The truth of being a work-from-home mom
When I started as Stay-At-Home-Mom, I wish I knew The truth of being a stay-at-home mom and/or a work-from-home mom. I thought everything was smooth sailing. I got to take care of our second child, six years old then, and our eldest, who was fourteen, I had so much time to spend with her. Little I knew that working from home with all your responsibilities both from being a wife and mother and your deliverables to your clients is very difficult to manage. My journey as a stay-at-home mom and a work-from-home mom is a constant balancing act between work and family. However, I have more control now than when I was working in the corporate world.
What you hear from friends
When I was not yet a work-from-home mom, I heard about a friend of a friend who does the same and was having fun; I didn’t pay so much attention to it. I told myself that I’m good where I am right now, so I didn’t see myself working from home. We’ve had some co-workers making the shift, and I was never remotely bothered by it.
I went on with my life just as I was used to, and from time to time, I would hear someone I know shifting from working in an office-based set up to working from home. Weeks passed, which slowly became months, and then years, and more people I know made the shift. Some companies also offered such options on specific days or specific periods. It was then, I decided to look into it a little further.
Who work-from-home earn more money
According to an article I read from cnbc.com, “People who work-from-home earn more than those who commute.” Working remotely has radically transformed how and where we use to do! And according to Quartz, U.S. Census data indicates that 5.2% of U.S. workers ultimately worked at home in 2017 — that’s about 8 million people. Blue-collar and low-wage jobs in industries like construction, manufacturing, and fast-food require being physically present. However, high-tech white-collar roles are typically more conducive to working from home. That is one primary reason for high wages among telecommuters. It has to do with the kinds of jobs that could have done remotely.
The truth of being a stay-at-home mom and/or a work-from-home mom.
Having all this knowledge, I thought it was enough for me to take the plunge! I had no clue. It was twice or thrice the hard work compared to working in the office! According to psychiatrist Dr. Randy Dellosa, “the loss of line or distinction between ‘working from home’ and ‘being at home’ is the reason why work-from-home set-up is stressed.”
Real enough, my responsibilities at home: Food preparation for the family and the pets, ensuring that the house isn’t topsy turvy, making sure that I bring the kids to school on time and pick them up in the afternoon, the never-ending laundry – added to my responsibilities at work – the distinction became very blurry. It totally stressed me out in the beginning.
One time, I had to let go of a client because I could not deliver what was expected of me on a specific deadline because my child was sick. I remember that I was awake all night monitoring his temperature. If he would still have a fever, we were to rush him to the hospital. Thank God he didn’t, but he threw up twice on the bed, and I had to clean up everything twice.
The shift facts
I wish I had known that fact before making the shift from working office-based to working from home. I may have planned it a little better or would not have been so shocked initially. Also, I wish I knew that starting a freelancing business is very much like taking care of a newborn. It takes all of your time, and you would want to have two bodies at the same time to attend to the needs of the business and of the family.
So there was a business, two kids and a husband. I admit I have had thoughts of giving up, and I know I did not want to give up my family, so it would really be the freelancing business if I had to do it.
The reward for not giving up
I’m glad that I have soldiered on, and both my business and my family are intact. Sure, there were days that I couldn’t even take a break to take a shower because the kids are so rowdy and needy or that I had to tend to an essential concern of the business. Still, all went well, and everything was taken care of at the end of the day.
In summary, being a stay-at-home mom and/or a work-from-home mom is not an easy task. It is twice, thrice, even multiple times more difficult than being in an office. When you are in the office, you just tend to yourself. Your kids are under the supervision of someone else, and your house can be left alone in the morning and be back at night without complaining. Your husband is also out of the house working, so the days’ busy parts are really just the morning and night.
The Ups and downs
It is the complete opposite when you decide to shift to being a stay-at-home mom and a work-from-home mom. You take care of EVERYTHING, EVERYBODY, EVERY SECOND, AND EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY! This goes without saying that it is a roller coaster ride, and you would never know when the next steep dive or climb will be. These ups and downs kept me going all through those years.
In these trying times, when the coronavirus is causing more people to work-from-home, I’m glad I have made the shift a few years back. I have two kids and a husband, a small business to take care of. I would like to say that I’m now in my element, and I would not want it any other way. It’s not a perfect world. I am not perfect, either. However, everything just works well for my family and me ever since I have decided to make the shift and be a stay-at-home mom working from home.
Off I go to the kitchen to prepare dinner. I’ll write again soon!
Till next time.
