Some call her a homemaker, others a housewife, and still others a stay-at-home mother. But what this title refers to is a woman who stays at home to manage her household and raise her children (whether it’s one or several) until they are grown up and ready to face the world. She is a woman who puts all her labour and efforts to sustain the household to the best of her ability, and yet, her job is often one of the most unrewarding because it does not pay.
In the modern day, the definition of a stay-at-home mother has evolved like everything in the world. Nowadays, she is usually someone who is educated and has the option of working beyond her home if she so chooses. Often, a stay-at-home mother now is also someone who has left a job and a career to be able to care for her children and family. Once her children are grown, she may or may not choose to return to the workforce and resume her career—but this can often be a difficult prospect as a career break of any duration can hinder her growth.
However, in this digital age, stay-at-home mothers have another option that can help them earn money while also looking after the household. A stay-at-home mother can now choose to work from home in a number of capacities. Wondering how to get started with this? Read on to find out.
Job Opportunities For Stay-At-Home Moms
A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Mens Sana Monographs in 2009 explains that mothers who choose to stay-at-home and work from there should also be, technically, considered a working woman—and that she deserves the same respect that working mothers who work away from home do. Given inflation and the higher costs of living, women—even mothers—cannot and should not be bound to the stereotypes held about them. A stay-at-home working mother is just as capable of balancing her home and work life as a full-time working mother.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact that working women at home can indeed balance work and home was proved beyond doubt, and globally so. A 2021 study in the International Social Science Journal explains how the extent and amount of domestic work increased significantly during the pandemic because children were away from school and duties regarding cleanliness, health and hygiene also increased. The study shows that working women staying at home had to perform many more duties, and had to master many more things like effective time management, stress management, keeping children, spouses and families safe and cared for, sustainable management of professional and personal lives.
Given what we have seen and experienced during the pandemic, it’s quite clear that stay-at-home moms can also take up work-from-home and perform all their duties—albeit with sufficient consideration and appreciation from the family for the critical role she plays.
Benefits Of Mothers Working From Home
There are many benefits for a stay-at-home mom to also transition into a mother who works from home. Here are a few you should know about.
• Financial support and freedom: Whether it’s a part-time job or a freelance one, a teaching one or that of a tech professional, these jobs can help you earn money. This can not only help your family become more financially stable, but also provide you with financial freedom—which is not to be undervalued at all. If you are financially free, you will also feel more confident in life and all your endeavours while being totally independent.
• More time with the kids: While a working mother working away from home may be able to spend only a few hours with her children, a stay-at-home mother with stay-at-home jobs definitely gets more time with them. It’s important to note that this time is not unlimited—you have to meet your work targets too after all. Further, you would also save some of the money you might end up spending on childcare.
• More flexible hours: If you have a stay-at-home job, you’re more likely to have greater control over your work schedules. Many moms with stay-at-home jobs choose to work when their kids are away from school, or after they are in bed. Having flexibility over your time is a definite benefit every working mother ca
• No commute involved: Whether you live in a big city or a small one, commuting to and from work can be a hectic thing to do. Instead, if you have a stay-at-home job, you can completely let go of commute as a thing to worry about.
• More control over your life: While working at anything, any job means giving up some amount of control to be able to be a professional, having a stay-at-home job certainly gives one more of this sense of control. Additionally, if you are self-employed and working from home, this gives you even more freedom and control over your life and choices.
How Much Can A Stay-At Home Mom Earn?
Different job profiles have different pay scales and ranges, which means how much you earn as a stay-at-home mom depends on the nature of your work. Some forms of work, like teaching or taking tuitions pay consistently well in countries like India where the need for tutors never ebbs—pandemic or no pandemic. But that’s not the only line of work a stay-at-home mom can pick up.
Thanks to the gig economy, getting side-hustles that pay well are now easier than ever before. Whether you’re a content creator, online nutrition consultant or fitness instructor, or someone with a tech job, you can hope to be well paid if you’re good at your job. More recently, stay-at-home moms have also explored other online opportunities like becoming well-paid influencers on social media.
Top 20 Stay-At-Home Jobs For Moms
There are several jobs that fit the lifestyles and choices of stay-at-home moms. Here are a few you may want to consider.
1. Teaching online: This job avenue has really gained ground since the COVID-19 pandemic started, and there’s a huge demand for online teachers—no matter what your subject—now.
2. Home tutor: This is a booming business in India, especially because most children do have private tutors, especially as the board exam years approach. It’s also a work that will always be in demand.
3. Sell your wares: Whether you make pretty handmade jewellery, customised gift baskets or design and tailor beautiful clothes, everything can be sold online while being produced at home now.
4. Professional caregiver: Believe it or not, child caregivers get paid rather well, especially in big cities. As a mother yourself, this is a good avenue to explore.
5. Social media manager: Handling social media is not that difficult, if you know your way around the platforms, know what’s trending, and understand how to maximise viewership. Since it’s a currently in-vogue profession, chances are you’ll be paid well for your services.
6. Food business: While it’s a stereotype that every woman knows, or must know, how to cook, if you are already a good cook or baker, you can turn your skills into a job that pays really well. From supplying dinners to working professionals to catering for small events, the options are many.
7. Start a blog/vlog: Starting a blog or vlog online can give you a small, comfortable beginning, but if you know how to use social media, you can easily turn this into a full-time stay-at-home profession that pays well—especially if you become an influencer and have brand collabs.
8. Transcribe or translate: In the era of localisation, translators who know English and regional Indian languages can get many work-from-home options to get this time of job. From books to movies, everything is being transcribed and translated these days, so get your finger in that pie.
9. Content writing: We live in a world where content is king (or rather, queen). So, if you have top-notch writing skills, know that you can take up content writing jobs online that pay well.
10. Copy editing: If you are a dab hand at proofreading, then you should know that every content creator needs someone to edit their work. This job can also pay really well.
11. Tech support: If you have an IT degree, providing tech support can be a lucrative stay-at-home job. You can easily troubleshoot technical issues others face online, and the work can really pay well since all workplaces are dependent on tech now.
12. Executive assistant: Did you know that you can be an assistant without leaving your home now. Executive assistants usually have to schedule meetings, book appointments, place orders and book travel and stay tickets—all of which can be done online now.
13. Stylist: If you have an innate sense for styling and love helping other people look their best, this is the job for you. Apart from being trendy, this job also pays really well, especially during the wedding season in India.
14. Accounting: If you have a background in accounting, you should know that most consulting services are now online and can be done easily from home.
15. Event planner: Collaborations and communications are key factors in event planning, and both can be done from home. Whether it’s parties or weddings, this is also a market that will never go out of vogue.
16. Graphic designer: If you have a background in graphic designing, then there are plenty of assignments available online that you can pick up for good pay.
17. Life coach: If you have a background in psychology or any related field, this is another trendy and much-needed job option for you.
18. Search engine evaluator: If you have a background in tech or media fields, this one’s an easy peasy job to pick up as a stay-at-home mom.
19. Boutique owner: If you have the right contacts, you can easily collaborate with local artisans and tailors to set up a boutique that provides curated clothes. With increased focus on sustainability and #vocalforlocal, this area is trendy too.
20. Animal caregiver: If you love having furry friends and have a background in veterinary sciences, you can easily become an animal caregiver while at home. Even if you don’t have the latter, you could walk, bathe and care for pets.
How To Choose The Right Job For Moms
There are, as shown above, many job options a stay-at-home mom can take up. But which one is the right fit for you? To know that, you must ask yourself these important things.
• Research the job avenue. If you want to start your own venture, know the risk you have to take and the pros or cons it involves. If you’re applying to a company, find out if they have a good track record with freelancers and stay-at-home employees.
• Look for flexibility. Are the deadlines being set as per a nine-to-five setup? If yes, the job won’t be much different from those where you have to commute to office.
• Always ask your clients or company for references. While you have your deliverables, they too should be trustworthy, especially when you aren’t working out of the same physical space.
Tips For Mothers Starting New Jobs From Home
The following are some tips for moms starting new stay-at-home jobs:
• Involve your family before starting out. You are going to be using a shared space for your employment, and they should know the pros and cons of this life too.
• Be patient. When you’re starting out as a freelancer or entrepreneur, getting systems of work in place and balancing your home can be tough. Just give it time and effort instead of looking for instant success.
• Understand common pitfalls. Ask any influencer or freelancer, and you’ll know that delayed payments and broken promises can happen a lot with a stay-at-home or freelance job.
• Build a network. While you may not have an office environment, you can work on building an online network that is dependable through platforms like Her Circle.
• Never share details you don’t have to by law. This can help you maintain the privacy of your home, even as you work from there every day.
Conclusion
In this day and age, when stereotypical notions of who a stay-at-home mom is are quickly, and thankfully, going out of vogue, thinking about taking up a work-from-home job is a great decision. Not only will it give you a sense of self-worth and esteem, but also provide financial freedom and stability. You can always start out small in a venture like this, and yet maintain your life at home with your children properly. To know more about jobs and career opportunities for women, head to our Grow section.