Hey, mamas! In this week’s episode, I dish on the realities of securing work-from-home jobs as busy moms as well as which part-time jobs I recommend. We also go into multilevel marketing (MLMs) and some work and home-related news headlines. How many of these opportunities are genuinely compatible with the demands of raising children and keeping a home running? You can listen to the episode of the (Mostly) Stay-at-Home Mom here:
Women and Mothers Working From Home
According to recent statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, about 24% of mothers reported working from home at some point during the prior week in 2023. While this figure seems impressively high, it likely still reflects the aftermath of pandemic-era workplace policies, many of which are now being rolled back as companies implement return-to-office mandates. This shifting landscape creates both challenges and opportunities for mothers seeking to maintain their presence at home while contributing financially to their households.
When examining the most viable work-from-home options for mothers, virtual assistant positions consistently emerge as one of the most flexible and attainable opportunities. Unlike many corporate remote positions that require specific technical skills or extensive experience, becoming a virtual assistant for small businesses can leverage organizational and administrative talents that many mothers already possess. The beauty of this arrangement is its scalability – mothers can take on one client for minimal hours or expand to multiple clients as their availability and comfort level permits. This creates a truly customizable work situation that adapts to the ever-changing demands of family life.
A stay-at-home mom interested in taking on just a bit of part-time work with the flexibility of working from home may want to look into becoming a virtual assistant for one local business. Find a business owner who’d like to offload some administrative tasks, such as emailing, invoicing, calling, etc., and you could make an arrangement that works well for both parties.
The Cost of Childcare and Its Role in Women’s Work
One significant consideration in the working mother equation is the high cost of childcare. A 2023 brief from the U.S. Department of Labor revealed that childcare expenses consume an unsustainable percentage of family income across all care types, age groups, and geographical locations.
In some regions, families report spending up to 25% of their income on childcare alone. When these costs are factored against potential earnings, many families are discovering that having one parent remain home – at least while children are young – makes more financial sense than maintaining dual incomes with the corresponding childcare expense.
Homemaking and Staying Home Depicted In Recent Media
The conversation around mothers and work becomes particularly charged when examining media narratives.
Recent headlines frame mothers leaving the workforce as a regression or loss, suggesting that the value of motherhood and homemaking is somehow less significant than formal employment. This perspective fails to acknowledge the profound importance of the care work that mothers provide – work that is fundamental to society yet chronically undervalued in economic terms.
This Washington Post article associated women who happily leave the workforce to stay home with MAGA trade wives. The suggestion that choosing to focus on raising children instead of pursuing career advancement somehow aligns with political extremism reveals more about our society’s work-centric values than about the choices mothers are making.
Don’t Sleep on Normal Part-Time Jobs
For mothers seeking income opportunities that complement rather than compete with their family responsibilities, traditional part-time employment remains a practical option. Working evening shifts at a restaurant two nights a week, for example, can provide meaningful supplemental income while allowing for daytime focus on children and household management. Similarly, supporting a spouse’s career advancement or business growth can be a strategic family decision that increases household income without requiring mothers to divide their attention between home and workplace demands.
MLMs, Network Marketing, etc.: Be Cautious!
The multi-level marketing industry deserves special caution in any discussion of income opportunities for mothers.
Despite their promises of flexibility and community, an FTC analysis of 70 different MLMs found that most participants earned $1,000 or less annually – and that’s before accounting for expenses. In 17 of these companies, participants made no money at all. Beyond the dismal financial prospects, MLMs often create uncomfortable social dynamics by blurring the lines between friendship and sales, ultimately damaging relationships and communities.
In navigating these complex choices, mothers deserve support rather than judgment for prioritizing what works best for their families.
The decision to work outside the home, work from home, or focus exclusively on family care represents a deeply personal calculation that weighs financial needs, career aspirations, childcare options, and family well-being. Rather than prescribing a single path for all mothers, we should recognize the value in creating flexible options that allow families to make choices aligned with their unique circumstances and values.
So moms who want to stay home to raise children: Don’t give up. You are doing vital work! Though it may not seem like valuble work sometimes, your efforts echo in eternity. You are pouring into the things that last, like your family.
That’s it for this week’s (Mostly) Stay-at-Home-Mom. For more episodes, you can find the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also dig into more of my motherhood articles here on By Charmaine’s blog. Thanks for listening!
Sources:
U.S. Department of Labor Blog: “Mothers’ employment has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, but the child care crisis persists.”
Women’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor: “Childcare Prices in Local Areas”
Washington Post: “Mothers are leaving the workforce, erasing pandemic gains”
Federal Trade Commission: FTC staff report analyzes 70 MLM income disclosure statements
Federal Trade Commission: Business Guidance Concerning Multi-Level Marketing