Home-Based Employment
"I feel very strongly about staying home for as long as possible with my son. Are there any suggestions for at-home work? I am trained as a family therapist with a B.A. and would prefer creative home-based employment but am open to all ideas."
"Talk to your employer about coming back part-time. As a therapist you could set your own hours. I work 1 or 2 days a week and my son gets into new surroundings for just the right amount of time at his age (8 months). CHART-WEDCO has an excellent seminar on how to turn a full-time job into a part-time job."
"I am a freelance writer who works at home. Before that, I bought a computer and took in other people's work - theses, scripts, books, etc. I typed and sometimes edited them, and found that I had more than enough work to live on."
"Start telling everyone about your desire to work at home. Through networking, you could connect with somebody running a home-based company to either work for or get an idea for starting your own."
"Why not use your degree and do family therapy in your home during the quieter times of your day. You might consider hiring a `helper' to watch your son while you work."
"A book I would recommend is HOMEBASED BUSINESSES, by Beverly Neuer Feldman. It's published by Fawcett Crest and only costs $3.95. It tells how to find a business or product that is in line with your talents, schedule and interests. It also lists addresses for groups like the American Home Sewing Council, Homebased Businesswoman's Network,Association of Telephone Answering Services, etc."
"A couple of resources that might help both deal with earning money at home. A one year subscription to WOMEN'S WORKSHOP QUARTERLY, P.O. Box 843, Coronado, CA 92118 cost $16. And a one year membership in the Mother's Home Business Network, P.O. Box 423, East Meadow, NY 11554 costs $21."
"If you work out of your home be sure that you do something you enjoy. I like to sew so I have an at-home sewing business making children's clothes (the same items I make for my own). I do it to suit my children schedule and mine. It doesn't make much but it helps for the little extras."
"Have you considered doing family day-care? Your degree and training would certainly be assets! There are agencies in most areas which provide training and information on licensing to new providers. They also do referrals."
"Perhaps opening your own counseling services. You would probably need referrals from other agencies. Consider part-time work. It may be confusing to your son to be home with him but not able to give him your attention while working. A warm baby sitter three times a week might be better for both of you. If your home is big enough, you could still be there in another room, especially if your clients come to you."
"Contact any publications that you receive, inquire if they would desire to publish any papers you may write in your career field. Maybe teach classes in Family Issues where adult community classes are taught."
"Consider the following books: THE WORK AT HOME SOURCE BOOK (A directory of over 1,000 employers using home workers); and WORK AT HOME - IS IT FOR YOU? You should also contact SCORE ( Service Corp of Retired Executives) for their expertise in this area. Contact your colleagues for potential leads as a consultant. Contact Temporary Employment Agencies for a mom with similar training to job share."
"Can you turn one room into an office, or even shut off the living room in the evenings to use it for counseling or therapy (perhaps more home like than a regular office!)? It's awfully hard for my husband and I to take off time during the day to go see a counselor, but you could probably offer evening hours. You might even be able to go see teenagers in their homes during the evening."
"Act as a therapy consultant to a community agency that provides family services. Many time these agencies don't have the funds to hire more than a few full time therapists. You can offer to counsel referrals in your home. You might also think about offering respite care of a child or adult with a handicap while the family takes a break. Community agencies can refer families to you. Another thing to consider would be to offer in service training in family relationships, interaction with parents & families and identifying families `in trouble' to day-care centers, schools, community agencies and college programs training students in social service fields. You could also offer after school care for children with learning disabilities or `behavior difficulties.' As an extra benefit, provide tutoring or help in monitoring children's progress."
"I can tell you few things that have worked for others. One friend started an ironing service. She printed up business cards, advertised in some clothing stores, and now she has more than enough work. Another friend makes rag rugs and sells them through a local consignment store. I'm taking care of a 5 year old a few mornings each week (I bring my baby along). I know some do data processing out of their homes. What about writing children's books, or other free-lance work? Maybe teaching in the community education program, tutoring, etc."
"You are making the right decision in staying home with your son. I would advise you to consider devoting your energies to saving money rather than earning money. A dollar earned is a dollar taxed, but a dollar saved is a dollar! With the time I save by staying home, I can shop more carefully, cook real meals instead of expensive convenience foods, and spend more time managing our money properly. Two of my favorite money savers are diaper service and a food delivery service."
( What advice would you most like to give about experiencing life with a new baby?"
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