I know that there are tons of discussions and posts about the benefits of a working mom, or the benefits of a stay at home mom out there. I’d just like to take a few minutes and tell you what I feel like is going on in our household. After moving back from Arizona last year, I finally found a job that was great. But after 6 months I was laid off, and left without a job right before Christmas. I had been crafting on the side for a few years now and decided, well, I’m gonna get unemployment for awhile, so why not PUSH sales to my Etsy Shop. This started to grow and grow, and I decided that it was finally time to purchase the cutting machine that I knew would help me be successful at home too. Since I already had a Brother PE-770 Embroidery Machine, I purchased a Silhouette Cameo and never looked back again! 
It has been a constant flow of sales from then on. I finally registered as a business, have a Sales Tax ID # and buy things wholesale. But deep down I still want to work out of the home. I want to meet new friends, I don’t want to sit in my craft room all day and I want to find other mommies that like to do the same stuff as I do. My youngest was pulled out of daycare when I was laid off, simply because we couldn’t afford it at the time. But as time is wearing on, I’m thinking about sending him to 2-3 day part time preschool just for him to be able to interact with more kids and get him out of the house when I’m crafting. He gets so bored, but I can’t really do much if I’m “working” at home too.
This is my struggle. I went to school, got my Bachelors and I know that I’m using it with my own business, but it’s scary having your own business. Your at the mercy of other people wanting or needing your products! Just like last year in November, I did a craft show and I didn’t make anything. But here on Etsy, I can sell like crazy. I guess people want certain things at craft shows and I wasn’t what they were interested in. But now I’m wanting to do more this year, just to get my name out there again in the local areas.
And then there is blogging. I’d love to be a successful blogger. I see so many mommies that blog about their daily lives, their DIY projects, they get sponsors to help them do giveaways and I am like, I can do that! I can write, post about DIY stuff and talk about my Etsy Shop too! And then I see all these conferences that I’d love to go to. One in particular is the Snap!Conference next year in April. After hearing about it a couple years ago, I just want to go! I think I’d learn so much stuff, but then again, it’s spending money on admission, plane ticket, and hotel, and what if???
For right now I guess I am content, working from home, doing things around the house to save on money, help us out in the long run, and maybe in a year when my youngest is ready for Kindergarten, things will change? But then again, maybe not? 😉