Friday Question: Am I a Bad Role Model for My Daughter Because I Stay Home?

Do You Feel Like a Bad Role Model to Your Daughter by Staying at Home?

No. I am showing my daughter that I was given a choice: take on full-time work outside of the home or spend as much time with her as I could. I'm thankful that I have this choice, and right now in this stage of my life, I choose this. I may choose to work full-time out of the home later in her life. But for right now, I'm a career woman who just so happens to be building my own business in my home part-time while caring for my baby. I want my daughter to know that she too may some day be offered that choice. I want her to know that she can choose to have a career and still also be a mother if that's what she wants.

Current Challenge

Fussy bedtimes. She's tired. It's past the time she usually falls asleep. But she fights it. She'd rather fuss and cry than give in to sleep. This exhausts me at night. I have this fantasy that I get some work done in the evening, but after struggling to get her to finally drift off, all I want to do is snuggle on the couch with my husband and veg out.

Friday Question: Considering Work Outside of the Home

Would I Ever Go Back To Work Outside of the Home?

Yes, if the right opportunity was presented to me. Last week a colleague asked me when I thought I might return to work full-time. Maybe soon, maybe never. This week a colleague presented me with an interesting opportunity to do something I love part-time, likely flexible hours, hopefully with the option to bring the baby to work with me at times. That's a job I'd consider! The flexible schedule and ability to bring my kid with me is of high importance to me at this stage of my life, even higher than salary.

Current Challenge

My 4-month-old has learned boredom! It's no longer enough to put her down somewhere. Now I have to give her toys or objects to play with, move her to new spots, and pick her up to provide her with human entertainment at times. I have to watch her most closely near the pets since she has learned how to pull out clumps of fur in her little fists. Uninterrupted work only occurs when she's napping.

Friday Question: Dressing as a Work-At-Home Mom

As a professional work-at-home mom, do I dress the part?

Yes, absolutely, when I'm out in public or when I'm recording videos or on a video call. This part hasn't changed since my work-from-home pre-baby days when I dressed nicely when others could see me but was more causal when I was home alone. Now when I'm home alone with the baby, my style gravitates toward dresses (non-maternity pants still don't fit me), usually low-cut with easy access to whip out a breast. In fact, it's not unusual for me to spend half my day with a boob hanging out. But when I'm out in a professional setting, I look like a professional, even if I'm carrying my baby on my hip.

Current Challenge

Accomplishing everything I want to do in the day! Hours seem to zip and before I know it, it's the evening and I've only gotten through half my to-do list. As I elaborated in my previous entry, I haven't nailed the WAHM time balance yet.

Friday Question: What Do I Hope to Achieve as a WAHM?

What do I hope to achieve as a WAHM?

I would like to build my business, my clientele, and my reputation in my industry while simultaneously caring for my baby daughter and watching her grow. I love the flexibility I have being my own boss, working on my own projects, working my own schedule, and being able to pause work at a moment’s notice to take care of or play with my child. I want my daughter to grow up knowing that her mom was both a present mother and a working professional, and to know that she can be both if she chooses to be.

Current Challenge:

Getting work done when my baby is having a crying fit. When she’s overly tired or gassy, she’ll cry and there’s not much I can do about it except hold her and try to comfort her. Usually nursing her in my lap calms her down enough that she’ll quiet and maybe even sleep, but not during her worst moments. Sometimes it takes all my energy to calm her while I feel the pull to get work done but can’t. As much as I hate it, sometimes I just need to let her cry.