We all know that staying home with kids is a ton of work in itself, but unfortunately, it doesn't pay the bills. When we enter into this world as a stay-at-home mom, it may be for a variety of reasons. It could be due to the expense of childcare, or because you want to, or because you want to be home with your children. No matter the reasons behind it, you may find yourself missing not being able to contribute financially to the household. I know I did.
Staying home with kids is hard
It's difficult to go down to one income, and it takes careful planning to do so. I was able to pay down some debt and reduce monthly payments, so we were OK for a while. But soon, I missed being able to contribute financially as my kids got older. This, combined with my workaholic tendencies, led me to seek out income in the form of freelance and work-from-home opportunities.
The problem with this type of employment is that it can often be inconsistent
Take-home pay can fluctuate vastly depending on the number of projects I have and what I'm able to get done. I could have a lower month for various reasons, including projects ending, members of my household being sick, or burnout — which are all legit reasons. But I still feel guilt when I have a down month.
When I worked full-time, I never thought that I would work evenings or weekends, but that is exactly what I do as a work-from-home mom. I work whenever I can. I sneak in a few minutes here and there when the opportunity strikes, but there can also be problems living this way.
Finding balance as a work-from-home mom feels impossible
Some days my kids spend time playing nicely together, and I can knock some stuff out. Other days, they're super needy or just want to play with me. I love being home with my kids, so I do my best to know when to work and when to stop, but it’s not always easy.
There's a delicate balance between making money and keeping my sanity when I work from home. It's so easy to burn out when I'm trying to do everything. Between taking care of my kids and working, it feels like I'm "on" all the time.
My brain has a hard time shifting out of work mode, and even when I’m doing stuff for the kids, I find that I stay in this state. It can be difficult finding time when I am not working. Finding the time to relax and do things for myself is especially difficult with all of the pressures to take care of my family, contribute to finances, and still have time to do other stuff. And when I finally do take a break, I feel bad that I didn’t make as much as in other months.
Yes, freelancing and/or working from home with kids can be difficult to manage, but to be able to be with the ones I love and do what I love is worth the guilt and overwhelming feeling that I sometimes experience. I've now learned that knowing when to take a break is key to keeping myself sane — because nothing functions right if mom doesn't function right.
