Why I Love to Work at HomeAlice Seba of Internet Marketing Sweetie asked me to add to Kelly McCausey’s “Why I Love to Work at Home” 
thoughts on Sparkplugging. My first thoughts were (not surprisingly) any new revelations. Most moms that I know choose to work at home because they can’t bear the thought of leaving their kids while they are off making money.
The first two years of my daughter’s life I worked at a bank part time. I earned good money, had flexibility in my hours and days, and liked my job and coworkers. Still, the emotional stress of leaving my baby combined with actually getting out the door to daycare and then work took a heavy toll. I became desperate to leave and knew that self-employment would be my only ticket. Launching a business that would replace my salary plus benefits was not going to be easy. When my girls were newborn and two, I left my job.
The easy answer would be to tell you that I loved the flexibility and being home with my girls. Truth be told, I was working 12 hour days, often seven days a week. I found paying work, but I also found demanding clients and tight deadlines. I ended up putting my kids in daycare several days a week just to get my work done. Flexibility meant getting up at 4:00 am to work so that I could make a doctor’s appointment or have time for a walk around the block with them.
Fast-forward fourteen years later.
1. I love working at home because I have gained an enormous sense of accomplishment and confidence. Finding…creating…building a business is extremely gratifying. Each success, each hurdle, each step…they are all part of me. I’m very proud of what I have done.
2. I love working at home because now I look at the world differently. If I stop in a store or a gallery, I now see it as someone’s passion. I wonder “Whose dream is this?” and if I like what I see, I make sure to let them know. If I buy a product I love, I think “Who thought this up and how did they ever get it to market?” I am genuinely interested in people and love to hear about what they do.
3. I love working at home because I find controlling my own destiny (and cash flow) very empowering. I make significantly more money working for myself, and know that I have no limits. I like having that glass ceiling. I can work as little or as much as I want or need.
4. I love working home because I have many, many extra hours to spend with my husband. Every morning I spend at least an hour with him over coffee - usually good quality time that I realize most couples don’t get. He is my inspiration, my cheerleader, and my number one support. He believes in me and tells me so every day. We share a love for business, which means our conversations are often lively!
5. I love working at home because I want to be a strong role model for my daughters. I want them to believe that the world is theirs for the taking. I want them to know that the options are there for them.
6. I love not having to worry about taking a day off for a vacation, for illness, or because the sun is shining and the day is just too pretty to miss. Snow day? Who cares - I’m here anyway. Child doesn’t feel well? Stay home? Daughter forgot her lunch/flute/homework/sneakers? I’ll run them up to school. Volleyball game at 2:45? I wouldn’t miss it for the world!
7. I love to work at home because I don’t like someone else controlling my world. I don’t have to worry about layoffs, annoying coworkers, office politics, and a dress code. (Although these days I’ve been thinking I might need a dress code at home!)
I can’t imagine life any other way! If you are a wahm and want to join in, visit Sparkplugging and be entered to win a $50 Gift certificate at Moms Talk Biz. I have to tag a few people, so Stacie, Joan and Jenn, want to share your thoughts?
June 17th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Hey! Thanks for participating in the Meme Treece!
You are indeed a strong role model for your girls and many others around you
June 17th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I love what you shared about in the beginning of your business and then fast forwarded 14 years later. It gave me a glimpse into the struggles you went through to get where you are today - successful and a role model. It goes to show that hard work and perseverance do pay off.
June 18th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Thanks for the Meme Treece. Fastforward another 25 or 30 years and you have me! I’m a grandmother/mom who retired in 2000 after being a “stay at home mom” who began working “seriously” when her oldest started college. Before that, I had options to work when I felt like it, and do whatever pleased me at the time as long as I could arrange to be home for my 4 kids.
After re-entering the workforce fulltime at 41 and working to age 62, and now being retired for 7 years, I find that I am thrilled to have something to do every day without having to march to someone else’s drummer. I get up when I feel like it, have coffee and read the newspaper with my other half, go to my office with my second cup, and start my work. Who cares if it’s snowing, raining, hot or cold? Who cares about traffic jams? I can get the job done right here.
Working at home gives me an opportunity to spend valuable time with my husband who works with me, and our daughter, Treece, with whom we work. I can use the skills that I have developed over the years to free my daughter from the mundane tasks and allow her to be more creative in developing her business. I am an organized, productive, contributing person and I can still have a life, which is very hard when you work in the corporate world. I can go on vacation when I feel like it, take a day off if I want to and do my job at any time of the day. I’m at an age where keeping busy and mentally active is a good thing. The best part is that I am appreciated for what I do - and the boss calls me Mom.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Tishia - I can’t tell you how much your comment means to me!
Joan (aka Mom) it’s a blast sharing all of this with you - I couldn’t have done it without your constant support. I think you’re amazing!
Kelly, you are so much a part of my journey. Thanks for reminding me to stop and rethink what I’m all about!
June 28th, 2008 at 4:25 am
[...] Treece Smolinski Loves Working at Home [...]