Creative Childcare Solutions for WAHMs

Creative Childcare Solutions for WAHMs

Sure, you stayed at home so you can be with your children and earn a living. However, it doesn’t take long before work at home moms begin to realize that it can be virtually impossible running a home business while toddlers, infants, and even teenagers are in the home. If you’ve ever tried to take a business call with children crying, screaming, or whining in the background, then you’ve undoubtedly realized that being a work at home mom definitely has its drawbacks. There is no denying the fact that spending more time with your children is one of the greatest luxuries that working from home has to offer, but the blessing may also be one of your biggest setbacks as you try to find a way to work and take care of your children at the same time.

It isn’t surprising to discover that many work at home moms eventually choose to place their children in day care. They have wonderful jobs, have freedom to work for themselves, can set their own hours, and earn a great living, but they realize that there are times when it is simply impossible to be a professional business woman and mother at the same time. You should never feel guilty about putting your children in daycare. Every work at home mom is different and so is her situation. If that is what you need to do to be successful, then do it.

However, there are many work at home moms who, under no circumstance, will put their children in daycare. They have decided to stay at home with their children and that is what they intend to do. Yet, they may feel the burden of that decision as finding time to dedicate the energy needed to be a success at their job becomes overwhelming. Many of these women will stay up throughout the night and forego a good night’s sleep, so that they can work while their child/children are sleeping. It doesn’t take very long before women realize there must be a better way. This is where choosing creative childcare solutions can be an asset to your business.

First, you will need to determine how much child care you will need as well as how much you can afford to spend on childcare. One of the advantages of staying and working from home is the money saved on childcare; so most WAHMs don’t feel that they want to spend that money on childcare. If you need childcare, but don’t want to spend money on it, you may want to try a childcare coop. If you have friends or associates who are also work at home moms, why not alternate days where you will switch watching the children. An arrangement like this can be very beneficial and gives the work at home moms full control over the days and schedules involved in childcare. In addition to exchanging childcare services, you’ll also find that many people are open to the barter system. Instead of offering to exchange childcare services, you may be able to work out another arrangement with local moms. Maybe you can trade some of your business services for daycare. And don’t forget about dad. He may be willing to barter some of his services in exchange for daycare as well. You’ll find that many women are very receptive to exchanging services. Before you know it, you’ll have the creative childcare solutions that you need to ensure you are a successful work at home mom.