As I anxiously await the arrival of my 3^rd daughter, I am beginning to recall the time when I first considered becoming a WAHM. The desire was very real, but I had no idea where to find legitimate work that I could do from home. Part of me was so torn because I loved my job in the hospitality field and  being around people, but I had no idea how much my heart would ache when I found myself spending far more time at work than at home with my first born and second daughter. The experience of becoming a mother after being a working woman outside of the home can be very different for each individual. While most women are sure to take advantage of their company’s maternity leave policy, some find themselves anxious to get back to their work place while others begin to dread the thought. That little bundle of joy can be difficult to leave behind, even for a few hours a day. If you find yourself struggling to get out the door with your brief case instead of baby in hand, you may want to consider permanently extending your maternity leave.

Are You a Working Mom or a WAHM at Heart                          

You’re sure to miss your baby when you are away at work, but will you be able to cope? Either way? You’re baby is a good thing, but will you feel you’re getting too much of a good thing if you decide to stay home with her? Here are some signs you may want to continue working outside the home and some signs you may be better off as a WAHM.

Signs you may be a work outside the home mama all the way:

– You love and are dedicated to your job and it isn’t something you could do from home

– Much of your self-worth comes from your job (pats on the back from employers and coworkers, helping the company advance, receiving raises and promotions in position)

– You couldn’t imagine cutting out so much of your adult one on one time

– You thrive working face to face with others

– You aren’t very self disciplined and thrive in an environment where the schedule and objectives are laid out for you and you’ve got someone pushing and directing your work day

– You have childcare options that you feel comfortable with and you’re confident both you and baby will be just fine throughout your work day

Signs you’ve got WAHM potential:

– You love your job, but you truly feel your baby needs you more than your boss does

– You love your job and it is flexible enough to allow you to work from home for the company

– You already have ideas you’d like to try out that would allow you to stay home with baby and have an income

– You don’t mind the idea of losing out on daily face to face interaction with adults other than your hubby

– You are self driven and disciplined, you work well –if not better- on your own

– You dread the thought of leaving your baby in someone else’s care, especially if you have no relatives to watch her while you work

Which category’s signs sound most like you? Sometimes you’ll find your feelings and needs change over time; it is rather difficult to determine whether or not you will truly desire to go back to work or work from home before your baby is actually in your home and arms. So, enjoy your maternity leave and seriously contemplate what will be best for both you and your baby. A happy mom makes for a happy baby. If you conclude that you want to give the WAHM life a go, let your boss know as soon as possible so the company can make arrangements to either replace you…or if possible and desired, to accommodate you working from home!

In my next posts, I’ll share the best WAHM jobs for new moms/mothers of newborns and tips for staying productive while working from home with a newborn!