Most work at home moms choose to conduct business from home because of the freedom they receive in regards to their family. They can successfully (most of the time) eliminate the costs of child care and still provide a supplemental income for their home. However, what happens when the kids are too distracting and/or needy? Child care isn’t something that most WAHMs think is possible, but is it something you should be considering?
The most obvious benefit of sending your kiddo to daycare is the amount of time it will free up in your day. Many moms are able to get tons of work done in just the 3-4 hours their children are away. And this time isn’t just for work either.
With this free time you can also get errands and household chores completed as well. So, even if you do not currently work from home, you can still knock out a lot of your to-do list if you are able to be alone and productive for just a few hours a week.
Of course, there are some considerations that you should make before deciding if child care is right for your family – the primary one being cost. Most families cannot justify the price of having someone else supervise their young children, but if it allowed you to earn even more money while also giving you some time for yourself or the home, would it be worth it?
Something else to think about is how it will affect the child. Unless you plan to homeschool, your kids will eventually have to leave home to attend school. For some kids, day care is a great preliminary option prior to regular school…this is especially true for only children. It can help them further their social skills as well as learn important aspects of life, such as cooperation, sharing, and patience, in a more relaxed setting. So, considering child care as a WAHM may not just be beneficial for the mom here.
All in all, the consideration of child care while you work is something that will be dependent on your family’s situation. If you can afford it, I would recommend it. We plan to enroll our son in a preschool or some sort by the time he is three, primarily for the social aspects. However, it will also give me much more time in the day to get things done so I’m not so much of a 3rd shift worker!
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Thanks for weighing out all the options. I do a lot of work from home and sometimes I feel like I can’t get it all done when the kiddos need a drink every few minutes.
I agree, it can be difficult. I try to only work when my son is napping or my husband is home, but sometimes I have deadlines to meet…and that is usually when my son isn’t interested in any of his toys!
Thanks for this! We tried our three year old in daycare and it was great for a month, just two days a week, a few hours a day….but he went through a separation anxiety phase so he’s been home with me and it’s been hard! I think we’ll try again in the fall….maybe.
Thanks!
Hopefully it works out better in the fall. I hope we can find a quality daycare around here when we are ready to try putting Sawyer in one.
I would suggest child care consideration on a case by case basis. If you have a friend or family member who is willing to do it part time, it might be a good fit. However, if you have to choose a day care, it should fit your budget and be worthwhile. Thanks for the post!
I completely agree, Deanna! Family and friends would be much more affordable!
thanks for the post – very informative
I was just thinking about this the other day. While I don’t think I’d send my children to daycare–we homeschool and my kids are getting too old for daycare–I would love to be able to have part time help. Maybe someone to come in on the mornings and take them to the park, help them with handwriting lessons, etc.
That would be a great idea! I think we are going to try homeschooling, but I do worry about the social aspect. We still have a few years to think about all that though.
I work outside the home and am the primary breadwinner for the family so I may not be right in speaking up, but I believe that children need socialization outside the home regardless of home schooling, WAHM/WAHD, or otherwise. Unless you are working at home only during the times when the children are napping or during their study time, then you are finding ways to distract them while you work. This may be an educational TV show or educational toys or it could be just free play time or TV time. Why wouldn’t you bless your children with some quality interaction with the outside world and the opportunity to attend a daycare where they could be learning some additional skills?
Also – and even more important – you need Mommy Time, real Mommy Time!! I get to leave my house every day for 6-8 hours and interact with adults and not hear “mommy” or “why” or “no” all day long (well, I work in a CPS office so I hear those things, but not from my child). Whether you are taking your children to daycare so you can get some work done (to make more money to better provide for your family!!) or whether you just need a break, do it!! And don’t be ashamed or embarrassed or guilty!!
Janet, I love you! Seriously, it’s like you are in my head lol…I have bought this same point up to my husband when we talk about the putting Sawyer in day care when he’s a little older. It would be good for him socially…and yes, it could sometimes give me some “ME” time as well!
My son attends a preschool program two days per week, while I’m working on various things at home. In total, I get about 10 hours per week to work uninterrupted – less if you count how many times my husband interrupts (he works from home, too!).
It’s been wonderful for his development to be in school. I could never teach him the things that he’s learning there, and I am so thankful that we’re able to afford a quality preschool program for him.
That’s what I hope to do for Sawyer…just something part time two to three days per week. I do want to make sure it’s a preschool with a good curriculum, so I know that I am paying for education and not just a babysitter.
Thank you for the informative post. It is hard figuring out what to do with child care. I am struggling now with this. BTW, great new design!
Yeah, it’s hard for me to do it right now…but I think it will be easier once Sawyer is a little older. We are thinking within the next 6-8 months. And thank you, I really like it!
Thanks for the great post! I have been a WAHM and struggled to balance the amount of work I could accomplish and the time I needed and wanted to spend with my son. It can definitely be tough!
Yes, it is SO hard to find a balance between work and family. I actually wrote a post about that recently too!
Definitely hard to find the balance between kids and work- I try to do the best for our family despite the loads of advice. I don’t think anyone can argue that you do getmore done without distraction though.