I always envied those moms who were able work at home with their children. My first child was born while I was in college so that wasn’t an option early on. Once I had my second child, I knew that I wanted to be home so I wouldn’t miss all the important things with him that I missed with my daughter. When I held that sweet little baby boy in my arms for the first time, nothing else mattered but staying home with him. All of the dreams and aspirations for my career became so meaningless and empty. This tiny little person needed me for everything. Why would I ever want to leave the cocoon of my little world? Why would I ever need anything but what I have here at home? Then, like a bag of bricks, it hit me each and every time I started thinking about my 3 months of maternity leave ending – I had to leave so I could make money to help support my family. I would sit, nurse my baby and cry like I had never cried before. What could I do so that this precious little person could be with me every waking (and sleeping) moment? I started looking for something that would allow me to be home with him but nothing seemed real for me. Sure, some people were doing surveys or putting jewelry together but I knew that wasn’t something I could create an income doing.
When materity leave ended, with a heavy heart, I trudged off to my job. I was not a work at home mom. I didn’t work at home but I can’t say that I wasn’t blessed. I had a great boss and a wonderful work environment. My pay was extremely good. What was my problem? Why couldn’t I just be like every other working mom and suck it up? Well, I did. I worked for half days the first two weeks and I must say they two weeks were horrendous. I dropped my baby off with almost strangers and cried and cried and cried. I sat at my desk and cried and cried and cried. Well, you get the idea - I wasn’t happy. My poor baby was cooing and smiling at someone else. This was all I could think of. How would they know how he liked to be held? The torture was endless. Dramatic, I know, but those of you who have been through this can certainly sympathize with me.
I went on with my job for the next six years. I gave up on the idea of being a work at home mom. I allowed daycare to help raise my sweet baby. He prospered and we were settled into our routine. I would get him ready for daycare (and later school), drop him off, go about my day, pick him up from the sitter’s (since I worked until 5 and didn’t get home until 6), go home, have dinner and go to bed. I did this for 5 days and then we would have the weekend. Most of the time the weekend consisted of running errands and cleaning with a little quality time thrown in. It was life and I got used to it but I still had those dreams when something amazing happened – We got pregnant again!
It definitely wasn’t planned – We thought we were done and happy with what we had. I can’t say I wasn’t shocked because I was. I believe that all children are a gift from God, so we were excited to be blessed again. I had had a miscarriage about three years after my second child was born so I was a little nervous about the pregnancy. Once we passed that stage, we were relieved and excited. Then, those old feelings of dread started coming back. How would I ever leave this baby to the care of strangers? Didn’t I remember the anguish I went through leaving my last child when I went back to work?
Last December my third child was born. During the second month of my maternity leave, a friend called to tell me she had found something while looking through a Home Business Connections magazine. She brought it over for me to read. I started reading story after story about people who were doing exactly what I wanted to do. I knew this was for me. I read the article about Janie Jones and her family. She was telling about being a work at home mom, and how she did it. She talked about how she worked with a company that provided health care benefits to people who could not afford insurance or were turned down for some reason or another. Finally, something I could do to help other people and be home with my kids! I thought this would be perfect for me. I scheduled an interview.
When the representative called me I knew she was really working from home because I could hear her baby in the background. There was a start up cost to pay for training materials and marketing, free ads, vouchers and my websites. The best part was that the first month’s overhead could be taken from my commission so I never had an out-of-pocket expense. I got going in a matter of days. I was recently promoted to Regional Sales Director and have my sights set on the next level of Senior Regional Sales Director.
It takes some work to see what fits best for your family and work out a schedule, but I would not change my life for anything. There are days when I don’t get a lot done – That’s okay. I know that I am my own boss and I can take time off for doctor’s appointments or just to be with my children. Even with the most understanding boss you don’t have that ability. The difference is I am home with my family when they need me. I have quality and quantity time with my family.
I have an early-morning devotion before the kids wake up – This keeps everything in perspective and my day goes much more smoothly. After that I have breakfast with my two boys before taking the oldest to school (my daughter is in college). We have playtime and while I do a little housework he has a little snack. While he sleeps, I work. I try to check emails periodically during the day but his naptime is when I return phone calls. People contact me by voice mail or email to request an interview and this is the best time for me to call them. If my calls are finished before he wakes, I do a little more computer work. After lunch, we go outside or to the park before we head off to school to pick up big brother. By the time we get back from school, it is time to start dinner. When daddy gets home, we have dinner and spend some family time together. Usually we will go outside to swim or just hang out in the yard for a while. If I have any other phone calls to return, daddy takes over for a little while. I try to work only 2 to 3 hours a day during the week. I have found that it is best for my family if I am “off” on Saturday and Sunday. From time to time, I will have someone request that I contact them on Saturday.
I am on track to be making $100k in the next two years. The best thing is that my income is residual, meaning that I get paid EVERY month for work I have done once. If I want to stop today, I will still get a paycheck from what I have done in the past. Sometimes I just want to pinch myself!
I hope that everyone who reads this finds the answer like I did, no matter what it is.
Tracy Hanna is the mom to three wonderful children and works at home as an Independent Business Owner with Ameriplan, USA.
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