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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working at home isn’t easy but I find time after my children go to sleep or when they are in school
I LOVE this post! We are working on a schedule and I really need better childcare!
The support network is so important, I wouldn’t be able to work from home without it!
I definitely agree with the support network, it is SO important.
I work at home now. I love it!
I worked at home before having me son who’s now 3 months old. I thought it would be easy breezy since I already worked from home adding a new baby would be no problem right? Boy was I wrong! I had to readjust my style of working to accommodate for my new addition. First I set office hours for my self, I work 10 hour days Mon – Thur and take Fri – Sun off. My husband and I start our days at 5am, he drops our son to my mom at 6am and picks him up by 3pm. When they arrive home he takes him for his afternoon walk while I finish up my work day. Having my mother near by is such a blessing.
I could use some child care
I think that staying organized has probably helped me the most. Having clearly defined goals for each day helps keep me on track.
I homeschool my children and work from home. My husband has a flexible-ish schedule, so he can help with childcare when I really need it most of the time. Its not a lot, but those few hours when your kids don’t need you to to monitor them can be super productive.