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The Joys And Hazards Of Work-at-home Moms

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Written by Jessica Franks

Wednesday, 16 July 2008

by JessicaFranks

It sounds like the best of both worlds for moms: earning money while you stay at home with your children. You envision working away on your computer, while your toddler plays happily at your feet, or taking conference calls with corporate bigwigs while you ice your child's birthday cake. So perfect, so easy, so doable.

The reality is something quite different. You sit down at the computer to work on that project, you child chooses that moment to spit up. Two minutes into that conference call, the children start fighting and the screams can be heard all the way to Tokyo.

So, as in much of life; especially when one has children, the dream isn?t quite the same as reality. What are the pitfalls of working from home and being a mother? What can happen to trip up that happy image?

Some moms hire baby sitters or nannies to mind the children while she works. This keeps the kids out of her hair and occupied at something non-dangerous. The downside is that nannies cost an arm and a leg. This can reduce mom?s earnings. Some moms have older children who watch the younger ones, but power struggles and tears can be frequent interruptions. ?Mommy, Sissy says I have to play outside, but I want to be inside.? The inevitable results tears, cries and runny noses are the result.

Children aren't the only ones who will interrupt your work. If you have pets at home, you'll often be pulled away from your desk to tend to their needs as well. One mom who runs a lucrative business with on-line auctions quickly learned that her dog would go crazy whenever the delivery van would come to the house. She would have to settle down her dog down, who was barking loud enough to cause permanent hearing loss, while also having to deal with the delivery man and keep her children happy. But what can she do? Her children love that dog. And so does she.

Some work-at-home moms work at night when the children are asleep. Some handle customer service calls or do bookkeeping. The house is quiet and there is on one to interrupt. However, the next day, mom is exhausted from working all night but must face the next full day of taking care of her children. Naps are required and not just for the children, but for the work-at-home mom.

Sometimes it is the job itself that can cause pitfalls when working from home. Employers often undervalue the work work-at-home moms do. And some even claim poor quality and reject the work just to get out of paying for the work at all. Not only that, only rarely will you find a position that offers healthcare benefits, other insurance benefits, and retirement plans. It is up to you to budget and plan for your elder years.

I saved the biggest pitfall of working from home to the last. And that's pitfall of no adult contact. You don't get to spend time at the water cooler chatting with coworkers about office gossip, last night's television shows, or life in general. Your day is spent solely with your children, the bugs they found outside, that annoying kid's shows, and your children's sticky candy kisses. Fortunately, it's a pitfall many moms welcome.

About the Author:

If you are looking to make extra money from home, then make sure you check out Jessica's free movie about jobs for stay at home moms, and work for stay home moms.

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