The WAHM
I don’t know many personally, but I feel like for me, this would be my ideal “mom situation”–If I could find a way to still do what I do professionally, but be at home for my children.
I’m not saying it would be easy, (let’s not go down that road again) I’m sure it isn’t, and I’m guessing the road to get there is going to be difficult as well. Especially being that I only have one talent… Writing. Well, if talking people’s ear off is a talent then I’d say that’s a trait I have too. Oh and listening… I think I’m a good listener, (but I’ll let my husband be the judge).
For the past 5 or so years I’ve always done something
relating to journalism, or writing. I’ve written for newspapers, local magazines, reported for several TV and radio stations, I love what I do. I’ve never really liked one particular area of journalism over another, I like it all. With TV, most of the time it’s fast paced and exciting, but a lot of times you don’t get to shape your story as much as you can with print, or even radio. All of them have deadlines… Which I love, but some are more flexible… Or longer than others.
Sometimes I love being on TV, sometimes I absolutely hate it. I love with print I can say so much more, but I love the intimacy of seeing the people in a TV story and hearing that characters voice.
The biggest plus I see with print is the fact that you can do it from home. You can call a source on the phone and get the interview you need. It’s a big advantage, especially for someone who would want to work from home. If I keep doing what I do now I’d basically have to choose between working while being a mom, or putting the broadcast career on hold.
I’m no where near ready to retire from my love of broadcast news, but I’m craving more writing opportunities and the chance to work at my own pace, my own length. I have no idea how I’ll do it, but I would hope that one day I could write from home, do stories for papers or magazines, and make my own schedule. Man, how that would be nice. It’s not something that happens overnight, it would take a long time to build up and do what I need to do to make as much from home as I do at work full time… Not to mention the benefits I get from working for a corporation. But it’s something I hope I can work toward, especially so I don’t feel like I’m missing family milestones and special moments. It’s a special desire I hope I can one day achieve.
Are you trying to be at home one way or another, or are you at home already? How do you do it? And how did you get there?
PS: To read more about what’s turned into a “Mother Situation Series” click here.
I had hopes and plans of freelancing from home when I became a mother, thus becoming a WAHM. But this past May when I was laid off my magazine job (after taking the whole summer to lounge by the pool) I started my photography business. It’s been a busy little business for me and I’ve started to see how it could be the perfect WAHM situation for me. All I’ve ever wanted to do is stay at home with my kids, but I want to have that adult interaction and the feeling of contributing financially to my family. I don’t have kids yet, but by building my business now I’m hoping to create the perfect working at home situation.
I started my from home business this past January.I love it. But most of the sales I had were in person to friends,family and their friends. I have to tell you I can’t wait to finally get it going on internet too 🙂
For me it’s perfect. I do something I love I have Etsy shop as you know, and I can be home with my child.
I can set my schedule to work in the morning, or in the evening after her bedtime, again it all depends on what I’m working on.
The only part is if I need to finish a product on the certain time, and things get hectic at home (like if Hubby has to work more from office,or if I’m dilling with colds and stuff like that) so I don’t get to work on the product as much as i would need to. That’s when late nights kick in LOL
But still it’s very good and it gives me that extra adult time and something to do and contribute to the household without working outside of home and paying for daycare 🙂
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Doing the journalism at home thing is exhausting and not really worth the money. If you are freelancing, you have to deal with 1099s and paying double social security – you just don’t end up making a lot of money. And, if you’re working for a large newspaper, you still end up doing a lot of travel interviews. But, if you LOVE it, then I think you can make it work.
I tried the journalism from home thing and didn’t love it, but I’m the type of person who needs something to do almost constantly, so I started a flower business doing wedding floral design. I LOVE it and I’m my own boss, which I also love. It’s great to have a small business or something to do at home because, as Jessie said, you can still contribute to income, and still be there for the kids, and still have some adult interaction.
I do work from home. All of my work is done on a computer and I have a staff of vendors in NYC. So therefore I don’t have to physically be there, just on the phone all day. You really have to train yourself to work from home because people will think you are available all times of the day and night. I do not p/u my phone after 4pm, no matter what. I do not check my work email after 4pm no matter what. This way I have the time for my family that I need. But it doesn’t happen overnight. With a baby it’s harder and having a mother’s helper allows you to work at home within earshot of your baby and not missing any milestones.
I’d love to work from home so I could stay home all day with my wife and kids their goregous: http://matthewglennfamily.blogspot.com 🙂
I gave up my career as an Occupational Therapist (a job I loved) so I could be at home for m children. After my second daughter I felt the need to show my daughters that a woman could be anything. With the strength I got from them I started my own business from home with my website…
http://jewelryandgiftsbyrebecca.com
I love that I can be home for them, take them to school, pick them up or go have lunch in the park for 2 hours. I also get to show them that I do something I love and I help bring money into the house for all of us. I feel so good that I can show them a woman can be what ever SHE wants.
Visiting from SITS, Happy St. Patty’s Day!!!
Hi! I wandered over here from the flip flop contest. I love your blog….thanks for sharing your opinions and life. I haven’t read everything on your blog, but I have an adopted daughter. Adoption……just something to consider…..I’m just sayin’……
Take care and keep blogging, okay?
Hi Future mama!
I think I just fell in love with your blog!
I am at home now not working though but on mat/layoff leave if I can put it that way; but if you want to do some work while at home you must get day care or babysitting.. so you can concentrate on work and not on those pretty lil’ toes..
take care!
I’m not a WAHM, yet, but I hope to be when I when I get certified this summer. It will be long and hard, since I could be called out at any time, day or night, but I am going to love being at home more with my daughter. More stress, sure, but it will be a lot of fun.
My hubby and I are working toward being a wah-family. We both will be working from home. So far, he’s home already and im still working my fulltime outside job, but am slowly but surely building my own business so that i can do that fulltime and quit my corporate job.
This is HIGHLY important to us for a number of reasons. I also agree that it seems to be the most ideal parent/work situation.
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Hi again…..I just read over the comment I made in response to your original SAHM question…..I really didn’t mean for it to sound as arrogant and possibly self righteous as it does…..really….that’s totally NOT me at all 🙂 I hope that through my ‘ramble’ you understood what I meant 🙂
About being a WAHM I have done different things that I call ‘mum’ friendly in the last 7 (nearly.8.i.can’t.even.believe.it) years…. these things have been SO important to me as an individual and as part of identifying who I am (the quote I shared with you last time IS still one of my fav quotes however). up until my last baby I was a fitness/aerobics instructor at a gym – I LOVED IT (and seriously need to get back there) it was great because my babies could come with me stay in the play area for my hour class (I only ever did one class a day) then we’d be off…..i got to exercise (totally needed for that energy burn so my kids don’t cop all my frustrations) and they got to come with me and have fun for an hour…..my other fav is photography….I did this mostly on weekends (unless I could convince, bribe, beg) my hubby or sister to watch the kids…..but I found as much as I loved this, it didn’t work as well for me cause then our family saturday time was gone 🙂 I think if there’s a balance and the prioritys stay the prioritys (whatever they may be) then being a WAHM can be fantastic!!!!
ps) I love your blog and have been enjoying looking over it!!
This is something I have considered, too. I’ve been writing a lot for my station’s Web site, and it is entirely possible to do that from home. The Web publishing software we used is Internet-based, so I wouldn’t have to go into the office. I could get a remote access to iNews, just like reporters have in the live trucks, and then I could update the site from home. It would honestly be my dream job.
Hi again…..I just read over the comment I made in response to your original SAHM question…..I really didn’t mean for it to sound as arrogant and possibly self righteous as it does…..really….that’s totally NOT me at all 🙂 I hope that through my ‘ramble’ you understood what I meant 🙂
About being a WAHM I have done different things that I call ‘mum’ friendly in the last 7 (nearly.8.i.can’t.even.believe.it) years…. these things have been SO important to me as an individual and as part of identifying who I am (the quote I shared with you last time IS still one of my fav quotes however). up until my last baby I was a fitness/aerobics instructor at a gym – I LOVED IT (and seriously need to get back there) it was great because my babies could come with me stay in the play area for my hour class (I only ever did one class a day) then we’d be off…..i got to exercise (totally needed for that energy burn so my kids don’t cop all my frustrations) and they got to come with me and have fun for an hour…..my other fav is photography….I did this mostly on weekends (unless I could convince, bribe, beg) my hubby or sister to watch the kids…..but I found as much as I loved this, it didn’t work as well for me cause then our family saturday time was gone 🙂 I think if there’s a balance and the prioritys stay the prioritys (whatever they may be) then being a WAHM can be fantastic!!!!
ps) I love your blog and have been enjoying looking over it!!
I gave up my career as an Occupational Therapist (a job I loved) so I could be at home for m children. After my second daughter I felt the need to show my daughters that a woman could be anything. With the strength I got from them I started my own business from home with my website…
http://jewelryandgiftsbyrebecca.com
I love that I can be home for them, take them to school, pick them up or go have lunch in the park for 2 hours. I also get to show them that I do something I love and I help bring money into the house for all of us. I feel so good that I can show them a woman can be what ever SHE wants.