The Working, Stay-At-Home Mom

Is it really possible to do both? FREE Career Assessment below!

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Remember the good ole days when mothers would wake up, make a delicious breakfast, manage to clean the whole house while caring for the baby, get the groceries, prepare a full dinner and some how have it on the table before hubby got home from work, all while looking like near perfection out of a magazine? No? Maybe that's just how it was portrayed in the old black and white tv shows, but you have to admit that mothers today live in a different world. Today, there are many moms who are faced with the decision to stay home or go back to work. And unfortunately, most moms (over half of the American population to be exact) don’t even have a choice. They return to work because they simply cannot live off of a single income. And to take it even further almost 60% of moms are back to work within nine months of having their baby, and 25% go back within two weeks! To put this insanity into perspective - you’re barely “healed” from giving birth until at least 6 weeks. And that’s just considering the physical aspect of things. What about mentally? Emotionally?

After I had my daughter I tossed and turned at night trying to figure out how I could bring in an income without having to leave her. I don’t mean a few bucks here and there but like really have a good career and still be home with her. I really struggled leaving her when I had to go to work. I truly believe it’s one of the things that triggered postpartum depression for me. She’s 6 now, and I am proud to finally say that I am a working, stay at home mom. I don’t have to leave her, or my other two children, and I bring in part-time income with full-time flexibility. 

For the last 6 years, I have tried everything from MLMs to random courses I came across on social media promising me significant income. All of those options left me with less money and feeling totally defeated. But after much trial and error, tears, and coffee, I have finally found MY THING. My thing that works for me and my family. Something I can do to contribute to my family's financial needs without having to sacrifice being home with my kids. Over the years of trying to figure this out, I’ve come to realize that there is actually a vast market of careers for women to pursue without ever having to leave their children. The question is - what do you WANT to do?

I am so grateful for where I am today. I have talked with so many other moms that are struggling with the same scenario that I struggled with. Some families cannot live on a single income. Some mothers have to carry all the financial burden on their shoulders. And some mothers really just want to be able to do both! I think that is great and it is absolutely possible.

Step one: figure out what it is that you want to do. I generated a career assessment made specifically for moms who want to find meaningful work from home. This is a short and sweet questionnaire - only 5 questions long - that will generate a short list of possible career paths suitable to your interests, experience and realistic availability.  

After you take the assessment, you will notice links to various sites where you could potentially promote your services. You can always check out those sites, and refer to them later as you start to build your resume/portfolio.

Step two: decide if you are going to freelance, or apply to work for a company as a W2 employee. There are pro and cons to both. I am a freelance bookkeeper and that allows me to take on as little or as much work as I want. I have a lot more control as a freelancer than I did when I worked for a company. My work is done around my personal schedule, not the other way around. I have my own clients and I also do subcontract work for two accountants, assisting them with projects when needed and what not. The con in being a freelancer is you are constantly having to seek out work, whereas when you work for someone you just have to focus on doing a great job on the work that is always there for you.

Step three: create, or update, your resume. I understand this step can be a little daunting especially if you haven't been in the workforce for awhile. But have no fear! I have created a downloadable PDF that covers all about how to create a fantastic resume for a stay at home mom. It will break down the process and help take away the overwhelm. There will even be a few templates to choose from to customize it to fit your personality. You will find the instant download resume builder on my Etsy Shop.

Step four: put yourself out there! You have a vision, you know what you can do, and you've created the perfect resume to help you stand out. If you are sticking with freelancing you can use sites like Upwork, Fiver, Belay, etc. to promote your services. Another option for professionals and freelancers is Hiremymom.com. I absolutely love this site. I have used it personally and have had a lot of success in acquiring interviews and receiving job offers. I love it because it cuts out the scam job listings you'll find on other sites like Indeed, but also it's tailored solely for business owners that are looking for moms specifically to hire! They understand your priorities without you really having to explain it. If you want to cut through the red tape and put yourself in front of a bunch of business owners looking for moms to hire, because they just know working moms get stuff done, then I can't recommend this site enough.

Hiremymom.com

Moms are basically superheros. We manage a lot, and throwing a career in the middle of it can definitely make us feel a little bit out of control. I hope after reading this you see that there really are options for you to be able to do both. I remember the very first day after I quit my office job and I was able to stay home with my daughter. I remember waking up and seeing her in her cute little pink polka dot pajamas, watching her play and thinking "I did it. I don't have to leave her." I remember the sigh of relief that followed. You can have that too.

If you have a question or a comment please don't hesitate to reach out. I'd love to hear from you!

With Love,

Kate