Tuesday, January 10, 2012

How To Contribute To Your Family

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 8:12 AM
I think if you ask most moms their dream is to be a stay at home mom. You know your kids will have fun, will be fed on time, get the right amount of naps in (even if the child doesn't agree), and most of all they are safe in your care. Of course there are other benefits from staying at home with your children but one downfall is your family income might suffer with only one parent working.

When John and I were trying for baby #2 we decided that I would be a stay at home mom once the baby was born. Little did we know how horribly sick I would become in the first 5 months of pregnancy which kept me from working at around 5 weeks and on. Since having Kendall it's been amazing to stay at home with her. I put my first daughter in day care for about 2 months when she was 7 months old and I don't know how I was able to do it. I can't imagine Kendall going to day care just so I could work.
Our family income did take a dip in the beginning but once we worked out our finances it's been uphill ever since.
I'm not saying it's easy, it definitely isn't, but we don't ever second guess our decision for me to stay home with the kids and I've never needed to look for jobs on www.workingmums.co.uk/ or any other online job search website.

Workingmums is a great resource for mom's in the UK so I'm glad there is a legit place on the Internet that can help stay at home moms find ways to help supplement the family income by working at home, I just wish moms in the USA could find a good place to find work from home.

Are you a stay at home mom that now has to work?

34 commented:

Jennifer H said...

I don't 2nd guess my decision either. :)

Donna on January 10, 2012 at 9:21 AM said...

I'm a work at home mom, but work a full-time job, and it's tough juggling everything. But at the end of the day, I feel good about contributing to our family/household.

Tammy said...

I had to decide to stay at home because of my son's special needs.  It hurt us financially, but it was the right decision.

ToniPatton on January 10, 2012 at 10:38 AM said...

I stay at home and bring in a tiny amount from my blog.  I did have to work for a bit when we lived in Arkansas so it's a lot tighter now and we don't have extra (unless I bring something in) but this is what I wanted to do as the mom in our personal situation.

Mar at Obviously MARvelous said...

Thankfully, I don't HAVE to work. My blog started as a hobby and since it's grown, it provides some extra income for our family.

Sonya Morris on January 10, 2012 at 11:56 AM said...

I must admit that I am a stay at home mom mainly because my oldest daughter is partially paralyzed.  It took quite a while financially to be able to do it.  Now that she is older and can do everything by herself, I am able to stay home and take care of my youngest child and shuffle kids from one place to another.  I love my job :)

Vanessa Coker said...

Knock on wood. I am a stay at home mom and don't need to work, though sometimes I feel like going back to work just for pleasure. I enjoy working. However, being with my son is more important to me right now, more than anything. So I'm just enjoying him being little and in my care, while also working on making sure I don't stay behind on my education: working on my masters. I love it! Maybe one day, when he's much older I'll go work somewhere or start a business of some sort.

Virginia Higgins on January 10, 2012 at 1:37 PM said...

I, too, am a homemaker.  I don't need to supplement my husband's income, but I do like to have spending money.  Thanks for sharing!

Momsreview4you on January 10, 2012 at 1:38 PM said...

I am a stay at home mom and I make a little money from my blog.  I love being able to stay home with my kids though and I'm glad that my blog has helped make this possible.

Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell on January 10, 2012 at 1:57 PM said...

I didn't work the entire time my kids were at home, and it wasn't easy, but I have never regretted the decision. I am SO happy I was blessed to be able to do that.

Jennifer on January 10, 2012 at 2:19 PM said...

I looked into working last year because I just wanted to talk to people my own age and to avoid the cabin fever feeling I get all too often.
I am glad I didn't get a job outside the home and now I just see my friends more often than I use to :)

Theresa said...

I work at home and I also homeschool my eight children. I understand that this isn't an option for everyone, but it was a great decision for us.

April Smith Decheine on January 10, 2012 at 5:12 PM said...

I stayed home until my daughter was in the first grade, at that time I was so wanting to get a career of some sort!  My husband did maintenance and his schedule was his own so my kids were always taken care of by mom or dad.  I have been horribly lucky deciding if I want to work outside the home, I never will be traditional that way, bring on the grand kids :-)

Amy Duran said...

Being a SAHM is the best decision I ever made. It has not been easy but its worth it in the end. Luckily now I'm finding ways to be home and contribute to the family income.

Brandy said...

I teach an online course as an additional job so when I start staying at home with our son next month, I'll be contributing, thankfully. Obviously my husband's job is much more lucrative, but it's nice to have "play money" from my little jobs as well.

Crystal on January 10, 2012 at 6:03 PM said...

I was a stay at home mom, but now I work part-time for my dad who started his own business.

Heather Buen on January 10, 2012 at 6:46 PM said...

I think you are right about the options for working from home.  Many are scams and it makes me so mad when I see them.  I work and run a blog but I completely understand that staying at home is a job in and of itself.  Much of my income goes to daycare so even if you did work, you'd be paying for daycare expenses.

WendyT said...

I'm a mother with a medical condition that has me on disability...so I guess I fall somewhere in the middle of the scenario you presented. 

andrews_cheryl said...

I am a stay at home mommy.  I take care of our little 2 year old son.  He is a joy.  I do miss work sometimes though.  Mostly for the girl talk and shopping during lunch breaks.  I'm lucky enough to be able to care for our son full time.  I wish all mommies who wanted to stay at home could.

courtney b said...

i'm a stay at home mom but i also work at home so it's nice!

Olivia Rubin on January 10, 2012 at 10:30 PM said...

i get to bring my babygirl with me

HilLesha Anderson said...

I'm a work at home mom. Prior to that, I just worked at home. :)

Melinda said...

I've been at home going on 5 years but I've contributed financially by doing in-home daycare and of course blogging.  My youngest will be starting school soon so I think its time to go back to work at a real job :)

Zipporah Sandler on January 11, 2012 at 10:11 AM said...

I always feel like I needed to contribute. Now I'm the breadwinner, and I'm a stay at home worker.

Tian_hapsari said...

I'm stay at home mother and I love it!

eileen richter on January 11, 2012 at 1:30 PM said...

I was a stay at home mom with my first 3, now 31, 29, 24 providing day care for others part time.  I divorced and went back to school and work. When I had my fourth I continued to work and finish school and was remarried with 4. Life was chaotic but I loved the balance of working and home life. Soon after I started full time work I became pregnant with #5. I did have some issues with pregnancy and dropped to half time, then after he was born had to quit my job. It was just too crazy with family issues. Went back to work 3-4 days a week when he was 18 months. Working full time, I had my 6th right up to my due date working. I loved my job even though our day care costs killed us and it didnt keep us too far ahead. I loved being in the work world , after being isolated and feeling I was not contributing, but it was trying. (I had had a husband who berated me for not helping, but yet was a possessive man who would not LET me work or go to school, so I guess that emotional part played/still plays a big part in my head and heart)  I became super ill when my youngest was only 18 months old and have been ill  due to an undiagnosed illness that left me too sick to work. I miss it but feel it was God's way of slowing me down. I am home with my now 12, 14, and live in 19 year old with HER tiny one now. Although I miss the fulfillment and feeling of offering my family some help financially, I know it's the best place for me at home. I am here to greet them afterschool, run errands, cook and bake and do things I know so many moms just do not have time for. Now am watching my grand daughter 5 hours a day so my daughter can work part time.  My daughter and I would love to blog too, but am way too tech challenged to figure it out.  I think its fanTASTIC that you and other moms/dads can stay home and work at home doing this type of marketing. 

ejrichter60 at gmail dot com

Lavinia said...

I do work from home and i am glad i do, even though it is not easy joggling with two important jobs:)

Mommyhastowork said...

I;m going to be a stay at home mom soon!

allyn said...

i am going to be a new mom in a few weeks! i dont work but i would love too someday! my only contribution i guess is keeping the house from just a house to a home.

Jenzen69 said...

I am a stay at home mom but currently looking for employment. arrghh

Becca @ Mama B on January 13, 2012 at 11:24 AM said...

We have had to make sacrifices so I could stay home, but I don't regret it :)

Brigitte Brorman said...

I'll be staying home with our first baby and planning on doing medical transcription when I have time.  Unfortunately, I have a hurt arm so we'll see what actually ends up happening.  I'm happy for the chance to be home with my baby but I'm a bit nervous about the finances....

Alena Belleque on January 16, 2012 at 2:01 PM said...

I am due with my first baby - a little girl we're naming Serenity - in April, and I will also be a stay at home mama. I'm so grateful that I found blogging, not just because I love to write and share, but because in the last few months I have been able to bring a little bit of money writing sponsored posts, and I am beginning to do product reviews which are always nice because you get to keep the items - usually things I could not afford or justify buying as a one income family. I'm glad to hear that you guys are doing well :) And I didn't know you're in the UK - my best friend from high school lives in Wales! :)

brandi bowers said...

I'm currently a stay-at-home-mom (to be).  I'd love to be able to go back to work after this baby is born and grown a bit, but with the cost of daycares in our area, it might be more fiscally responsible for me to stay home. Crazy!

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