are soon to be 12 and 9 and my son is almost 4.

I totally know what you mean. I have 3 kids ages 8, 6, and 2 years old. I've done both-been a working mom and then a stay at home mom for about an equal amount of time. There are good and bad things about each and after working with alot of working moms (when I worked I directed a large childcare center) I can say there are also some moms who do both wrong.
Do you know what I mean? I've seen working moms put their children in childcare from 6am to 6pm 5 days per week and look for every opportunity to dump their kids on other people. But, I think the majority of working moms find a good balance of quality childcare and quality family time. On the other hand since I've been a stay at home mom I've seen lazy, selfish stay at home moms who claim to be staying home for the "kids" who don't spend hardly ANY quality time with their kids. So, I guess what I'm saying is you have to get over the guilt others will put on you because you WANT to work. People who HAVE to work make it work so you can do it too. I'm looking forward to the day when I can return to work because that's what I WANT to do. Trust me, your kids will not look back on this and say, "MOM, you ruined my life cuz you worked!"
If you keep a good balance and always keep your family as your number one priority than you will be the best mom you can be.
It's not a joke that if mom is happy so is the family. It's so true.
I look at it like this, I don't HAVE to work. I could continue to stay home and make sacrifices like not going on trips, buying fancy things, saving a bunch for college and retirement but since I WANT to work and we will put the extra money to good use (college/retirement savings) I'm going to do it.
I guarantee your child will not look back at you staying home and "sacrificing" their college education or your ability to take care of yourself when you retire so your children don't have to be burdened and say, "Thanks for staying home with me all the time?"
Regardless of whether you work or not ask yourself if your child will still be able to say, "You were always there for me." Even if you work you can find a way to make them be able to say that. Just keep a balance in mind. If working helps you be a better mom then GO FOR IT!

By the way, I love my mom but she never worked a day in her life and I never felt like I was her number one priority.