Enjoying Your Life as a Work at Home Mom

The mail man delivered my last needed supply for a custom order of diapers on Saturday. He is friendly, as are the majority of people in our small town. When I have packages that don't fit in our box, he brings them out because we're a one-vehicle family right now. We live over the threshold for home delivery so he's not supposed to do that, but he does gladly. He sees us as people, not just an inconvenience in his day. This is what we hoped for when we moved from California out here 3 springs ago.

I woke up Sunday morning and mention to my husband that I need to work on sewing. I start the coffee, turn on the cinnamon rolls, and he plays with the baby. We enjoy our breakfast, get dressed, and the babe gets set in her high chair while I gather my supplies. Hubby takes the dogs out and lets out the chickens, coming back in to resume his search for what we can list on Ebay. I pull out the newborn diapers that are cut out already and just ready to be sewn up. I'm putting gussets on these diapers, something I've been wanting to do for quite some time, and I practice on the newbie ones to minimize waste should I mess up. The gussets go on better than I expected and will be added to all newborn, small, and medium diapers in the future! I set aside the diapers to add snaps to later and will pass them on to a friend who is expecting. These particular practice diapers are covered with my 'notes' in purple disappearing ink. Fine for friends, not fine for sale. I move to the set of 5 medium diapers, smoothing out the PUL outer layer over the table first, marking, and cutting; handing scraps to the babe as she watches.

We sing, talk about the colors, identify scissors, fabric, thread, and elastic. I love it that she is able to watch me actually create something, she can grasp this concept from a young age and I hope to instill the love of work with her as she grows. As I am near finished cutting out the inner layers I can hear that Babe isn't going to make it to the end of my diaper sewing. Removing her from the high chair, we go to check on what Daddy is doing and then settle down to nurse. Tummy filled, up in the backpack she goes, me swaying as I cut so she'll drift off.

I spread out the fabric, smooth out the wrinkles, noting that the yellow check is just the right color and how thick and soft the diaper flannel is. I feel passionately about everything that I sell, and use the highest quality materials. High quality materials make the work enjoyable, and I feel that the best work comes from one who loves what they are doing.

Still swaying, I move to the sewing portion of the diapers until I am confident that she will not be woken in the transfer to the bed. I lay her down, cover her up, and go back to sewing.

I throughly enjoy this work. I think it is more enjoyable for me than some people who sew for pay because it's all made from materials that I enjoy working with, in colors and prints that I like. As I sew up a newborn diaper, I think of the little baby who will wear it. I imagine momma taking care to wash it with the mild baby soap she will use for baby's clothes as she is awaiting delivery day. I hope that she will enjoy cloth diapering enough to continue past the newborn stage.

Sewing the dolls, I love to imagine the child playing with the doll. Will it sit on a shelf and smile down at them while they sleep? Will it be a favorite that is toted everywhere? Is it going to go on adventures and be a part of make believe jungle? Or will it be wrapped up in a blankie and rocked to sleep as the child mimics momma lovingly setting an example with a younger sibling... I smile and choose which color to do the next doll set in, thinking about the future child in the process.

Every so often I don't want to let them go and we add another diaper to our stash or a doll to our collection, but for the most part we enjoy sharing with people all over the world.