Increasingly, mothers who have recently given birth are looking for opportunities to work while on maternity leave. There are many reasons for this solution, but the most common ones are as follows:
- banal lack of money in the family;
- a desire to do something other than caring for a child;
- the desire to be useful and to realize oneself in some activity;
- the need to feel financial independence and not ask for money from her husband for any trifle.
Work or not work?
Now this is a topical issue for many, but every mother should answer it herself. It makes no sense to look for someone's advice. People of conservative views will insist that the mother should fully devote herself to the baby, and the progressive environment will assure that the child is not a reason to put an end to his career. Anyway, in the end you have to decide.
If you are seriously thinking about working, carefully weigh the pros and cons. Think, do you really want this, is there really a need for this? If so, go for it!
Where to get a job with a small child?
A woman who has recently given birth to a child understands very well that her choice of employment places is very limited. Obviously, not every employer will like that his employee will constantly ask for personal information.
Therefore, most mummies on maternity leave choose work at home. So they can not be separated from their little ones, who grow, develop and require attention.
How to make money while on maternity leave?
- write articles in newspapers, magazines, online publications (earnings for moms on maternity leave by writing or rewriting articles);
- conduct consultations by phone;
- moderate forums;
- create programs;
- develop and promote sites;
- translate texts from foreign languages;
- process photos (retouch, adjust);
- organize at home a small pastry shop (for offices nearby);
- engage in hand-made (sew clothes, make accessories, embroider, knit, weave);
- create a home kindergarten (for a couple of three children - peers of your baby);
- provide psychological support to pregnant women (you have recently gone through this yourself and know perfectly well what they feel, what they are afraid of);
- work as a manicurist, masseuse or hairdresser at home (if you have a daughter, it will be interesting for her too - she will help you by inventing fashionable pigtails).
We also read: Ways to earn money on maternity leave
This list can be supplemented endlessly, the main thing is that there are many options for making money while on maternity leave. You just need to want, and a suitable job will always be found.
According to sociologists, a huge number of people earning at home began such activities on maternity leave. Then they liked it so much that they no longer wanted to return to the office.
The pros and cons of maternity leave
To make it easier for you to make a decision, we have prepared for you lists of the advantages and disadvantages of working from home. Analyze them and think if you are ready for such a step.
pros
- the amount of your earnings depends only on your diligence;
- there is no clear schedule - you can plan the day yourself, as you wish;
- you are not surrounded by conflicting and unpleasant people, as is often the case in offices;
- You are in the most comfortable environment for yourself and can be distracted from work at any time;
- You save on lunch and do not spend money on travel to work and back;
- You don’t need to adhere to an uncomfortable dress code and internal routine.
Minuses
- often have to be distracted from work, because the child needs to be monitored and looked after;
- you need to fight laziness every day, because there is no leader or colleague nearby who is pushing you;
- you stop monitoring your appearance - it’s not up to it, because the combination of work and child care creates a double burden;
- due to constant fatigue, relationships with loved ones can deteriorate - primarily with the child and spouse;
- there is a risk of getting better (there’s a refrigerator at home near by);
- There is a danger of dealing with scammers on the Internet.
Important tips for moms who decide to work on maternity leave
Work at home during maternity leave has many shortcomings, and quite serious ones. However, we hope that our advice will help you tune in and not regret that you decided to work on maternity leave.
Do not be afraid of the new
Do not worry about doing what you have never done before. Just remember how you started to fulfill your duties at the previous job, how for the first time in your life cutlets were fried - you didn’t know how to do this at first, but you learned how. This time, too, everything will work out.
Wait until the child is at least a little older
Until the child is at least six months old, set aside thoughts of work. Now you must completely devote yourself to the baby - he really needs you to be there all the time, to surround him with love and attention. Work will be able to wait.
Don't overdo it
Moms who work on maternity leave are often overworked. Try to adequately assess your capabilities and do not try to complete a week's work in one day - you still can not. Better take pity on yourself.
Enlist the help of loved ones
Be prepared for the fact that the baby will constantly distract you from work, requiring attention. You need to be sure that at the time of heavy workload there will be someone nearby who can sit with the child. It could be your mom, aunt, girlfriend, spouse, or anyone else. The most important thing is that you trust this person and be calm for your little one. We also read: Who will help a working mom?
Keep a diary
When you have to do many things at the same time, the diary is a very useful thing. It is even better to start two diaries at once - one for work issues and for everything related to the child. Otherwise, it will be difficult to mention everything and keep track of everything.
Plan your day
If you know exactly what needs to be done at a particular moment, it will greatly facilitate your work on maternity leave. Make a plan for the day so that you can devote enough time to the child and work responsibilities, and that one does not go to the detriment of the other.
Develop criticality in yourself
The main danger of homework is the high risk of being caught by scammers. This is especially true in cases where communication with the employer is carried out exclusively via the Internet. Consider job offers critically and do not believe the promises of large and easy earnings if you do not want to become a mouse, which was lured into a mousetrap with free cheese.
Do not give up
Working while on maternity leave is not easy.Mentally tune into the fact that you will find yourself in situations that will make you feel helpless, weak and unhappy. Be strong and do not allow yourself to give up. Do not be afraid of difficulties, you will surely succeed.
Don't blame anyone
Only you decide whether to work or not to work on maternity leave. Therefore, if you have taken on the additional burden, do not blame loved ones for this. Reproaches will only lead to the fact that you lose the mood for work. To make matters worse, you run the risk of ruining relationships with your family members.
So, are you seriously considering finding a job on maternity leave? Analyze what it can bring you - pleasure or unnecessary anxiety and sorrow? Soberly assess your capabilities, find out the opinions of loved ones, think about what exactly you want to do. Can you do it, is it really necessary? If you answer in the affirmative, then start working and don't be afraid of anything. If you are not sure about something, take a moment. You may not be ready for work yet. Maybe it’s not at all necessary.
Whatever you decide, always remember: with or without work, but motherhood is given to a woman not for disappointment and stress, but for happiness.
We also read:
I’m on maternity leave, I’ve been looking for an extra income for a long time, I’ve found your article, now I know exactly what to do. Thank you for the useful and interesting article.
For me it was the most difficult to correctly distribute the time between working at the computer and family. I had to set a clear time frame for customers to devote enough time to children.
I believe that if the baby is quite calm and does not require mom's attention 24 hours a day, then you can find a side job. Of course, if at the same time mom has time to sleep (yes, there are such miracles). Work will distract and even entertain a little.
Very useful and competent article. I read when I was pregnant and now I often turn to kid.htgetrid.com/en/ for information!