Mothers definitely have loads of work at home. But this article is not about the household chores and the duties of taking care of the family. This is more about mothers who are taking care of the home and the family while earning extra income at the same time to augment the family expenses — in other words, here’s how to be a work from home mum.
I can relate well to mothers who look for ways and means to make ends meet especially when the husband is the only breadwinner in the family.
Though I have been earning my own income as a working mother, I know how difficult it can be when there are mouths to feed and bills, which cost more than or just equal to what the family earns, to pay.
While some mothers leave their homes to seek work and earn income, this is a luxury that many mothers do not have — someone has to stay home to look after their children.
Some mums choose to stay at home and look after their kids full-time. But it is possible to be a work-from-home mum with some careful thought and planning
So, how to be a work from home mum?
Luckily, today’s mothers are more fortunate than their earlier counterparts. The Internet has made the world much smaller and opened doors to hundreds and thousands of women to work from home.
A word of caution before I proceed any further though: beware of the many online scams.
In this article, I am going to share with you information about online work opportunities that stay-at-home mothers can do and where to find legitimate work.
I will also share a few tips on how they can balance their work and family priorities.
There are plenty of online jobs if you know where to look
How to be a work from home mum: The kind of jobs to look for
There are many online work opportunities you can apply for depending on your skills and abilities.
Here’s a list to get you started: Administrative Support – This involves data entry or becoming a virtual assistant. If you can write articles, do research, coordinate travel plans, answer letters or emails, create a database, transcribe audio files or type fast, then you can work as a virtual assistant for a client.
- Writing, Proofreading, Editing and Translation – This job is for those who can write, proofread or edit web content, articles, resumes, letters, stories, essays or speeches, or for those who can translate one language to another.
- Multimedia Design — If you are creative enough to design graphics, logos, animation, brochures, labels and packages, cartoons and comics, photographs and a lot more, then this type of work can be good for you.
- Finance and Management – Those who are knowledgeable in accounting, bookkeeping, financial planning, business consultancy, operations management etc. can earn much from this type of work online.
- Legal Services – If you are an expert when it comes to laws and legal procedures, then this could be the best type of online work for you. This entails providing legal advice or writing legal documents for different clients.
- Sales and Marketing – This refers to promoting websites and products for a business owner. If you’re someone who is well-versed in sales and marketing, a lot of opportunities await you.
- Web and Programming – Website design, web or blog programming, software applications development and search engine optimization are just some of the web and programming jobs you can find on the internet.
How to be a work from home mum: Finding opportunities
It isn’t difficult to find websites that can introduce you to the different work opportunities mentioned above.
Two websites that I can personally recommend and find trustworthy are www.elance.com and www.odesk.com.
These websites are venues for legitimate work which will safeguard your interests.
How to be a work from home mum: Succeeding in your online work
It can definitely be difficult to ensure that you take care of the home and the children and deliver expected output from your online employer. But you can succeed with discipline and determination.
How to be a work from home mum: Tips to get serious about your online work
- Set up your own office at home. Put a desk or table and a chair. Make it comfortable and clean so that when you work you’ll feel at ease.
- Set and follow a schedule. Make your family members understand that you are working and they are not to disturb you when you are working except for emergency reasons. And don’t try to mix up your housework and online work. Work according to your schedule.
- List down things to do and prioritize the urgent and important ones. You can easily be overwhelmed with the many things you have to do but the secret to doing what you can do promptly is by prioritizing.
- Take every opportunity to do your work and be productive. When you go out for grocery or errands or when waiting for your children from school, you can bring a notepad where you can jot down ideas which you can finalize when you’re in your home office. It’s great if you have a laptop or notebook handy where you can directly do whatever you have to work on online.
- Have a break. Always remember to set aside time off from your work in order to relax and spend time with your children and spouse.
When at first things don’t work out well, don’t be discouraged because it takes time to finally get the feel of working online and staying at home.
Mental impact of becoming a stay at home mum in Singapore
Experts say that stay at home mums are almost like superheroes. They are masters at multitasking and they can pretty much get just about anything done. And it’s incomprehensible how they can be so energetic as they survive on such little sleep.
But as much as they enjoy their time with their precious little ones, many of these women expressed that they missed their salary and the spending power that comes with it, intellectual stimulation and socialising with fellow adults while working.
Here’s what a stay at home mum in Singapore, who left her high-paying job to look after her three children had to say:
“Many of my friends tell me that they are envious of my seemingly perfect life. I chose to be a stay at home in Singapore because I don’t think anyone else can raise my children the way I want. I can’t compromise on my expectations. I don’t believe in grandparents or childcare. Helpers are out of the question.
But that’s not to say that it’s all rosy. Sometimes I think about how my children view me and I don’t feel as powerful because I’m not out there generating income. My role becomes confined to the home, kitchen and school. They love me and all that I do for them but I often wonder if they view me differently from the lawyer mom who lives next door, or the surgeon mom who drops their classmate off at school in her Porsche.
You know, like those who actually have a profession that you see in those Occupations charts stuck on the walls of their classroom…”
She went to explain that in order to balance it out, she keeps herself relevant by attending courses now and then, and has ventured into businesses that she can manage from home. She continues to network with people and it gives her a sense of satisfaction that she contributes to the finances as well.
And that’s precisely the point that experts are driving across.
Remaining yourself while being a stay at home mum in Singapore
Being a stay a home mum in Singapore doesn’t mean that you allow that to become your entire identity.
Yes, being a stay at home mum in Singapore is a 24-hour job and even the chance to actually condition your hair after washing it is a rare luxury. But experts strongly recommend that you have something just for yourself. If you’re a stay at home mum, there’s nothing you do better than multi-tasking and stretching your time so you will find a way to make it happen.
Join a community or club, volunteer, join the grassroots (added bonus it gives you priority for p1 registration!), work from home even if it’s just for a bit, do something! The important takeaway is that you create opportunities for positive feedback and a sense of accomplishment and for personal growth.
As your children get slightly older, they will become more independent and that will free some time on your schedule. Then you can indulge in more self-care. Exercise, meditate, go to that spa, get your nails done. You need your sanity and happiness as much as your kids need you!
And please, get out of the house and meet some friends when you can. It’s so important that you find support and have adult interaction!
Another stay at home mum in Singapore, who left her teaching job to care for her three kids (the third kid seems to be the deal-breaker here, many mums leave their job when the third kid arrives!) explained,
“Being a working mum was taking a toll on my happiness and self-esteem. I felt like a lousy employee and a lousy mum. Now I am a stay at home mum and I’m happier, but I do feel my world has shrunk. I even feel like an ‘Aunty’ at times, going to the market so often!
So I have my moments of selfishness. I find time to make it all about me. There are nights when my husband cooks a fancy dinner at home and allows me to feel like a princess. There are nights when I enjoy cocktails with my girlfriends. And there are days that just go off on my own and do whatever I want to do. And that’s just so important.”
And if being a stay at home mum in Singapore is a temporary arrangement for you, and you have plans to return to the workforce when your children don’t need you as much, then it’s important that you stay relevant. No one is going to give a dated resume a second look so keep looking for opportunities to update it.
If you are a stay at home mum in Singapore, you can continue building yourself professionally by seeking opportunities to work from home.
Go for courses, freelance a little here and there, keep in touch with former colleagues, bosses and anyone who can write a line in your resume or referral. Volunteer and pro bono work also count as valuable experience!
Words from a veteran stay at home mum in Singapore
I left my job some 30 years ago. It seemed like the best thing to do. I didn’t just leave my job, I left my friends and everything that was mine. I made my world my children. I spent all my time with them, teaching them, caring for them, cooking for them.
Every wedding anniversary and every holiday included the kids. My husband and I never excluded them to make time for ourselves.
I’ve raised two very successful children. I’m proud of them, I admire them. But now that they are on their own, and often spend time in different parts of the world, I start feeling so empty.
I find it strange to go out with my friends because I stopped doing it. My husband is getting older and while we are still very much in love, we don’t necessarily enjoy the same things anymore. So I find myself regretting that I gave up everything. I wish I had held on to something to call mine.
When I look at my friends who still have a career, I am really envious!
So my advice to anyone who wants to be a stay at home mum in Singapore is to keep a part of you for you. Otherwise, the emptiness can get really depressing when your children are all grown up.
Are you a work-from-home mum? Share your tips with us by leaving a comment
News source: Popsugar