Before starting my family, I was a high school English teacher. I loved being a teacher because I was blessed with challenging and amazing students. But, I left the classroom when my husband and I had agreed that I would stay home with our children while they were young. Of course, we assumed I’d eventually go back to the classroom to teach once our children were themselves all in school full time. Little did we know twenty years ago that our stair-step family was going to end up including seven children in thirteen years. In fact, our youngest just started kindergarten this school year – I haven’t sat behind a teacher’s desk for almost 20 years. What?! Frankly, I could never go back to teaching now.
I’ve been my own boss for over a decade.
I can’t even fathom having to work on someone else’s schedule.
While I thoroughly enjoyed being a SAHM [stay-at-home-mom], after years and years of Barney, Tonka trucks, and Barbie dolls, I was beginning to feel isolated – not to mention a little fuzzy in the brain. It finally came to a point that, when I was honest with myself, I realized that I was tired of having my most decisive duties center around diapers and dinner. On one hand, I reasoned that I didn’t have my precious children just so someone else could “raise” them and enjoy all the fun. I wanted to be the one to take them to school and visit them at lunchtime, go on field trips, volunteer on field days, and have all the grand adventures I enjoyed having with them.
One the other hand, I wanted to generate income — my own income — that I wouldn’t feel guilty spending. I was in serious need of some adult company. I was starving for camaraderie, especially with like-minded women. I missed being rewarded for a job well done.
Let’s be honest, how many times have you received an award
for finishing four loads of laundry in record time?
I wanted something that was mine. I needed an outlet that, unlike my energetic and curious toddlers, I could really control. While looking over the pros and cons, it dawned on me: Why shouldn’t I enjoy the best of both worlds? Why not work and stay home? I decided to bite the bullet and go from being a SAHM to a WAHM (work-at-home mom).
I’d be a lying if I reported that the transition was easy. Being the owner of your own business can be tough stuff because, let’s face it, the buck really does stop with you. While I can rejoice in my successes, whenever the profits are lean, I have no one to blame but myself. That can be a rude awakening.
The good news is that with a little ingenuity, creativity, and a lot of persistence, I saw my business take flight. I could see my successes, both small and big, and I could take pride in a job well done. And, because my family has always come first, I enjoy the flexibility that being my own boss affords. I am in control of my work schedule — it revolves around my family’s needs instead of my family having to work around a supervisor’s schedule. If I want to take a day off, I do. If I feel like giving myself a raise, I batton down and get it done. Yay! I’m in control. At least, that’s what I tell myself.
One of the biggest perks has been letting my family take part in parts of business. It gives the young ones a sense of accomplishment (not to mention extra spending money) and pride — in themselves and in their mom. Which, I must admit, is a real joy for me, too!
If you’re considering making the move, I say Go For It! Of course, you’ll want to do your research first and be sure to speak with a seasoned independent representative of the company that will give you the good, the bad, and indifferent of their experience. If they tell you everything smells like roses and rainbows or that you’re going to be rollin’ in dough practically overnight … I’ll bet you dollars to doughnuts they’re flat out lying to you. If they tell you the company sucks and they lost their entire investment, they may not have really worked their business professionally. In my experience, hobbies cost money. So at least find someone who’s happy with their company and willing to share their own formula for success.
Best wishes to you in all you strive to achieve!
———– XOXOXO ———-
Of course, if you’d like to learn more about the Avon opportunity, visit mickitheavonmom.com or contact me at micki.avonmom(at)gmail.com.
Micki Allen 
