Home Business and Child Rearing
Welcome to the increasingly typical suburban home. In the corner of the living room a baby sleeps peacefully in a pink and white baby swing. In the middle of the living room, a toddler quietly pushes his toy trucks across the carpet, emitting an abrupt truck sound every once in a while. Sitting on the easy chair, the young mother quietly taps away at the laptop on her lap, earning half her family’s income as she watches her children enjoy their afternoons. Welcome to the twenty-first century where business can come home and moms and dads can watch their children grow up while earning an income. More than ever, parents can earn an income and run their own home business regardless of the child’s age. Knowing how to work around a specific child at his or her given stage of life while managing the home business will result in a successful family and business.
The infant and toddler years present the greatest challenges to the home business owner/parent. At this stage of life, children demand the most attention. Thus parents must first learn to establish a routine in the home with both infants and toddlers, and then the parents can learn to run their home business in the midst of that schedule. For example, instead of lying down for a nap when the kids take their naps in the afternoon, the home business owner can and should put a few hours in. At this point in the family life, the business owner/parent should also consider bringing help into the home to watch children so the home business does not go under. This does not have to cost as much as traditional daycare, however. Home business owners can consider trading off services for a baby sitter or a mother’s helper such as a local home school student.
The elementary years bring a bit more freedom for the parent, who no longer has to worry about a toddler sticking his fingers into a light socket. The home business owner should still establish and follow a schedule, however, so the business does not rule their family life. The home business owner typically has a home business so he or she can stay home with the kids. However, if the home business runs the home, then the parent might as well go back to the corporate business world. Parents of elementary age children can involve the kids in small parts of the business. Kids can stuff envelopes or fold documents accordingly. They can even file papers. If a parent chooses to employ his or her child in the home business, he or she should also pay the child. This provides a great opportunity to learn about earning money.
The teenage years often bring an additional asset to the parent home business owner. Teens often learn basic business skills, such as graphic design, in school, and a parent can literally employ the teen to do more complicated parts of the business than when the child was in his or her elementary years. Teens can enter invoices and even manipulate the home business website accordingly. This also gives teens a great item to put on both resumes and college applications.
The home business offers parents the opportunity to both earn a living and stay at home to raise their children. No longer do moms have one single option to earn money. Home businesses broaden those options, and give moms and dads just what they need: parents for their kids and money for their pockets.
Article by Clifford Brown
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