Real Lessons from a Work at Home Mom

Though I didn't know the term three years ago, I now identify myself as a WAHM, or work at home mom. Before my husband and I decided to have children, I was happy - ecstatic, actually - with my job as a newspaper reporter. Once we made the decision, however, I knew my life would have to change. The 10- and 12-hour days simply do not work well when you have children. I looked around and found a great and growing community of WAHMs, women who primarily stayed with the kids but also tried to make money.

I happily joined their ranks in June 2004. With six months before my son was born, I thought I would launch my freelancing career and be on my way by the time the baby arrived. How wrong I was! Though I worked fine until my son arrived, his birth changed the trajectory of my life. Working from home, as it turns out, is not always the best situation; in some ways, it brings out the worst in both working and staying home. My coping skills have improved in the past couple of years, and I've learned some great lessons along the way.

The biggest lesson is that I cannot do as much as I would like or need to do in a day. Life with children means dealing with crying, feedings, and unexpected illnesses. Everything, from getting in the car to dressing in the mornings, takes longer with children. Moms (and dads) who want to work from home will do well to recognize that their businesses will need to start slowly to work well.

Your slow cooker is your friend as are disposable versions of most household items, bulk shopping, and anything else that can save you time. In many ways, working from home when you have small children means that time will become your enemy. Because you do not devote yourself fully to your children nor do you have a specified working time, you will find that you are always doing both and trying to make time for everything. Running a business or otherwise working for yourself requires great fortitude, so you need to make use of any time-saving devices you can.

Rely on outside help when necessary. This lesson is one I'm still learning. I made the decision in December to put my then 23-month-old son in nursery school twice a week. Those eight hours are glorious because although I now have to care for my infant daughter, I am able to concentrate more on work during those hours. My work and income have benefited, and my son gets the pleasure of others' company during that time. Getting household help is another option many work at home moms should consider. There simply isn't enough time in the day to do everything, making help a great way to get more done.

Despite the challenges, I consider being a WAHM the best option for my family. The lifestyle just requires some adjustment and a little ingenuity to make it work.