Take Our Daughter's to Work at Home

Every April, we hold the annual Take Our Daughters To  Work Day here in the U.S. 

"Great!" I thought. "Just another day in my home office!" And, then I began to realize what an awesome opportunity I had to show my daughter some real alternatives!

I wholeheartedly welcomed the chance to role model the wonderful benefits of working from home. My biggest debate was whether to clean up the crayons, craft projects, hot wheels and other toys cluttering my desk and floor. Then, it hit me that this is just one of the many benefits of working at home.

As the day progressed, I spent a great deal of time thinking about what my day would be like if I was still being held hostage in Corporate America. I realized how fortunate I am to have made the decision to work from home and be there for my children as well!

Women have made huge strides in the work place in terms of equality, opportunity and respect. Truly, we’ve come a long way, baby!

But, what does all of this really mean for families and working mothers?

Statistics for working mothers in the U.S. are both positive and negative –

* Between 1947 and 1975, the number of working mothers rose from 6.5 million to 19.8 million – an increase of 205 percent

* One fourth of working mothers earn more than their husbands

* 8 million working mothers are the primary breadwinner

* Working mothers do more than 80 percent of household chores

* More than 60 percent of mother’s of young children work outside of the home

* Stress related illnesses such as heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and substance abuse are rising rapidly among working mothers

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not bashing working mothers, or those who work outside of the home. In fact, I respect and applaud their efforts.

The statistic that’s missing and certainly worth finding, however, is the percentage of mothers who work outside of the home who are truly satisfied and happy.

I know there are some who are. Some women look forward to getting out of the house and nurturing their careers, along with their family responsibilities, and that is great!

But, I believe that the number of working mothers (and fathers) who are unhappy, unsatisfied and unfulfilled far outnumber those who are. I talk with friends all of the time that feel stressed out, frazzled, guilty and exhausted.

These are the women (and men) that are searching for a better way. And, there IS a better way

Today, with new technologies such as the fax machine, email, computers and the Internet, the possibilities for working from home are endless. More and more companies today are open to the possibilities of telecommuting, job sharing, etc.

But, more importantly, there has never been a better time to start your own business from home. The opportunities are only as limited as your imagination, dedication and ambition. Every day, just surfing around the Internet, I see so many exciting, legitimate options for running a home-based, online business.

The key, to coin a popular phrase, is to JUST DO IT!

That doesn’t mean you have to quit your day job immediately. But, make the decision to start your own business and go for it!

Be diligent and do your homework to avoid the scams. But, pick something and get going!

You don’t have to have your own product or service in order to get started. There are many companies out there that will pay you for marketing their products. This can get you well on your way as you work on developing something of your own.

Following a leisurely lunch by the pool, my daughter and I talked about what my business is and what I do. I was very proud to tell her * Mommy helps other people start a home business so they can be home with their children, too. * I felt like the greatest role model of all.

While she may not fully understand the significance of that conversation today, as she begins to evaluate her options in the future, she will.

Although working from home is not always easy, it is so worth it. The positives far outweigh the negatives.

Next year, I’m starting the "Show Our Daughters Their Alternatives Day!" Anyone else interested?

Jackie Ulmer has worked from home for over fifteen years, coaching and training thousands on the secrets to success in a home business. Contact her through her website at http://www.streetsmartwealth.com 

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