A year ago, Gary Sampson would rise at dawn and head for his job as an information technology project manager.  Not anymore.  Sampson, 37, was laid off last year and is among the growing ranks of unemployed fathers. Since the recession began in December 2007, the U.S. has lost 3.6 million jobs. The recession has hit all sectors, but men are disproportionately affected, at least for now. While women are nearly half the labor force, twice as many men filed for unemployment last year as women.

Women across the country are taking charge of their work and their families’ livelihoods.  More women are feeling pressure to return to work, whether because their husbands lost their jobs, or they're trying to help out with a mortgage payment that recently adjusted to a higher rate or to make up for the huge losses in their 401k.  Rising prices can be a factor on family bank accounts and job situations can turn in an instant. For many women, their current or new job may be what keeps their families financially afloat.

Some women return to work so their husbands can retool their job skills.  “I am a working mom, and my husband is a stay-at-home dad and student, furiously trying to finish his education. It's a situation that we looked at from all angles, and something that will work for us at this time,” explains Karen Barton, an executive coach.

Rebecca King adds, “I stopped working as an attorney over six years ago when my daughter was born. Now my husband's job is in jeopardy, and I'm ramping up my efforts to find a legal job.”

New Opportunities
So what are the drawbacks?  Harvard Business Review says the average mom loses 37% of her earning power, if she takes off three or more years. Susan Lee was one of those moms.  “I was so disillusioned with the experiences I'd had with companies and had so little confidence that I could find something that would work for me and my family that I decided to start my own consulting practice.”

What many women find surprising is that it is quite possible to make as much or more money working at home than they did in an office.  In fact, the average annual income of a person running a home office was more than $65,000 per year. This is more than twice as much as the average U. S. household income derived from working for employers. "There really is good news in the small business arena," says Tina. "I’m building a successful business doing something I love to help others succeed. I believe that anyone can succeed no matter what the economy if they have passion for what they’re doing."

“I started my business in February of this year as a result of the economy,” says Dawn Martinello of Monday Morning VA.  “My son, who just turned two, was the reason I didn't return to my career after my maternity leave.  My husband was laid-off on and off after that which led me to starting my new business.  I chose an at-home internet-based business so that even if my husband is only working sporadically, we don't have to worry about childcare.”

HireMyMom.com, based in Spring, TX, is a website aimed at connecting talented mom professionals with businesses looking to outsource temporary and permanent projects and jobs to home-based professionals. HireMyMom.com enables professional women to market their skills, experience and education to these businesses needing reliable, motivated, cost-friendly help.


Appreciation and Support
Although it may not be mom’s dream or desire to return to work, sometimes our circumstances dictate what needs to be done. If mom is the one who has or finds employment, it may be what is best for the family at this particular time. One positive that may come out of it is that each spouse may get a chance to really appreciate the role of the other. Dad may soon view mom’s role at home as much more tiring and demanding than he previously realized. The same is true for moms returning to a job outside the home and seeing how hard their spouses work to provide for their family. Both working outside the home and being a stay-at-home parent are demanding jobs and likely to be more appreciated after a role swap.

“It has definitely been an eye-opening experience for both of us, and I think it has made a positive impact on our marriage. We are both enjoying the experiences we are having in our respective positions,” Barton continues. 

Growing numbers of moms are finding the ideal solution for them is working from home and finding it extremely rewarding, both personally and professionally.  While some may fear becoming isolated by working at home, there is more support than ever for mother business owners both online and offline.

Spring, TX based HBWM.com (Home-Based Working Moms) is an online community of moms who work at home and those who would like to. The website features interactive profiles allowing members to post their profile and business information for free. In addition, they can learn from other moms what has worked and what has not in regards to types of businesses, marketing approaches and even parenting challenges.

The economy and the need for a bit more financial security may be the catalyst that some moms need to start a home business. Bottom line is there may be no better time than now to take the plunge.

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