Are You Called to Work From Home? (Plus An Invitation to the WAHMderful Weekend)
The Beginnings of My Call to Work-at-Home Mom-hood
When I gave birth to my first child, it seemed only natural for me to want to stay home and spend my days caring for my baby. It seemed like it was something I was meant to do. At that time, my husband and I were part of a team of fulltime lay missionaries based in Timor Leste, or East Timor, and so it only made sense that motherhood jived with my "job" at that time, which included ministering to families and individuals in parishes and communities. Our mission center/office then was also our mission home, so combining work and family duties was really something I (and my husband) needed to do.
After our second child was born, juggling my mission work duties and motherhood became even more challenging, but still quite manageable. My husband helped a lot, and we had other missionaries with us who would gladly play with the kids when I needed to focus on something.
When we started preparing for our return to Manila for good, I knew that I still wanted what I had in Timor -- the work-from-home, hands-on-mom lifestyle -- to be our set-up in the Philippines too. So I began exploring jobs that would allow me to stay at home and take care of my kids.
Once we had settled back in Manila though, it took me quite some time to get what I wanted. For about six months, my husband and I would either bring both kids to our mission office, or leave the youngest with my mother (oh how my heart would break during those times! I felt like I was depriving her or something!).
I was eventually offered a position that would require me to report to the mission office only twice a week -- it was not the ideal situation in my opinion, but I considered it a blessing nonetheless. After all, I know a lot of moms who would have traded places with me in an instant -- just so they could spend more time at home with their kids!
After about a year with that arrangement, I left fulltime mission work because I believed it was God wanted me to do -- after 10 years of being fulltime! I believed that He wanted me to focus on caring for and homeschooling our children.
The day after I resigned, I was offered a job at a publishing company which had a flexible work-from-home schedule. My husband and I believed it was God’s perfect timing and plan. So I accepted the job offer and became the editor of an inspirational children’s magazine, working from home three days a week, and homeschooling the kids on the days I was at home.
Then I got pregnant.
How A Baby Changes You
I won’t delve into more detail about this, as I’ve written about my pregnancy before and what happened to our baby after she was born. To make a long story short, the coming of our third child led me to decide to take the plunge into staying at home fulltime, while still working to help augment our family income.
It has been an interesting, challenging journey so far, which is why I am grateful to God for events for WAHMs (work-at-home moms) and for freelancers like me, such as those organized by Manila Workshops and the WAHMderful Life Support + Sisterhood.
Now, Ask Yourself: Are You Called to Work from Home?
If you’re wondering if the work-at-home lifestyle is for you, I invite you to join me at an event dubbed "The WAHMderful Weekend: The Heart and Hands of the Work-at-Home Mom." This whole-day celebration and learning event will be on Sunday, October 27, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura, in Bonifacio Global City.
Following are some of the topics that will be covered by the sessions and talks:
-- Knowing your vision for LIFE
-- Loving your WORK
-- Freelancing HACKS
-- Entrepreneurship for WAHMs
-- Work and WEALTH
-- WELLNESS for WAHMs
Among the line-up of speakers are:
-- Apa Alviar, the founder and CEO of Exuberance!, a consultancy organization that inspires individuals and teams by helping them discover - and live - their passion.
-- Bestselling author and entrepreneur Yeng Remulla
-- Certified successful work-at-home moms Martine de Luna of the award-winning blog DaintyMom.com and MartinedeLuna.com, and Ginger Arboleda, the founder of ManilaWorkshops.com.
Other WAHMs who are experts in their respective fields will serve as panelists, group facilitators and emcees. The event will also have special segments relevant to the WAHM life, sponsored by DSM Nutritional Products, PLDT KaAsenso and Insular Life. The WAHMderful Weekend is also proud to partner with Unilab, Alta Flip Flops, Calchews, Toccare Spa, Pink Me Up, and Almost Gourmet.
For more information, and to register, please go to http://manilaworkshops.com/2013/09/wahmderful-weekend-the-heart-and-hands-of-the-work-at-home-mom-oct-27.html.
So, will I see you there? Feel free to send me a Tweet @tinasrodriguez if you’re coming!
