They number in the millions and they are incredibly important to families and to our society, yet they are underappreciated, little respected, and even controversial.

Who are they?

They are the stay-at-home moms.

These are women who know in their hearts that staying home to raise their children is the right choice for the whole family. Some do it from the outset of their marriages, while others make the difficult transition from career-driven women to homemakers. Either way, it is a choice that is incredibly rich and rewarding, not to mention challenging.

Now Dr. Laura, building on principles developed during her long career as a licensed marriage and family therapist, provides a wealth of advice and support, as well as compassion and inspiration, to women as they navigate the wonders and struggles of being stay-at-home moms.

Learn how:

• to hold your head high and deal with naysayers;
• to see the benefits of being home not only for your children but also for your marriage;
• to understand the changes you see in yourself;
• to realize that the sacrifices you endure now will make for lasting bonds and a stronger family, in addition to a more cohesive community.

In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms is a special book, a profound and unique understanding of how important it is for mothers to raise their own children.

1.  If you are married or have a partner then try shift working.  One of you will work traditional days and then watch the children at night so the other partner can work. This will be hard on your relationship but it won’t last forever.  Make sure you make time for each other on the weekends.

2.  Use day care.  This isn’t the idea option because you want to raise your children yourself but what if you need to work for money or because you are single?  Choose carefully and find daycare that will take your children part time.  Then you can work while they nap and take them to daycare for a few hours after they awake.

3.  Hire a babysitter.  Find an experienced babysitter who will work in your home, if possible, or out of your home for a few hours a day.

4.  Trade off with other parents.  Have another parent keep your child for a few hours a week so you can work at home and then reciprocate by taking their of their children on other days.

5.  Ask a relative like your parents or a sibling to take care of your children a few hours a day so you can work.

Once your children are school age then you can work while they are in school and then spend the rest of the day with them when they get home.  Ask your older children to help you with your business.  This can free you from clerical work and help your children feel they are contributing to the household.  My son was labeling, stamping and stuffing envelopes by time he was eight! I recommend the book below to help you get started on your work at home success!

Among PTA meetings at 9:30 a.m. on weekdays, managers who glare when a woman ducks out for her kid’s pediatrician’s appointment, and daycare that costs more than tuition at a state college, how do working mothers even get through the day? Working Mother magazine CEO Evans addresses this question by describing her experiences as a high-powered executive and mother, along with the experiences of the magazine’s readership. A “baby boomer feminist,” Evans compares (more…)

A fact-based and proven approach to help working mothers rediscover happiness as they balance their duties at home and work Science and sociology have made great strides in understanding what makes us happy and how we achieve it. For working mothers who face endless demands on their time and attention, What Happy Working Mothers Know provides scientifically proven and practical ways to find the right balance and replace stress with happiness. Written by a behavioral scientist a (more…)

Million Dollar Mom dispels the financial and cultural myth that it is not plausible for a family to live on one income.  The author provides money saving, cost cutting, and practical advice for both moms and dads who want to stay at home with their children.  Put the advice to work for you and see how easy it is to stay at home and raise your own children.

How to Work at Home when You Have Kids

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Do you work through Internet from your house? So what? Do you feel like you are someone who is into technology? Do you find your just-done assignment poured in jam ?

Oh yes.This is the truth. Not all workers are “hip” and “trend” via internet. Some of them, while they type words on the keyboard, or they answer urgent e-mails, at the same time they have to get a…fruitcream ready.
You think there is nothing you can do but be patient. Indeed, there are some tips which will make your life and career even better.[1]

Steps

1. Wake up early. It is not popular, but it is a solution.If you can wake up at 5:30-6:30 am it is certain that you will have plenty of time for some freedom before the children’s programs in the television begin.
2. “Collaborate” with your partner.The collaboration with the other half is always desirable.It constitutes the engagement that is called “marriage”. However, it is not always obvious. Discussing, or even lead to an establishment of special shifts between the two spouses will help.
3. Stay up late.Even if it sounds tough, is the most common method to people who are involved with deadlines. Make a coffee (not very strong), say “Goodnight” to your children and instead of turning on the TV or the DVD player, turn on your computer. Even if you do not have the courage for intensive work, you can make certain drafts for the next day or to clean up some e-mails.
4. Teach them to play on their own. This is certainly easier when there are at least two people to do so. Table games (that are not usually noisy), perhaps even games in the computer are the solution. Avoid the easy alternative solution with the DVDs.
5. Coordinate them.They probably believe, that each time they play, they have to play pillow fight, or games which require body skills. This is good, but it can also end up hazardous. Explain to them how much they should love each other. If this doesn’t work, then you can create an “award” for the most quiet kid. That should do because people are born to be competitive.
6. Send your kids to their grandparents. You probably know that already, and you love it. However, this is not a permanent solution. The grandmothers and the grandfathers are good and overlove the grandchildren, but they are not responsible for their behaviour. Keep this solution for a very important project that should be delivered immediately.
7. Go to an internet café or to a library. Your nerves are in knots and the willingness of your children to do their homework or play quietly, is minimal. Then being in an environment of adults, probably helps. A disadvantage is that you should definitely have someone to babysit.
8. Advise them to go and play outdoors.That sounds so pleasant and pedagogic. Tell them to go to the garden or to the balcony or anywhere. Learn about the facilities of your town and entertain them. Do you feel bad as a parent? You shouldn’t. Remember all these times that you wished to go out to play games with your friends and you didn’t have the time. At least, learn to your children to have fun!
9. Give your children work to do that looks like yours. They will probably still interrupt you occasionally, but it should keep them relatively busy for short periods of time while you get work done.
10. Hire a nanny [2].If you are able to afford a nanny (even if you are still at home) then certainly go ahead.The nanny will have the chance and the skills to engage your children with other activities , rather than playing with your computer.
11. Turn off the computer. You tried everything, but uselessly, your kids won’t behave and you are exhausted. Deal with them. Read their beloved fairytale for the 189th time, buy them ice-creams and chips, and do whatever they want. In this way, they will feel appreciated and they won’t be in the mood to destroy another day of yours.
12. Treat your job at home like a job at an office. When you’re working, you’re working and keep to a schedule as best you can. Do take time out to play with the kids, even if it’s just five minutes to get them started on something. But make sure you’re either working or playing, not both at the same time, or nothing will get done.
13. Make a to-do list. If you get pulled away from your work by your kids, it’ll be easier to get back to what you were doing when they’re done with you.

Tips

• Hire a neighborhood pre-teen to come over for roughly $2 an hour to “babysit” while you work. The pre-teen will feel grown up and have fun, your child will be entertained, and you’ll be right there if any problems arise. Just make sure that the sitter knows exactly what you expect of them.
• Give them rags and tell them to “dust” the house (no cleaners obviously). Kids love to feel responsible and all grown up. Dustbusters are also great for entertaining little ones.Everyone wins.
• Coloring books or Play doh make for hours of entertainment. Sure, you’ll have to occasionally look up from what you’re doing to admire their work, but it will likely buy you half an hour or more.
• For summer days try taking your work outside and give them a bucket full of water and a paintbrush. Ask them to paint the house, the deck, the sidewalk, whatever while you work. They’ll love trying to “paint” the whole thing before the first part dries.
• Let them go through old pictures if they’re over 4. They might get a little dog eared, but your kids will love looking at pictures of you when you were younger. Tell them if they have questions about the pictures to set them aside and then you’ll tell them all about those pictures when you’re done working.
• Have them string macaroni on a string for the Christmas tree. You can make a “needle” out of masking tape and that’ll keep them busy while enhancing their fine motor skills. Toddlers love that kind of stuff. Plus, if they decide to eat it, raw macaroni is good for them.
• Give them some bath paints and have them paint the bath. Don’t put any water in the tub and stay close by so you can hear if they added water. Give them things like crazy foam or shaving cream, bath paints (Crayola makes some), sponges, brushes, stamps, bath crayons, etc. Then, when they’re all done they can wash away their creations and get a bath.
• Buy a photo album and take pictures of them doing different things as well as their family doing different things. Then put those pictures in the album and ask them to make up songs about the pictures. You’ll have to keep an ear open, but at least you’ll get a few minutes here and there.

Warnings

• Make sure the nanny is a trustworthy person.Obviously everyone wants his/her assignment done fast, but if your kids report a problem with the child care which is provided to them, then dismiss your employee.
• never leave kids with sick babysitters

Related wikiHows

• How to Find the Perfect Work at Home Opportunity
• How to Accept Criticism While at Work
• How to Keep Children Entertained While Cleaning

Sources and Citations

1. http://www.dirjournal.com/guides/how-to-work-at-home-with-children/
2. http://www.nanny.com/

Earn Money Beeing Home With Your Kids

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