Employment Spot

Work-at-Home Moms, Balance Motherhood & Career

One of the biggest decisions a new mother faces is whether to stay home with her children or work outside the home. If she takes outside work, she faces separation from her child and the expense of a caregiver. If she stays home, she loses income and the stimulation of challenges in the workplace.


To find a compromise, many women are working at home. This option has its own joys and challenges. The Family Corner’s Making The Transition From Working Outside To Inside The Home is a first-hand account of one woman’s first year as a work-at-home mom (or WAHM).

Another mother offers the benefit of her experience in Baby Zone’s Catching the WAHM Wave. The first step to becoming a work-at-home mother is finding the right situation. Some women take advantage of their career skills and become consultants. Others telecommute to a job. Some develop freelance careers with writing or designing skills. An entrepreneurial new mother might start a home-based business. To be successful, you must figure out which arena will best fit your skills and temperament.

So You Wanna Be A WAHM? can help you decide if working at home is right for you. The article offers ideas for businesses and online support. Money Making Mommy has many ideas for earning an income from home. By subscribing to the MMM Weekly Ezine you can read the job listings before they are posted on the Web site.

Once you’ve found your niche, there are new challenges. Working at home deprives a mother of the benefits of office work, such as a relationship with a mentor, networking and a circle of supportive peers. Other concerns include publicizing your venture, obtaining advice on taxes, insurance and legal issues and fitting your work and home responsibilities into a 24-hour day.

The following sites can help with the challenges work-at-home mothers face:

• WAHM.com
  This online magazine handpicks the best job listings and links to job finding services. You’ll also find helpful articles, ideas for businesses, discussion boards, chats and a weekly e-mail newsletter.
• Home-Based Working Moms
  Find networking opportunities, helpful calculators, insurance and tax information. The Mom’s Assistant offers a weekly menu and money-saving tips.
• Bizy Moms.com
  This site focuses on entrepreneurial ideas and opportunities. Chat with other entrepreneurs and advertise your business.
• Dear Mom: Don’t Lose Yourself!
  This article offers survival tips for new mothers.
• Moms Network
  Offers the tools and resources WAHMs need to balance their work and family lives. Moms Network features ideas for home-based businesses, job searches and insurance information, as well as several sections geared toward family issues.

   — Julia Walker