Melissa talked on Day 5 about going back to work or staying with it and Day 7 I offered questions to pray with in order to figure out the path that God has for you.
Today, I want to talk to those of you whose hearts are tugged home always. You know this is where you want to be and where you are supposed to be.
Sometimes you just need a little more money coming in, but your heart is longing to be home.
I want to give you a few ideas. First let me tell you my journey. When I was young I had big dreams of becoming this and that, a career woman for sure. But, almost the minute I was married, I only wanted to be a mom. So, 2 years later almost to the day we had our first child, Allie. At the time I worked part time at a department store with flexible hours so my husband took on a second small job for a little while to help make ends meet. After our second child, Zachary was born that tug was just too much for me. I soon after quit my job and my dear sweet husband took on that second job again.
For the next few years I was home but always doing something to bring in income. I cleaned someone’s home , I made small parts from my husband’s work, I did in home parties (partylite), and I babysat.
Then a friend of mine who owned a Gymboree Play Center, asked me to come and work part time for her. I did and that began to turn into full time. I went to look for after school daycare for my kindergartener. I found an in home daycare in my neighborhood. When I was there I felt the Lord saying “This is what you are to do.” So, once again I quit my job and opened a daycare in our home. I am so thankful for that job. I was home for my kids when they came home and it also made it possible for us to have 2 more children.
I did that for 7 years and then we were asked to move 12 hours away ( another God story for later). When we came here with 2 house payments, we were $800 short to cover our bills. I was out talking to our new neighbor Melissa and she talked about the fact that she was looking for day care for her twins. Guess how much they paid me to watch them. Yep, $800, God is so good. I later took on more children and did that until September 2011.
I tell you all of that to say that my heart has always been tugged home and God granted me the desire of my heart. I have been home for 18 years minus 2 years part time in the beginning and a few months at Gymboree. All of the rest of the years, I have been home, still making money when needed in one way or another. So, it can be done. Now, through my life history, I told you of quite a few ways to make money from home or part time away from home.
Other ways that you can contribute to your home are:
- Frugal living
- Gardening
- Couponing
- Making your own anything
- Watching and cutting your budget
- Consulting from home in your former line of work.
- Writing articles for publishing.
- Insurance Processing
- Telemarketing
- Start a business with your skills.
I do have to mention one more thing that I am thankful for . I have been home with my teenagers. Many women go to work when their kids start school and I am so thankful that I didn’t. I don’t think that they stopped needing me any less. Physically, yes they were more independent but emotionally and spiritually they still needed their Mama. I am thankful that God saw fit to have me be there.
Jeannie
13 Bloggers, 13 topics, one Great God.
A
series on the different aspects of Proverbs 31. Here is a list of the bloggers
and their topics.
- Using Skills to Contribute to Family/2 better than 1
- The Fear of the Lord/ Satisfied by Love
- Using time wisely/Blessed Beyond Measure
- Taking care of needy/ Shadow Wonder
- Using money wisely/Jennifer Sikora
- Keeping an eye on home/Just a Glimpse
- She can laugh at the days ahead/ Faith Filled Food for Moms
- Clothed in strength and dignity/One thing I’ve Learned
- Taking care of others/ 2 savvy gals
- Being Creative/A Patchwork Mommy
- Bringing Variety to Family/ Karen Dawkins
- Extending your Hand to the Poor/ Women’s Fellowship House
- Organization/Teaching what is Good
Hope
you all enjoy!! Feel free to explore the blogs. We have some very talented women
participating.
I was a teacher before my daughter was born and I stayed home after I had her. I am so grateful that I live near family and her great-grandma watches her a few days a month so I can sub. They get to hang out together, I get to keep my feet wet in the schools, and we have a change of schedule every once-in-a-while! It has worked out well for us. I always have this sense of guilt at the thought of continuing to stay home when she's ready for school but I'm glad to hear from someone else who did it. Thanks for your post!
ReplyDeleteComing up with the extra money is always a challenge. I babysat for years when my older children were very young, but it is much more challenging to do while homeschooling! ;-D So I focus more on the frugal parts. Thanks, Jeannie, for sharing your heart on this topic!
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