Taking care of a child IS a full-time job and it’s not open for debate! It’s a job which pays in love, not money. As important as love is, the reality is that money is also necessary. Although most of us would rather devote all our time in taking care of baby, new mothers are often faced with the reality of taking care of their child while generating income.
Many women will choose to go back to their old jobs or find other full-time work after giving birth. However, they soon realize their salary is going primarily to the new expense of childcare.
So, it's logical that they can only bring extra income if they take care of childcare themselves while working. This means either working from home or finding a job with an extremely flexible schedule.
However, the fact of the matter is that most working mothers don’t make the same amount they were making before childbirth. According to a study done by the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI)“women who are able to return to work rarely make it back to the status and salary of their previous positions.”
There are various reasons for this. Not the least of which is women don't want something taxing which distracts them from their main focus, their new family. There is also the fact that working part-time or flexible hours draws less of an income than a full-time 9-5 position.
There are various reasons for this. Not the least of which is women don't want something taxing which distracts them from their main focus, their new family. There is also the fact that working part-time or flexible hours draws less of an income than a full-time 9-5 position.
Plus, as a family grows and women stay away from the workforce longer, their resume ages and their skills become outdated. So, reentering the job market becomes more and more challenging.
Many new mothers have risen to the challenge of balancing family life with income creation, and have found alternative careers that allow them the flexibility and freedom to care for their children while bringing in a salary.
Here are some examples of careers that are conducive to their situation:
-
Merchandising – This involves going into stores to make sure a certain company’s products are well-stocked and displayed according to preset standards. With the growth of specialized displays such as gift card kiosks in supermarkets and pharmacies, there is a growing need for merchandisers.
-
Mystery Shopping – There are many scammers claiming to be mystery shopping companies. However, if you go to an association like the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), you can find legitimate work measuring customer service in places ranging from retail shops and restaurants to car sales floors.
-
Content Creation – Most businesses today have a website as well as a blog. With an online presence comes the need for content to fill that presence. Therefore opportunities abound for writing Internet content.
-
Social media – Along with websites and blogs, a business must also have a social media presence to be relevant. However, rarely do the people who run the company have time to constantly update their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like. Entrepreneurial moms can approach businesses offering their constant contact services of tweeting and posting while taking care of the baby.
- Telecommuting – Sometimes a new mother may want to keep their old job or, at least, stay within their field. With digital technology what it is today, telecommuting is incredibly easy and efficient. Even if your company doesn’t have any employees currently working from home, present them with the benefits and they may come around.
- E-tailing – There are so many sites selling goods and services online. If you can create a product at home, or collect some products from garage sales or friends, setting up an account with eBay, Etsy or the like is pretty simple and can be lucrative.
- Tutoring – The great thing about the ease of digital communication today, is that it allows for people on different sides of the country and, even the world, to get together in real-time. If you have the ability to teach or a subject in which you are an expert, you can gather students close to home or open a Skype account and offer your services to anyone anywhere.
These are just a few of the countless options for new mothers to generate money while taking care of their new family. You can find some other great ideas on sites like Workingmother.com or Momcorps.com or Craigslist. There are scams out there so be careful and really do your research.
The high cost of living today means most new moms will have to work in some capacity while taking care of their children. Women should not feel bad about stepping away from their career in order to take care of things at home. Just being a mom is a proud profession and, the reality is that there are plenty of opportunities for balancing work and child care.
