The Mom Ramp, Part 3: Taking Charge

Posted by Charlene Prince Birkeland

Editor's Note: A few months ago my friend, fellow blogger and working mom, HipMamaB, quit her corporate gig. A job loved and worked her tail off to climb the corporate ladder. She jumped into the world of being a stay-at-home mom, while the wheels of work still turned in her head. And I instanly knew that hers was a story that should be told. It's a challenge and dilemma that so very many working moms face, day in and day out -- the inevitable question: "What should I do with my life?" HipMamaB's first post was about her immediate jump from being a working mom to a stay-at-home mom. In part two, she tells of her first days as a stay-at-home mom.

This week, she shares the third and final installment of her story about The Mom Ramp. In "Taking Charge," you'll find out what happened when HipMamaB decided to make more changes in her life as she ventures out and starts her own consulting business.

A huge thank you to HipMamaB for giving us a real slice of the tough decisions and challenges she faced on The Mom Ramp.

Taking Charge

While I was working out of the house, I felt rushed and hurried like I had no time for myself. Yet all of a sudden I was home all day – with absolutely no time to myself. While it’s such a mom cliché, I realized that I didn’t even have five minutes to go to the bathroom. At work, I took more time for myself because I felt I needed to keep sane; now that I’m working from home I feel as if I “have” that extra time during the day, so I don’t take it “after hours” as much anymore. 

When I left the traditional workforce, my main fears were that I would be lonely and that I wouldn’t grow or excel professionally. But the opposite has really been true. Working for myself has forced me to open up and expand in ways that I never had before, and may not have in my previous position. And as far as the social aspect goes, I’ve learned to relish days where I actually have an hour or two for myself.

A few days ago I was back, dressed in my suit and heels walking downtown to a meeting with a client and for a moment I felt a twinge. I suddenly remembered what it was like to be a professional, smart, put- together person. I found myself almost missing it and even let myself think about the possibilities -- jobs I could get, directions I could go in.

After my successful meeting with my client, I found myself thinking more about going back to dedicating myself full-time to a corporate job. And I kept wondering, why? Why would I want to do that again when I was finally achieving something on my own?

The answer is actually pretty simple: comfort. While one may feel tied down in a corporate job, there is comfort in that restraint. When you are freelancing or contracting there is no stability. It's just you ...letting it all hang out for the world to see...waiting for some validation.

It can be daunting. It can be horrifying. And you wrestle with those feelings each and every day. Then one morning you find yourself cuddling with your little one at 8:00 am and checking your email while still in your slippers, and you realize just how wonderful the feeling of being in control of your own destiny can really be.

You can also read more of Beth's writing at her personal blog, LaLaLaLand.

Previous Installments of The Mom Ramp...

The Mom Ramp, Part 1: From Working Mom to Stay-at-Home Mom, Part One

The Mom Ramp, Part 2: The New Stay-at-Home Mom