Yesterday, I posted my first blog article as part of the Making Work at Home Work group. It got me to wondering how many of my readers are work-at-home moms.
So, if you read and/or follow my blog AND you’re a work-at-home mom, please leave me a comment and let me know what it is you do from home, if you like or dislike it, and if you’d recommend being a work-at-home mom to your friends.
If you’re wondering about me, here’s my work at home story ---
I work from home as the Special Projects Manager for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. I LOVE my job! When I first started for TOS, I was the E-Book Reviews Specialist for The Schoolhouse Store – then I added some marketing to my work schedule – and eventually moved into my current position.
What exactly is a Special Projects Manager? Well, I think maybe it’s the person who does all the work nobody else wants to do. BUT, considering as how it’s all stuff that I love, I’m not complaining! :) One of my main roles is serving as the Captain of the TOS Homeschool Crew. When we originally came up with the idea that would eventually become the Homeschool Crew, I wasn’t the person in mind to head up this program. But, things just fell into place and it seemed obvious that this was to be my job. And boy, am I glad! I love, love, love working with the Crew. I’ve learned so much over the past few years, had opportunity to see (and use) some amazing homeschool products, and (best of all) made some super friends (you know who you are!)
In addition to my work with the Crew, I’m also co-creator of The Schoolhouse Planner. If you’re not family with our planner, you can check it out (and preorder the 2010 version) here. This newest edition of the planner is HUGE and AMAZING (and I’m not just saying that because I helped to create it!) If you can’t plan your school and your home effectively using this planner, then you’ve got problems. Just sayin’ . . .
I’m representing TOS at several homeschool conventions this spring. I love being able to do a bit of traveling and introduce new people to our magazine. I’m also looking forward to meeting several members of the Crew this year during our travels. If you missed where I’ll be this spring, check out this post. I’m also working on some training information for other convention representatives.
The past two summers, I’ve overseen our Summer Reading Splash program (a summer reading program for homeschoolers). We’ve decided to forego this program for this summer – but that doesn’t mean that it’s gone forever. We may resurrect it again in the future. I hope so, because I’m rather attached to Splish.
I’ve been project managing a new series of unit studies that TOS is putting together. I can’t say much about these yet, since we haven’t introduced them to the general public. But, I can say that they are something that you have NOT seen before and you’re going to LOVE! I’ve gotten a sneak peek at the first one, and it’s beyond even my expectations (and I put it together!)
Some days it’s really hard to juggle work, school, and home; but we manage. My children have learned to be independent learners, that’s for sure (this was something I was working to instill in them anyway; so it worked out for the best).
I’m anxious to hear about YOUR work-at-home situation. Please share . . .
8 comments:
I will be as of next week! I've never worked virtually and I'm praying I don't go nuts!
xoxo -- Hilary
I've been a work at home mom since 2000. Back then, I was telecommuting in an accounting position. Then I started doing some mystery shopping too, and landed a job with a mystery shopping company where I mostly was scheduling people. That lasted about a year, and was pretty demanding of my time, making homeschooling pretty tough. I went back to "just" accounting. My company was sold, though, and I lost that job after nearly 8 years. :(
I found something else that I detested for a year. I was glad when my time was up there. Only my husband changed jobs at the same time, so we had a significant loss in income. I tried something else that left me without the promised pay.
Now, well, I'm doing some mystery shopping, but it isn't enough. If I could find something to bring in a consistent small income... This month, I'm getting paid about $150. Next month, it will be around $20. (There's quite a lag in getting paid).
I'm considering applying for something part-time in town. I'd be thrilled if I could do enough to add another $25 a week to my grocery budget. Being able to purchase some more homeschooling stuff would be a bonus. But hey, we're making it.
Heidi~
My stay at home job has been 100% incredible! About 3 years ago, the LORD pressed upon my heart to write. First, I wrote children's Bible studies. Later, family and teen studies, Sunday School curriculum and Children's Church curriculum. It's been amazing as I'm confident that thse studies have changed me much more than they would have any child who completed them!
At the time I started writing, my incredible husband and I were facing an insurmountable (or so we thought....) mountain of debt. We felt led to live debt free and thus, our mountain needed to move! Though there are probably a million different ways I could have worked at home to help speed the process of becoming debt free, I knew God called me to write. I also knew He not only called me to write, but that He called me to offer these studies free of charge.
In just 2 years, God moved a mountain of over $40,000 debt out of our lives. Praise Him it is gone forever!! He also had me write over 20 studies and the Children's Church curriculum and Sunday School curriculum for our church.
During all of this, I homeschooled our three children. I would write on our one old "dinosaur" desktop computer. I often prayed and wished for a laptop so that I could be nearer to them and I could supervise them. I think God must sit up in heaven and just chuckle at me and my requests! After we paid off our debt, I got a laptop and realized that there is no such thing as writing in the midst of my children. Now, I take my computer and seek out some peace and quiet to get something done. ; )
My stay at home "job" is not like any other and yet I think there are similarities. Like any other job, it's a balancing act of trying to get everything done without committing any heinous crime. It's only by His grace that I can do any of it! I pray A LOT!!
Blessings!
~H
Can't wait to see what you all have up your sleeve! :) It's been a lot of fun working with you over the last few years and I definitely am excited to put a physical body to the face when I meet you this summer. {haha}
When I first started staying home I was able to do the same job - medical transcription. I did that for a couple of years. Then I stopped everything. I sold a bit on ebay but nothing to earn any "real" money. For the past year though I have been watching a couple of extra children - little ones. The extra money has helped us pay off our debt faster. Plus it's nice to have little ones around again - especially since I get to send them home at the end of the day. ;-)
I just started working from home. So far things are good, but I do get a little lonely sometimes! I work for f4net.com
I work from home (as you know!) writing and selling my Super Star Speech therapy books. It is nice because I can work a couple of hours a week if I'm busy doing other things or much more if I have the time. I am still struggling over how to better market the books and increase the business, though. I just reviewed a great book, "Making Money from Home" on my blog.
http://debbieshomeschoolcorner.blogspot.com/2010/03/making-money-from-home-by-donna-partow.html
Glad I came across this blog! Actually, I have nothing to share to you, except that I am one of those people looking for work-at-home job opportunities. I am learning even from the simple comments here. Thanks everyone!
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