Sometimes when people are contemplating working from home they wonder if they’ll get lonely. In my experience, I’ve never really had time to get lonely. Since I’m homeschooling I have the kids with me all day. My husband works during the weekends so he’s around during the week. And then I have my clients that I talk to on the telephone frequently. No, loneliness rarely comes up .
Now if you want to now if I sometimes wish to listen to music that isn’t the theme song of Zooboomafu or Sitting Ducks my answer would have to be “Oh Yeah!” And how about not being interrupted when I’m working with requests to dress dolls or have a wrestling match in the living room would also be nice some days. But overall, I am content with my life and my connections outside the home.
But for WAHMs that may have children in school and their husbands working throughout the week, being lonely can become a real issue if you let it. Being a work-at-home mom doesn’t mean that you have to be isolated. It doesn’t mean being reduced to a gibbering crazy woman who sings “Dora the Explorer” when she answers the phone. (Okay, I do answer the phone “House of Mouse” from time to time, but I digress …) Setting up lunch dates with friends or clients is one way to make sure that don’t get too out of touch with the outside world.
But if you don’t feel like stepping outside of the house every time you need a “mommy break”, the internet has made it possible to connect with people anytime you feel the need. You’ll have to do research to find the groups that suit your needs, but here are a few of my favorite networks to tap into when I’m starting to feel myself sliding too deeply into the world of Pokemon and Sailor Moon:
- Who’s That WAHM? (http://whosthatwahm.com): Who’s That WAHM is the brainchild of Darlene ‘Dee’ Bishop, writer, Christian minister and home-based business owner. It was begun as a means for work-at-home moms (WAHMs) to learn more about each other so they can support each other in their business efforts.
- Moms United In Business (http://www.momsunitedinbusiness.com): Moms United in Business is a private networking organization open to work at home moms and ALL women in business. This organization is for women only, and is not a spam and advertising network. We do offer various avenues to promote your business, however, we have a zero tolerance for spam policy. We aim to provide a safe networking environment, offering both personal and professional support to each and every member.
- Workspace The Home Business Network (http://workspace.liveops.com): Start growing your home business by connecting to our forums, blogs, groups and get your personalized homepage. This group has support groups such as Men@Home, At Home Agents, Working Moms and Graveyard Shift Workers to name a few.
- Future Executives (http://futureexecutives.org/): This group is for people who want to help young people to learn about the business world, as well as providing a place for entrepreneurs to meet and support each other.
- National Association of Entrepreneur Moms (www.NAOEM.com): Our mission is to EMPOWER, EDUCATE and ENLIGHTE women to achieve their full potential in all areas of their life, so they can create a ilfe they love, build a thriving home-based business that enables them to do work they’re passionate about, contribute financially to their family and be home with their children.
- The Homeschool Lounge (http://www.thehomeschoollounge.com): The Homeschool Lounge is one of my favorite places to interact. There are many groups dedicated to working from home, entrepreneurial moms and a whole lot more. A definite place to visit and make new friends who totally understand your goals.
- Mission Mommy (http://www.mission-mommy.com) Great resources for work at home moms or moms who want to start their own business at home in the WAHM community.
So what are some of your favorite internet hangouts?
photo credit: Marc_Smith
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