Stay at Home or Working Mom – Which is Better?

Quite frankly, I often struggle with this topic myself. I chose to “Work From Home” when my child was born with the belief that it would allow the best of both worlds. I would be home with her whenever she needed me and I could still make a living!

Some days are tougher than others! I feel like I’m doing both things terribly! My attention is divided among 19 things at the same time and that includes, changing diaprs, cooking lunch for my daughter, answering work related questions (I have 3 employees working out of my house for my business), new product lines I’m launching and soooo much more! It almost seems unfair to my child and to my business because I feel like I’m failing them both.

However, there is some part of me that feels fulfilled and happy that I chose this path and am able to stay home with my daughter. I’ve fallen into a rhythm where I work while she sleeps, we play while she is awake, and then I have a babysitter for 3 hours per day, 3 days per week. It seems to work for now! I get a 6 hour workday between her nap and the babysitter, she gets to see me all day, I cook her breakfast, lunch and dinner, we spend our mornings reading and playing together and she socializes with someone other than me and her daddy. I can’t possibly think of a better scenario.

I started reading this book by Dr. Laura Schlessinger “In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms,” in which she “unapologetically urges mothers to remain at home instead of juggle a career and motherhood.”

Now I have to warn you, some of her ideas and suggestions sound a bit archaic and unrealistic. But I do have to admit, there is some rhyme, reason and sense in there if you listen carefully.

This Wall Street Journal article covers an interview done with Dr. Schlessinger discussing her book and some of her ideas.

What do you think? Should women stay home with their babies or should they work if they have to??? What choice did you make?

Home based businesses: This is NOT your host for the evening

I am so sick of my friends’ new businesses. You know the ones I am talking about. The businesses that require you to host parties with all of your friends, and your family. If one more person tries to convince me of how much everyone would LOVE to come to a party where they can buy $85 toe rings or $75 Tupperware boxes I am going to scream.  

Now that they are launching their part of the pyramid scheme  “own business” , they are annoying the shit out of me to host these things. Honestly, I love my girlfriends and I really do want them to the succeed but I just don’t think it is fair that it has to be on my dime, and in my house, and because of my family and friends. I know you all know what I am talking about. They are selling Tupperware, or home decor or Southern Living or jeans or jewelry or God knows what else – and they want you to invite all your friends and family to YOUR house, so YOU can clean up, make them feel pressured to buy something, and basically do their job for them. WHO INVENTED THIS IDEA?! I bet the person had a penis. I hate him.

First off all, I wouldn’t ask my friends and family for a dime to support my business (Note to self: Get my own business before I make this point). LOL But seriously, I don’t want to make anyone feel obligated or pressured or uncomfortable. So seriously WHY in the world do I want to do this!? For $30 in free cheese plates and a 4 inch cutting board?!  If you want to make money, great ,but don’t do it off your friends. These hosting parties are the worst. And I know if I say yes to doing one, then I have to do them all cause ..um hellooo they are all going to be invited because they are my friends. (I have so few of these…LOL) Seriously, my friends are worse than toddlers. I can just hear the chorus of “You did it for her first!!” already.

So what do I do!? Now I am now dodging my girlfriends because I am dreading them asking me. I am contemplating telling them my house has burned down (damn play dates will blow my cover!) or that Vin lost his job just so I have an excuse. God, I HATE being such a pleaser. Why can’t I just be a total bitch about it and be like “NO, get your own damn bag of cubed cheese and veggies platter and host it at YOUR house.

There are plenty of  real job opportunties at home, and they need to look for a real  home based business opportunity .  They are not, thank God, a get rich quick scheme and can be easily implemented to start earning them some money without involving people in MY life. There are jobs  that do not require mooching off your friends that are PREGNANT and have 3 toddlers for the love of Peter!

Okay I am done. Sorry. I am pregnant. Did I mention that yet!? I better go get to chopping veggies…and find a date to host the first Tupperware party….(sigh)

 

A new Guide to debit card?

Debit Cards…

So I lost mine. Um three times. In six months. So I am not the most responsible debit card owner, which frankly is ridiculous because it is like just handing out cash. I have to say thank God there are a lot of really honest people in this world because my bank accounts have yet to be emptied (okay well I emptied them but isn’t that the very point of having a debit card??) Anyway, in the process of losing my card so many freaking times I had to actually learn a little bit about how they worked and the protection they offer and such things.

Of course, there is someone that blogs about this (Horray for technology). Anyway, the site I found is called  www.debitcardblog.org.  All you want (and never even thought about) to know about  Debit Cards can be found on this blog that provides news about Debit cards and credit cards and provides the latest news and updates concerning  the debit card. This Blog is in English and is focused on an audience from all over the world. Information about debit card can sometimes be difficult to find on the internet as few sites exist about debit cards and credit cards. (Trust me, I know this sadly, from experience.) So take a look  and register yourself to the daily feeds for more information about debit cards. You can also leave comments and thoughts about the articles in the website, always in relation with debit cards and credit cards in case you have particular questions or tips. I also found this other site called  Emprestimos which I actually thought was interesting in a “Hey I am making myself a lot smarter about my money” kind of way.)  Famous Beers is also a great site: Fantastic name although it does make me thirsty, but nonetheless, really informative.  So if you are debit card challenged (like yours truly) you should totally check them out. I will see you there when I loose my card again…in five minutes.