Ever since I began my work from home journey a year ago, I have been met with an even mix of support, skepticism, and opposition. While most of the people in my day to day life are supportive, there are a few who aren’t. I have heard it all, and honestly I just let it roll off, but sometimes it can get just annoying. If you work from home, I am sure you have heard it, and if you want to work from home, you may have been told the same things. “Those aren’t ‘real jobs'”…” All you do is sit at home all day”…”I wish I could do nothing all day”…”Why do you need help around the house, you don’t really work”. Oh and there are more, but I am here to end this now!
Work From Home Mom Life
Being a work from home mom, is not as glamorous as some would make it out to be. Seriously, I wake up early, go to bed late, survive on (often cold) cups of coffee, and try to keep everyone on schedule! Now yes, being able to work from home has been a blessing in many ways! I am able to be there for my kids on a day to day basis, save a ton of money on daycare costs, and my schedule is flexible. It is a wonderful path that I have chosen for myself, but I won’t let anyone tell me that I don’t work hard. Working from home is a balancing act, especially for moms. We have to balance out play time, nap time, snacks, lunches, school, oh and we have to work as well. I try my best to have a good work from home schedule, but we all know that sometimes things don’t go as planned and kids want to do their own thing!
being a work from home mom can be unpredictable, and luckily my job allows me a lot of flexibility. Even so, it is a real job, and one I have to put in hours for in order to get paid! So to all the naysayers out there, I would like to say that I do work. I work hard, and I love it.
Why I Work From Home
My work from home journey started when I was unable to find work in my field ( legal) due to a few different reasons. For one, I had just completed my Master’s Degree. I kept hearing from potential employers that I was over educated for the position. Then the ones who would make an offer, would offer numbers so low that it would not be worth it to put my kids in daycare. So after a lot of frustration, I decided to make my own way in this world.
Yes, It Is A Real Job
The biggest thing that I hear, is that I don’t have a real job. Well, I guess that means the taxes I pay aren’t real either? That money in my bank account must also not be real. In fact, I don’t have just one real job, but multiple! Now yes, there are a lot of scams out there but that is why it is important to do your research. After what seems like forever, I found quite a few places that hire work from home positions that are perfect for moms.
I personally work doing web search evaluation. While it is flexible, I still have weekly hours that I have to meet. There are taxes withheld, I am paid a set hourly rate, and I get PTO. So I would say that is a real job. There are quite a few companies that hire for web search evaluation. To me, it is the perfect at home job for moms. It does not require set times to work and does not need a quiet environment. If you want to learn more about web search evaluation and the companies, you can head on over here.
I Also Side Hustle
So on top of my Web Search Evaluation job ( which is 19 hours a week), I also side hustle. I like to have multiple streams of income. My main side hustle is with a company called Leapforce. I do about 1 hour of work a day for them as an independent contractor. They pay monthly, but do not hold out taxes. That means I have to hold my own and report it at tax time. Other than them, there are a ton of other side hustles that I think are perfect for moms as well.
Oh, And I Run This Blog
I have spoken about it in the past, but I also make an income with this b log. Mostly from creating sponsored content that brands pay me to create. Yes, my blog is also my job. I promise, it is not just some little hobby. This is, I think, the most “controversial” of my jobs. It is the one that gets the most flack, and least understanding from a lot of people.
So many people think that blogging isn’t really a job. It is a hobby, but you don’t make real money doing it. Well, I promise, the money I make is totally real! Check my one year income report if you don’t believe me. Blogging is fun and I love it, but it is also a lot of work. For my non-blogging friends, I want you to just understand that I write, promote, edit, photograph, edit photographs, film video, edit those, create graphics, pitch brands, talk to clients, and so much more!
By The Way, I have Young Kids
On top of all of my work from home jobs, I am also the mom to two young kids. My daughter will be in Kindergarten this year, and my son just turned one. Being a stay at home mom alone can be exhausting! I still have to do all of my mom duties, and all of my work duties, in the same 24 hours that everyone else has.
Can it be hard? Yes! But is it rewarding? Totally! I would recommend anyone, mom or not, who wants to delve into working from home to do some research. Make sure you have a good company. Then just go for it! Forget the naysayers and live our dream!
Yes WFM is a real job, it’s two jobs because we still have to take care of the house and do the work we get paid for as well. great post!
Totally!
I love this. Like you, I spend way too much time explaining to people what I do and most of the time they just don’t get it!!
Yes! I try and explain and some just don’t understand
It’s definitely not easy and I admire moms who work from home, because aside from taking care of the kids and everything that’s related to the house or the family, you also have to make sure that you’re on top of your job. Kudos to you and all the other moms out there!
Thank you 🙂
I’m a student and I also work at home after my school, I spend my time working after school to have money and yes it’s a real job.
Exactly!
I’ve been working from home for the longest time and it’s been a joy. It’s also not very easy since you don’t have a fixed schedule and there will always be distractions and hindrances. I think people don’t really know what they’re talking about until they experience it themselves.
Right! People don’t see the difficulty, just that we get to be home
Girl, you should not have to explain anything to anyone, but I understand the working from home phenomena is too unreal for some folks to understand. You keep doing you and make it happen for you!
Thrifting Diva
http://www.thriftingdiva.com
Thank you! Yes girl, I wish some people would get it but really, it pays my bills and lets me do,things with my kids that I wouldn’t get to working a “real” job
I think one of the biggest things that most people don’t quite understand is that working from home is work, and it’s hard! My husband didn’t really realize what all I actually do behind the scenes of blogging until he was laid off and stuck at home with me. He was always home for recipe making and photographing, even editing and writing posts…but the other side, the ugly promotion side that literally takes up my whole day three days a week, he had no idea! He said he had a whole new respect for what I did, and that he didn’t realize I worked as much as I do. I wouldn’t trade my work from home job though for anything else! It has allowed me to homeschool my daughter!
Exactly! No one really see a behind the scenes until they live it. I love it, but it is hard work for sure!
I hate when people say WFH isn’t a real job! I also give you mad props because I tried working from home and being shut in my spare room for 8 hours a day while being able to hear my kids downstairs and them wanting to ask me 9000 questions drove me bonkers.
In my current situation I am not allowed to earn any money, so I can’t work. But that doesn’t mean I am not hustling. I run my blog like a fulltime business. It’s hard work, fine it doesn’t earn me cash but it’s creating a network for my future. I get told a lot of the same things and I hate it. It’s so disrespectful. Stay at home moms who do it are amazing. It’s insane how much work it all can be.
I love the paragraph about the taxes you pay must not be real and your money isn’t real either. I laugh when people say that I have time to go here, go there, etc. If only they would sit in our chair for a day…..
I work from home on my blog too but some days I feel like it’s double or triple the work. Between getting my daughter off to school, cleaning, cooking, and working, it’s like three full-time jobs. But if given the opportunity to give it up and hit the office, I wouldn’t change it for the world.
You do a lot in addition to your full time work as a mom. I am interested in all your side hustles. I think my sister would, too.
I’m literally clapping behind my computer right now. I have to explain myself all the time how I work from home but I’m also a stay at home mom.
I LOVE this post!! I also am a blogger and make an income from my blog. While taking care of my 3 little boys. Definitely hard work! And definitely a REAL job!! Thanks for posting this!
I had the hardest time saying this when I first started out but now I say it loud and proud!
This is such a helpful post! It is so funny how people question jobs where you don’t have to go to an office, maybe they’re just jealous. I work from home and I love it. You are doing great being able to juggle everything you are!
I totally understand you <3 This year, I've taken a gap year before college due to some serious health issues, but that's difficult to explain to people — and people are so judgey so quickly! "Oh, so you're not doing anything?!" Major props to you for as you so rightfully put it, making your own way in this world!!
I’ve always wanted to be a stay at home mom. I made the switch a couple of years ago and I love it! It’s tiring at times because unlike working outside of the house, there is no “break”. I try to set working hours but I have a 2 years old and she doesn’t really get that lol.
Yes! I always have to find myself explaining why working from home (or blogging) is in fact a real job. Kudos to you for finding something that works for you!
This is such a tough topic. Being home with kids and taking care of the house is a choice many women make. And that’s no easy job. Having work responsibilities while still maintaining those other stay at home roles is ridiculously hard and a sacrifice many of us make while our children are young. It’s incredible how many people don’t understand this concept. I work. And I take care of every living thing in my home. And it’s flipping exhausting. But hey, thanks for thinking I hang out and eat cookies all day with my toddler. 🙂
Ha ha so true! I wish I just got to hang out and eat cookies!
So thanks to this post I applied at Appen. I have accepted a contract so we will see where it goes from here. I have read different reviews about it.
That’s so awesome! Congratulations