stay-at-home moms
Question and Answer
We need a little more income to make it in my family, but I have preschool children and don't want to seek employment outside the home. Is there an alternative for me to pursue?
You might want to consider building a home-based business that can be done while taking care of your children and keeping your sanity. Among the possibilities are catering, desktop publishing, pet grooming, sewing, consulting, transcribing legal documents, or even mail-order sales. Choosing which business is right for you is the first of three practical steps suggested by Donna Partow. She's the author of a book called Homemade Business. You can start your own enterprise by taking a personal-skills-and-interest inventory to identify your particular abilities and what you might like doing the best. The second step is to do your homework. Begin by asking your librarian to help you research your chosen field. Look up books, magazines, and newspaper articles. Talk to other people who have done what you'd like to do. Join an industry organization and a network. Subscribe to industry publications.
According to Mrs. Partow, the third step is to marshal as much support as you can. Get your children, your spouse, and your friends on your side. Setting up a small business can be stressful, and you'll need as much encouragement as you can get.1
If you've been torn between family and finances, having a home-based business may turn out to be the best of both worlds.
Background Information
Making Good Decisions
What to do about avoidance — one of the biggest time wasters around.
Safe at Home
Staying at home with the kids isn't necessarily the "easy way out" of working.
Questions and Answers
What would you and your wife do if the resources permitted her to stay at home after the kids were in school?
Answer
Do you feel it is still important to have Mom at home in the teen years?
Answer
I love our baby a lot and wouldn't trade him for anything in the world, but I don't understand why I'm so depressed.
Answer
I'm about to leave my position as a corporate executive to become a full-time, stay-at-home mom. What can I do to make this transition go smoothly?
Answer
Review Frequently Asked Questions
Stories
How Motherhood Changed Me
One professional woman recounts her first few weeks at home, alone, with her new baby.
If you've been through a experience related to this topic, we invite you to share your story with others.Share Your Story
Other Things to Consider
Even Though We Ain't Got Money…
That phrase – live on love – kept bringing to mind a song they played on the radio when I was a kid. I scoffed at its utter lack of common sense.
Following the Leader: Helping Your Husband Find His Place in the Home
Moms, do you ever wonder why dad doesn't "connect" with the family? Try these gentle nudges to help him find his place in your home.
Related Topics
Transitions: Changing Jobs, Moving
Relationships: Communication Gaps
Parenting Teens: Communication Problems
