Working from Home May Not Be All It's Perceived to Be

In nearly every grade school in America there is that one, oh so perfect Betty Home maker mom who makes the rest of us feel like too bit imposters. She has time to make crafts, baked goods, helps out the teacher and belongs to every volunteer organization known to man.

After chatting with this mom she paints this perfect picture of wealth, financial freedom and of course the always gut wrenching"you'll have more time to spend with your kids" line. For a measly $99.95 you too can have this perfect life. We go home think it over and realize we do hate our boss; we want a nicer house, a better car and more time with our children. It's only a matter of time before the check book comes out and we're off on the new road to financial freedom.

I can't count the times I have heard these lines both online and off. I have been blatantly lied to about business opportunities from relatives, WAHM forums and everywhere in between. When it comes to "making that sale" all morality seems to go out the window with some of these moms.

So is working from home a myth?
Not exactly, there are many women who have achieved this but there are some important tips to consider before you ever quit your day job.

- Do you need money right away? If you can't afford to go 6 months (or longer) without income I would suggest you do not quit your job until you can.

About a year ago I received an email from a woman wanting to join one of my affiliate programs and she asked if this program would make her money right away? She had just gotten divorced and wanted to continue to stay at home with her children, she just couldn't fathom the idea of sending them to daycare.

My advice to her was to reconsider sending them to day care and getting a regular job, until she was financially secure enough to work from home. It would have taken at least a good 6 months of working that program for her to see a real gain. Could I have painted the perfect wealth picture and made a quick sale? Of course! It happens way too often with online business men and yes even women.

I also provided her with tips on how to transition her children to a day care, to make it easier on all of them. I never heard from that woman again and I always wondered how it worked out for her. I hoped that she didn't just move onto the next opportunity where the promoter wasn't as straight forward as I was.

- Start out slow. Start working your at home business along with your regular job until you are financially secure, but don't over work yourself.

- Don't spend more than you can afford on an opportunity.

- If your reasons for wanting to work at home are to spend more time with your children you might want to reconsider. Depending on how old your children are and the type of job you will be doing, you might actually end up spending less "quality" time with them.

- Be prepared to work weekends. An at home business might require you to work nights and weekends which can cut into family time.

- Social withdraw. If your at home business is online your social relationships could suffer. If you are cooped up all day on the computer this can lead to all sorts of other issues. It's important to still get out and socialize, this is true for your children as well; they need the opportunity to interact with other kids.

Betty is not just at your child's school her new address is www. She is all over the Internet, in chat rooms and wahm forums too. Keep in mind that just because it worked for someone else doesn't mean it will work for you. If there is an affiliate link below the business opportunity advice, proceed with caution.

I have enjoyed staying home with my children but it is not that perfect world that so many moms paint. As my youngest gets older I look forward to returning to the outside workforce, creating new opportunities and meeting new people. It's easier to get out of then it is to get back into so be careful!

Whether you are a work at home mom or work away from home mom it is a decision that ultimately you and your family have to live with so be confident in your decision and don't let anyone deter you. Betty and her 8000 forum posts might not be so perfect after all.