Stay-At-Home-Mom statistics surprise CBS viewers! When it was reported on May 10, 2007 that fewer women were returning to work after becoming mothers, eyebrows raised from coast to coast.

Why? The stats were on women who had chosen to give up “high-powered jobs” to become full-time, stay-at-home moms.

“How can this be?” Americans wondered and puzzled. Giving up huge salaries in the “real world” to stay at home? After all the well-earned degrees and struggle to compete in the corporate world? Are they crazy?

Wouldn’t they miss all the stress of getting children ready for daycare? While trying to balance baby, baby carrier, diaper bag, briefcase, handbag and nerves with just two hands?

Guess not. They have shed the suit, pumps and ripped pantyhose for the choice to be stay-at-home-moms. Get used to it.

Some make the decision before the child is born. Others try to return to their glamorous world of high pressure after their maternity leave is over. Then they see the light.

Some reasons to decide to be a SAHM

***extreme cost of quality daycare

***allowing child’s formative years be defined by strangers

***emotional

***less stability for child

***even more stress to already stress-filled life

Sure, there are downsides to everything

***loss of salary

***loss of mental stimulation

***less adult interaction

***having “unemployed” on resume

But the choice, to be the one there to nurture their child, outweighs all the bad.

Then…when they finally get caught up on sleep and have less fatigue, they will have opportunity to take care of their mental and emotional issues.

Many stay-at-home moms look at finding a home based business when the child doesn’t need their on-call undivided attention as much.

Long ago hobbies may be dusted off and turned into a money making business…

***scrapbooking

***gift baskets

***crafts

There’s also a long list of direct sales companies. The internet is a rich resource for finding work-at-home opportunities.

Another idea that appeals to some stay-at-home-moms is taking the knowledge and expertise they’ve acquired and writing eBooks. Also called consumer eBooks.

In this way, they are keeping abreast of the latest developments in their former professions while mentally challenging themselves.

There’s information-hungry people out there. These corporate stay-at-home-moms have the goods to give the customer the information they need.

It doesn’t hurt that this opportunity is one of the highest-paying home based businesses. One that can even surpass their former salaries in the “real world”.

Now who was wondering if these women had lost their minds?

(c) 2007 Karen Cook
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