I didn’t take the cake.

You’ve heard the phrase, “You really take the cake.” But you can’t apply that to me.

When it first became apparent that Charlie could not go to daycare because of his special needs, and thusly I could not get a job, welfare and foodstamps and charity were suddenly thrust upon us.

I went to the special needs office in West Des Moines, Iowa and there was a special area set up with donations from local merchants. There were cakes from Hy-Vee – the local supermaket. There was a really pretty cake that I knew Charlie would love. It was free for me to take.

But I knew, in my heart and without a doubt, that if I took something from that table – I would be defining us. Defining us to me, and to the city and the state and the universe – as a charity case. I just couldn’t do it.

I left that cake on the table, went and bought an espresso from Starbucks that I could not afford, and proceeded to hunt for work on Craig’s List – anything I could do from home that would pay.

That is how my business was born – from little WordPress jobs on Craig’s List. Because I would not settle.

And because I did not take the cake.

Being a work at home mom has its challenges and drawbacks, but for the most part, it’s really the best job I’ve ever had. Here are my top ten reasons why being a WAHM is awesome!

10. I can load & start the dishwasher on my morning break
 9. I can easily work “overtime” after the kid goes to bed
 8. If a procedure or policy isn’t working, I can change it without going through any red tape
 7. My watercooler is Twitter (Shout out to my Twitter Peeps!)
 6. I can listen for the mailman, then go get any checks from clients out of the mailbox, take them to the bank, run a few errands and get lunch to bring home
 5. I can do my work at Starbucks for a few hours if I want to
 4. I can start dinner cooking on my afternoon break
 3. I can go pick up my son if he is sick at school without apologizing and genuflecting all over the place to boss & co-workers, then just make up the work later that day
 2. I’m there to do my son’s homework with him the instant he gets home from school
 1. Including what would otherwise be commute time and times when he is off school for holidays, teacher days etc., I probably get to spend an average of 20 hours per week more with my son than I would if I worked full time in an office!

Those are some great reasons – my top 10. I really think this arrangement allows a much more even balance to work/family, something that women, especially, struggle with.

What are your reasons for why you love being a Work At Home Mom or why you would like to? Leave me a comment & let’s talk about it!