The initial quandry: to work or not to work?

Most women who have a career, whether it be as a secretary or a lawyer, think that they'll go right back to work after they have their first child. I did. But once she was born, I couldn't bear to leave her. My husband and I needed the extra income, but couldn't justify having her raised by someone else. If you have a high-powered, well-paid career as a doctor, lawyer, or executive, you won't want to give up your position. In this case perhaps you hire a nanny or have your partner stay home with the baby. The decision is pretty clear. For the majority of working moms, however, that $10-15 an hour job just doesn't seem worth it. After we are finished paying for childcare, dry cleaning and gas, there's not really much left over. We are working 40 hours a week in order to pay someone else to raise our newborn child. I decided to stay home but needed an income so, over the course of the next 7 years, I tried all kinds of alternatives.

• Freelance proofreading
• Selling health products
• Running a Kindermusik program
• Working part-time as a tutor

When I finally decided I had to go back to work I was in for a very big shock. My experience was dated. Most employers seemed to think that I had either become senile or forgotten everything I ever knew about personnel and accounting. My options consisted of low-paid, menial jobs that neither challenged nor motivated me. I was paying more for daycare than I was making. What did I do?

• Openned a small daycare
• Started writing; articles, short stories, novels

Some of the children I watch have single mothers who work and go to school. The level of determination and hard work I see in these young women is inspiring. They are striving toward a better life for themselves and their children. These moms have to be away from their children for a certain amount of time each week, but with the rising popularity of online education, they juggle their hours to spend the maximum amount of time with their kids.

I am lucky and have been very blessed to have been able to stay home with my children. They drive me a little crazy sometimes, but I love them and wouldn't have it any other way.