Working At Home: More Moms Leaving the Corporate World In Search of Family Life

(PRLEAP.COM) With a recent survey from Yale University showing that nearly sixty percent of women plan to stop working or cut back on work when they have children, it’s not a surprise that increasing numbers of women choose to work from home.

With the rise of broadband internet and around-the-clock cell phone access, the number of mothers seeking creative, at-home employment is steadily growing. Whether they’re turning freelance, telecommuting, or starting their own internet businesses, today’s work at home moms march to a different drummer than the women’s rights activists of prior generations. These young mothers who hope to prioritize family and home life over careers are quickly becoming the norm. A study conducted by Simmons College school of management found that of 4,000 teens — 86-percent of girls said they wanted to take a break from working when they become mothers.

One such mother, Kristen Michaelis, gave up a government job with excellent benefits in order to start working from home as a freelance marketing copywriter. She got the idea when several old colleagues of hers offered her moonlighting work writing brochure copy. Their enthusiastic response to her professional advertising writing spurred her to launch her website, www.kristenmichaelis.com and create a monthly marketing e-newsletter after the arrival of her first child, a son.

“Not only does working at home give me the chance to be close to my son during these formative years, it also gives me the flexibility I need to feel fulfilled in life,” Michaelis said. “As a writer, I set my own schedule. I have time to see to family needs, run errands, do household chores, and even go for a swim in the local creek. Yet I’m earning a substantial income offering expert, targeted marketing and communications writing for ad agencies, graphic design firms, and businesses.”

Many prominent internet sites present job ideas and opportunities for mothers who wish to ditch their corporate dress for pajamas and slippers. Among the most reputable of sites out there are www.WAHM.com and www.moneymakingmommy.com. The first is an online magazine for work at home moms, and the second is “The BEST one-stop place to find and land legitimate work@home jobs from employers across the nation. NEVER any fees or scams,” according to Peter Bowerman (www.wellfedwriter.com), freelance copywriter and author.