Would You Work at Home if You Didn't Have To?

by Traci Anderson | More from this Blogger

04 Feb 2007 09:59 PM

Have you ever wondered if you would work at home if you didn't have to? What if you won the lottery? What if your spouse got a substantial raise? What if you got a sudden inheritance?

This is a question that is often raised in relation to traditional careers. It seems as if everyone who wins the lottery is asked, "will you continue working?" While the winners often say, "no"...many say that they would be "bored to tears" without a job.

I often wonder about my motivation was for starting my work-at-home job. You'll often hear women say that they did it for the children...to attend soccer games, play-dates, and to "be-there" for them. But have you ever wondered if your home business could be "all about you?"

This is a conversation I recently had with my sister who returned to work after a lengthy maternity leave. My sister is tremendously successful. She is a network-analyst for a large company. She has always been career-oriented and motivated. Despite her success, she went through the same fears that most mommies go through when they leave their first child at a childcare center to go to work. "What if I don't see his first steps?" "What if they don't pick him up when he cries".

She was a wreck on her first day back to work so I asked her, "would you quit work if you didn't have to work?" "I'm not sure," she replied.

Many stay-home-moms would suggest that she is being selfish by wanting to work. Frankly, I am not so sure. Personally, I wanted to have a home business the moment I had children. I loved the idea of being independent, being free to spend time with my children whenever I wanted to.

But if you asked me the same question, "would you work if you didn't have to", I don't think I could say "yes" either. My work gives me an identity. It challenges me. It makes me feel creative and valuable. Don't get me wrong. There is nothing more important than staying home with my children. I adore them. It is the best job...ever. But I am not convinced that I do it "entirely" for my children. I would love to suggest that my home-business is "all about them"...but perhaps it is actually "all about me". I wouldn't quit my at-home career if my husband got a large enough raise that would make up the difference.

Does that make me a bad mom? I certainly hope not.

What are your thoughts? Would you work if you didn't have to?

Related Reading: Are WAHMS Winning the Mommy War? To Go or Not to Go? Going Back to Work After the Baby is Born

Learn more about Traci Anderson

Traci is a work-at-home-mom (WAHM) from beautiful Big Sky Country (Montana). She spends most of her time trying to keep up with two extremely energetic (but hysterical) Irish twins.

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L Shepherd (78) 05 Feb 2007 09:36 PM

I would work only one day a week or maybe just a few evenings a week if I could. I think that would be heaven, to not have to depend on the at home work.