In-Between Mums I loved teaching, but resigning was the right thing for me to do when my daughter was born in 2006 as I knew I wanted to be at home with her full time. Over the next twelve months the majority of my mum-friends slowly returned to work, but I was happy with my choice. Mostly! Two and a half years later we added a baby boy to our family. And I’m still home full time. Well, kind of.There have long been two groups of mums. The stay-at-home-mothers (or SAHM) and the working mothers. Recently a third group of mums have come into the picture and seen rapid growth. These women are in-between mums, seeking to find a balance that works for them and has elements of both worlds. They straddle both camps by working from the home, hence their title of work-at-home-mothers (or WAHM). There are some amazing WAHMs out there. Many of them have online businesses and work predominantly from their computers. Some sell products, often made by their own hand. Others sell their own skills in designing, copy writing, coaching, photography and more. Some WAHM capitalise on their BC career (before children) while others try their hand at something completely new. There are other in-between mums too, like those who work part time during school hours, mums who “help out” with the family business, or mums who choose party plan type selling and book around their children’s schedules. While I’m still not sure I’d call myself a WAHM, I’m definitely an in-between mum and that seems to suit me perfectly. I don’t want to work outside our home. I don’t want to return to the classroom while my kids are still little. But I do want something that’s for ME. I do want to use my skills in positive ways. I do want to keep growing, and learning, and striving. I do want to hone my writing skills. I do want a sense of achievement. And so I do this. I write for my own blog at SquiggleMum and for this blog here at Parenting Australia, I write guest posts and columns for other blogs, I write for magazines and publications online and off, and I love it. To be honest I don’t get paid for most of it, but income isn’t my primary motivation for writing. I’m building readership, profile, and the writing career I’d like to have in a few years time (eventually I’ll need to contribute to the family income again). Some days I don’t get to write because being a Mummy always comes first, but as I don’t “work” in the usual sense that’s ok! So what does that make me? I could call myself a mum-who-works-at-home-for-free (MWWAHFF?!) but I think I’ll stick with in-between mum. That works for me. What works for you? ______________________ How do you define yourself? A SAHM? A Working mother? A WAHM?? Or something in between, like Cath? Feel free to leave a comment below... _____________________________ Catherine Oehlman is a SAHM currently being raised by a terrific toddler and a curious crawler. Her background in primary education, love of the mothering journey and compulsion for writing collide on her SquiggleMum blog. Cath encourages other parents from all walks of life to maximise the time they spend with their children. 20 CommentsFeedAdd Comment |
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Tuesday, 02 February 2010
I know I am not going to back to even part time work (though one day I may do the odd fill in day teaching preschool) until all our kids are at school... but I still feel the need to use my brain for something other than parenting. So I dabble in this and that, here and there....
I don't think of myself as a WAHM because I am not really trying to earn any set amount of money from what I do, nor do I feel particularly 'professional' about it. I just dabble! Though I do enjoy the little bits of income here and there, I mostly enjoy how much I have learnt, and am still learning.
Tuesday, 02 February 2010
It's certainly not easy balancing work and being a mum but this job has always worked for us. The boys engage in activities and socialise with other children/mums/carers, I like to think they have the best of both worlds!!
I'm an amature author too and I enjoy writing whenever I can! I'm about to study this year though so my writing will take a bit of a back seat for 2010.
Tuesday, 02 February 2010
Great post.
Wednesday, 03 February 2010
Narelle - you are remarkable. I don't think I could do the Family Day Care thing and you are amazing for juggling it with your own boys.
Michelle - My acronym sounded like a wicked laugh MWWAHFF, but yours sounds very gangsta WSHSAHM. No wonder we end up saying "just a mum". Every other title is so complicated!! LOL
Wednesday, 03 February 2010
Wednesday, 03 February 2010
Wednesday, 03 February 2010
I love your in-between mum lifestyle Cath!
Thursday, 04 February 2010
My jewelery and photography and digi-scrapping provide a little income, a creative outlet, and some welcome "me time" when the kids are at school, but it will always be second to my family - and I am fortunate that financially we can afford this "luxury".
Thursday, 04 February 2010
@Elvira - wow, you're really doing it tough at the moment. Hang in there mama, and I hope you find a solution soon that works for you and your precious family. ((hugs))
@Amanda - with you on the volunteer work. There's a whole lot of stuff I do with MOPS Australia and with my own church. All comes under the "in-between-mum" banner too I think. Your kids are blessed to have you home with them.
@JanMary - thank you for sharing your "in-between" story from Ireland! I love that we can be half a world away yet have so much in common as mothers.
Thursday, 04 February 2010
Thursday, 04 February 2010
I always knew I wanted to stay at home with my kids who are turning 7, 5 and 3 this year. It can be very tiring, stressful and demanding, but I wouldn't have it any other way
Thursday, 04 February 2010
Thursday, 04 February 2010
Saturday, 06 February 2010
Sunday, 07 February 2010
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Thursday, 01 April 2010
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Now thats where i can assist and show you an opportunity that is working for many of my students today .
Just yesterday hada new mum start her kit hasnt arrived yet and made $500 in sales.
www.pc4u.net.au
Have a look at our site and if you are remotely interested express your intrest and we will go from there.
Regards,
Troy
Friday, 06 August 2010
you so much!