My Own Work From Home Story

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It is funny how history works. Many years ago, women fought hard to be able to work outside the home. We finally got that right and have shown the world what we are made of. Now many of us are realizing that we are missing our children’s life when we are away at work 40 hours a week. They grow and change so fast. By the time we get them up in the morning, away to daycare and then back home, fed and in bed there is little time left for fun. But, what else can we do? We have either gotten so used to a two income family or the economy has hit us so hard that we need to keep working.

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a mom. After high school, I went to college and studied nursing (I am still puzzled as to why I chose that career for myself, it really doesn’t fit my personality). I graduated and started working in the OB unit at a hospital. I worked in the hospital for a few years, then went back and forth between hospital and office nursing.

I don’t think I have ever been truly happy as a nurse although some of my jobs were definitely better than others. About 5 years into my nursing career I had my son. Working 12 hour shifts away from him broke my heart. I had a great sitter but I felt like I was abandoning him. As he got older and more aware of me leaving him and would cry, I felt even worse. Many drives to work I spent in tears, I felt like this was not what God had created me for. Sure, I was helping others but I felt like I wasn’t there for my own child.

Eventually, I went part-time and that helped some but I still felt horrible on the days I left him. Then I had my daughter and balancing life with 2 children and a job became even trickier.

When she was 5 months old, I finally landed a work at home nursing position. This helped some. I still had to have a sitter some of the time because I worked nights and really had to sleep once in awhile! Then, our wonderful sitter decided it was time that she went back to work as well. I knew I had to figure something out, so I asked if I could change my hours with my work at home job and went to evening shifts. Eventually, I only needed to have a sitter come to our house for about an hour a day as I started work at 4pm and my husband was home by 5pm (it is a telephone job and I am on the phone the entire shift).

For almost 3 years we have been doing this schedule now. I am still part-time but the schedule really cuts into time I get to spend with my husband and my son now that he is in school as well as time with friends.

We still feel like we need my part-time income to keep up with the bills (we have not used credit cards in about 7 years so we really have to keep up with the bills). After reading Quitter by Jon Acuff, I have decided that I will continue to use this part-time job as income until I can build up this blog that will hopefully help other mom’s find their home business niche as well.

I feel that God gives us all our own calling and don’t want anybody to feel judged if they work outside the home. I feel that we all do what is truly best for our own family.

I have been researching and educating myself on blogs and home business opportunities for years. If there is something you are interested in or would like to know more about, feel free to comment below! I would love to hear from you and would be glad to help you research something and maybe even make a blog entry about it!

Let me know your thoughts…I will try my best to respond to you!