Tips on how to succeed as a work-from-home parent

Being a parent is hands down one of the most rewarding human experiences – one that is at the same time challenging, exciting and deeply meaningful. Given the tools previously available, parents traditionally had to choose between being at home with their kids or working. Recently, especially in western society, major changes have taken place in the ideals of motherhood and major technological developments that offer stay-at-home parents the opportunity to earn a dependable income, while at the same time being able to enjoy more family time and flexible working hours.

I started my blog many years ago and was already collaborating with brands before having my eldest who is now 6. I had been working at the time and was off on maternity leave when I decided to take the plunge and become self employed, I didn't know if it would work out but I am glad I did it as it's allowed me to have the hands on approach to parenting I was hoping for. Of course this is not possible for everyone and as with everything there have been sacrifices, stressful moments and times when I have felt the idea of normal 9-5 working hours as bliss, I am very glad I made the leap into self employment and if you feel the time is right I would encourage you to do the same, just have some savings to fall back on if it doesn't work out.

Though remote work is still limited to a number of professions, there are options for each personality type and desired schedule. With many options on the market, the quality (and success) of your job search can be significantly helped if you treat your job hunt like a job and take full advantage of the current technology available to help you!

For basic searches, Google is often the go-to, and though it can be helpful in a job search, its remote work offerings can be tricky. Often, freelance platforms pop up that pay very little until you’ve truly established yourself. If you are looking for a jump-start in remote work, I recommend doing as much research as possible, identifying the several preferred professions, and networking as much as you possibly can (and not just online).

Here are some flexible job ideas that would allow you to successfully balance motherhood and earning that paycheck

Creator on Etsy

If your hobby is creating unique handmade pieces, Etsy is a great platform to leverage and sell your work. To determine whether your earnings would pay off, calculate the hours you need to create one product and how much of it you would need to sell for it to make the hours put in worth it.

Freelance Writer/blogger

There are many websites looking for guest content and content providers and if you really enjoy writing you could also consider developing your own blog. All you really need is a decent laptop and fast internet connection, which you can get from one of the earthlink internet plans, or other internet plans that may be available in your area. Besides creating content that is engaging, organic, and draws in the reader, you also need to get your head around SEO or search engine optimisation to drive that much-needed traffic to your work. If you are struggling you could always arrange to get some advice from a local SEO professional.

Get creative in the kitchen 

With pop-up stalls and food markets being all the rage at the moment now is the time to start a small food business. Whether it be baking sugar-free treats, cold-press juice or homemade pies if you have a unique angle and a creative idea you can really make it work for you and all you need to get started is a kitchen and motivation.

Social Media Manager 

Are you a social media whizz then maybe you could take your skills a step forward and manage some social media accounts. You will need to be up to date with all the current social media trends and be confident with platforms such as Pinterest, Facebook, IG and Twitter.

Freelance Accountant

A great option for those with the necessary qualifications would be doing freelance accounting. There are three principal types of accounting jobs and even those with just the basic skills can undertake freelance work as a bookkeeper. Those with more specialist qualifications can work as a general accountants or senior certified public accountants. As for finding work, there are quite a few freelance accounting jobs out there. Before meeting the potential employer, check these accounting interview questions, which should help you to prepare for (and ultimately land) the job you are after.

Dog Watcher / Walker

As man’s best friends, dog owners will pay to ensure their pups are taken care of. As a dog watcher, you can have a dog sitting service at your house around the clock, or dedicate a couple hours a day to getting outside and walking a few dogs. Your hours will be up to you and what you want to offer to your clients. I personally know someone who switched her laboratory job to become a dog sitter and absolutely loves her new job which means she gets to spend a lot of time outdoors doing what she loves. 

As you can see from only these several examples, there are many types of options out there! Whether you want to turn your hobby into a paid hobby or put your credentials to (flexible) use, you now have the opportunity to earn a dependable income working within your own home while still sticking to traditional parenting. Whatever you feel the right direction is for you, there is a way!

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