This morning as I played with our preschooler and our toddler, I started thinking about how much I really enjoy having the opportunity to be a work from home mom. I started thinking about all of the awesome benefits, but with everything (even great things) there are challenges.

Below is a list of my work at home mom pros and cons. Enjoy!

The Pros of Being A Work From Home Mom

Flexible Schedule

I love the fact that my schedule is so flexible. Working from home allows me to schedule appointments and playtime for the kids and myself during times that are convenient for my family not based on when my boss says I have vacation time. What's even better than that , I'm able to do whatever I need to do for my work from home job, whether being part time, anytime, from anywhere in the world. This allows me more flexibility than a regular work at home job. I can wait until after the kids are in bed for the night before I start working if I need to.

I Get To See My Children Grow

I remember watching in amazement as our daughter took her first steps. This is something that, more likely than not, I would have missed if I had to work a nine to five. I am so grateful to have the chance to watch both of our children change, grow, and become the people God created them to be. Children grow up so fast and I want to be there during the milestones in their life.

I Get To Be My Children's Main Influence

Working a nine to five would most likely mean that our children would be in day care for at least eight hours a day, five days a week. That means forty hours a week someone else, outside of our family would be influencing our children. I'm not perfect, but I do know how I want my children to be trained.

I know there are a lot of awesome caregivers that are able to give children of 9-5 parents the care they need, but I also know that no one can love them like momma or daddy can. I'm definitely not against parents that need to place their children in day care. My godmother took care of her daughter on her own, she had to go to work and leave her with a babysitter. Today, her daughter is an amazing woman. I also know the horror stories of children who were taken care of by someone other than their parents. With all the research that I've done about how important the first five years are for a child, making the steps necessary to be a work from home mom was well worth it.

The Cons Of Being A Work From Home Mom

These may not be cons, but more like inconveniences. Since we have two children (plus one on the way) under the age of three, I'm sure most of the things that I list below will change or possibly be nonexistent once they get older. I guess we will see!

My Schedule Is Not My Own

My schedule is flexible, yes, but any parent knows that when you have kids your schedule is not your own. Since my work from home job allows me the flexibility of working when I want, I wait until after the kids go to bed before I start working.

The fact that I've had to stop several times while writing this is proof enough that my schedule is definitely not my own. That is why I typically stick to writing or working on our business in the evening, after the kids are fast asleep! But hey, when you become a mom that is what you sign up for :-) At least until they are able to handle more responsibility or maybe until they move out. I guess I will find out :-)

Kids, Kids, Everywhere

Don't get me wrong, I loooooove my children and I love other people's kids, but sometimes I need some adult time. Adult time for me means not having to watch Veggie Tales for the 50th time (Although I do enjoy watching VeggieTales, it is very entertaining and educational. If you haven't checked out the collection of VeggieTale videos, trust me, it's well worth it.), not telling one child and sometime both children to stop doing whatever it is that they shouldn't be doing...

Okay, I'm back. I had to stop writing to go help our preschooler get a finger nail out of her mouth.

Before I was a mom, I had heard stories of moms locking themselves in their room, bathrooms, closets, or where ever they could to get some mommy time. I never knew I would have my own "locking myself in a bathroom story". Hey, sometimes you have to take a few minutes to yourself. If you want to be the best mom or dad you can be, that includes taking time to recharge and refresh. You can only give to others what you have to give.

Well, there is a lot more that I could write, but since my preschooler is wide awake and full of energy, I'm going to cut this short.

I want to hear from you. What are your work from home mom or dad joys and pains? Share in the comments below.

~ Dorothy

Please visit me at The Sane Mom