This is a guest post from Joyce Brewer, the Creator/Host of MommyTalkShow.com. The Emmy award-winning TV journalist left her career as an anchor to become a wife and work at home mom. She wrote an e-book about her experience, “Use What You Know: A Business Idea Guide for Moms.”
In a matter of weeks, I went from anchoring local news in Jackson, Mississippi as a single woman with my own condo – to getting married, moving to Atlanta, and getting pregnant.
Seriously.
Our son is a “honeymoon baby.”
I was so concerned that people would be counting the weeks from my wedding to our son’s birth.
But when my super conservative Christian mother told me not to sweat it, I felt at ease about having a baby 10 months after I got married.
As if all of these changes in my life that were happening simultaneously (married, move to Atlanta and motherhood) I was also unemployed. I wrote a few freelance articles during my pregnancy. Right after our son’s birth I even worked for the census bureau because the hours were flexible. I couldn’t imagine leaving my baby for 10-12 hours a day to go back to work in TV news.
When our son was 9 months old – it hit me. I wanted to use my skills, but I also wanted to work from home.
So I created a video blog/online parenting talk show that allowed me to use my skills as a journalist while staying home with our son. I’d like to share some lessons I’ve learned to give your work at home business a solid foundation.
Here are 4 Must-Haves for a Work at Home Mom Business
1. Reliable Childcare – Just because I work from home, doesn’t mean I don’t need childcare. Our son attends morning preschool. Work at home moms also need to communicate with your spouse/partner if you need them to help with the kids on the weekends while you work at Starbucks or in your home office. Keep a reliable babysitter on speed dial. Find a friend in your neighborhood who can get to your house within minutes if a last minute conference call comes up.
2. Scheduled time off – Thursdays are typically my day off. I do my best to do something fun with our son like music class. On Thursdays, I only work while he’s napping or after his bedtime. Thursdays are great days off because parks and play spaces have a smaller crowd.
3. Support network – I joined several meet up groups when I first moved to Atlanta. First, I wanted to meet other new moms. As my business grew, I joined other groups for women, business, and networking.
4. Training & Development: Whether it’s taking an online webinar or attending a conference, I like to keep my skills sharp. I’ve attended the 2011 SheStreams Conference for Women, 2012 Disney Social Media Moms, Worth It Money Conference for Women, a Ladies Who Launch Atlanta Incubator and other Atlanta blogging events. This year I’m attending the Type A Parent Conference. If you’re not a blogger, you can still join an association in your field and attend educational events.
As a work at home mom, I no longer get to interview presidential candidates and I don’t make anything close to my salary as a journalist. But I’m in control of my schedule and anytime our son gets sick, I can be there for him without worrying about pressure from my employer.
Are you a work at home mom?
What’s helped you establish and run your business?
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These are great tips!
Look like a list of great must haves. Sometimes it seems if you work at home you usually end up working and doing house stuff and try to cramp it in all in one day. You know how women try to be super woman. Most families need two income so this is great if you can handle it.
I would add making it clear to family & friends that you are indeed working, so the don’t call to chit chat all the time “since your home”.
I love, love, love the idea of a day off … I need to make that a goal this week.
I love these tips! I need to start taking a day or two off each week!
I’m working on a schedule and, lol, sticking to it. That’s the hard part.
Great post! I also have “cues” for my kids when I’m working and don’t want to be disturbed unless of course, there’s blood!
I wish I could afford for someone to come in and watch the kids sometimes. I would get so much more work done.
Thanks for sharing these must- haves!
I need some childcare over here so I can get work done!