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the Life of a Freelance Mother Making it Work
Enjoyment,
creativity, convenience: these are all words describing the
working world's latest trend- freelance work, i.e. work at
home opportunities.
The 90's over stressed, underpaid workaholic
has given way to the millenium's professional self made home
worker. The quality of work is still there, the ambition is
still glittering, but it seems we have realized what is truly
important- our time and how we spend it. The turbulent economy,
the downsizing of corporate America has workers scrambling,
trying to clutch on to a hope, a dream. Why work for a large
company that can drop you at a moment's notice without so
much as a glimmer of regret when you can choose your own work,
control your own career destiny, and be the one to truly profit
from your hard labor. America is smartening up and practicing
its choices in the home business/home work genre. And that
is where I come in, that is where this column comes in. I
am an example of what I have just described. I would like
Perhaps now would be a good time to introduce myself. I am
a mother, a wife, a writer, a mystery shopper, a merchandiser,
a couponer, a student.... shall I go on? I am not defined
with just one label- I dont limit myself that way. Are you
just a mother/father? Just a web designer? Just a banker?
I doubt it. There are so many dimensions to a person that
it is ludicrous to think a person could never be successful
in an area that they love.
I
was not always so level headed. At one time I could only see one
path for my life. Graduate high school and go to college- graduate
college and become a teacher/writer. Life does not always allow
such strict planning. Life likes to throw curve balls so unexpected
that when you get whailed by one sometimes you have a hard time
recovering. The trick is to be prepared for those curve balls,
adjust to those curve balls and play the game through.
My curve ball was Matthew, my husband. I met him and all plans
I had so carefully laid out were quickly tossed aside. I got married
and became pregnant. Our growing family needed to be supported
so I dropped out of college and worked two jobs while Matthew
took on all the overtime he could. Once baby Alexis was born I
cut down to one job- a factory job.
Let me tell you- the hardest thing was to leave my baby and go
to work. This factory had no heat in the winter time and no air
in the summertime. We had to be careful when we sorted through
papers because mice liked to hide in them. There were mice droppings
on the lunch table. But worst of all I was missing out on my baby's
days, her growing, her firsts. Something had to change.
I
was determined to be at home with my child. I was determined not
to waste what education I had on a job that took me nowhere and
made me absolutely miserable. I researched, I tried all the scams,
I even tried some legit work at home jobs that just were not for
me. Then I found mystery shopping. That led to merchandising.
After five months I quit that dreaded factory job.
It
has been over a year now and I work half as much and get paid
twice as much as when I worked in that factory. I love my jobs,
I choose my hours, I choose where I want to travel and what jobs
I want to do. I am home with my daughter and when I go do jobs,
my husband is with her. We are almost completely debt free and
I am back in college, finishing up for a bachelor's degree.
Of
course, there is a lot in between I am leaving out. How did I
get the jobs? How do I juggle everything? What other hobbies/jobs
do I have? What exactly is merchandising or mystery shopping and
is it for me? Are there other jobs out there where I can actually
work at home? This is what my column is for- the questions.
No, I am not an example of get rich quick, or even get rich. I
am an example of hard work and a desire to better my life, even
a little at a time. I am grateful for this chance to share my
experiences with you, and I hope to give some a glimmer of hope
and an idea to start a dream.
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<<Contact Trisha at Classicdrm@aol.com>>
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