Pros and Cons of Being a Work at Home Mom

Ask ten women with children if they would quit their job for an opportunity to work at home. Most likely, all of the women asked would raise their hand and jump at the chance to be work from home mommies. The idea of working in a home office, bringing in a paycheck every week and spending time with your kids sounds fun. As with any great idea there are drawbacks and issues to consider.

Being a work at home mom can have its pros and cons, so before you hand in a resignation letter here are several things to consider;

Pro: Your children are always (or most of the time) at home with you.

Con: Your children are always with you. As someone once described it; parenthood is like being pecked by chickens. Now imagine if those chickens are pecking you non-stop, to death and there is no escape.

Pro: Ability to earn an income from home.

Con: Some work from home jobs do not pay as well as a career, office job and can be competitive.

Pro: No need to pay for child care.

Con: No health care coverage. While you may save money by having kids stay at home with you, the employer may not offer health care benefits for employees who work from home. Especially if you are self-employed or run a small business, there is no health coverage unless a policy is purchased by you.

Pro: Work flexible hours

Con: Some work at home jobs require very flexible hours, meaning you'll have to available at night or any time of day. It is hard to create a routine and schedules when no specific work hours are given.

Pro: Have time for yourself and your family.

Con: Where did "Me Time' go? A big problem for work from home moms is that between work demands and child care needs there is no time left for mommy.

Pro: No prison like cubicles.

Con: No escape. When a mom works from home she is stuck at home. This means that there is no morning getting ready routine, dropping kids off at the babysitter and coming home in the evenings to their family. Everything you do, think, use etc. is done right at home. You cannot escape from home to work and vice versa. It's like a prison, but with windows and curtains.

Pro: Save money on clothes and lunches.

Con: Read the above as "Look like a bum who eats frozen meals". Work from home moms still require food in their bellies, but do not have to go out with co-workers to restaurants and spend money on meals. Money can be saved, but you'll still need groceries. Also, moms who work from home do not have to purchase business outfits and can getaway with working in sweats. This can sometimes get out of hand when you spend all day in pajamas and your husband complains about it.

Overall, there are pros and cons to working from home and being a mom who juggles work and kids at home. With every career change decision make sure that it is a family decision and done in agreement. Consider all options and those big changes that will occur when you decide to become a work from home mom.