Life… and a Little About Marketing

Balancing work with an already busy life may sound like it requires a higher level of consciousness, but it’s possible to attain the perfect balance between your dream career and your life.

Finding Flexibility in Work You Love
You can probably already think of a few jobs that might work well with your life. Daycare jobs have obvious benefits for employees with young children, and working in a school could set your schedule to match summer break and after-school care. But if the idea of daycare work gives you diaper rash, and teaching full-time sounds about as relaxing as bathing a four-year-old, don’t settle for work that works only because of your family.
Make a list of your dream jobs. Don’t limit yourself to careers that you think will fit your schedule or current level of training, and give yourself broad career categories, like “teaching” or “healthcare”.
From there, use career training and education Web sites to research various aspects of each field. You may not have the time or training for a full-time teaching job, for example, but the lower time commitment of substitute teaching could be a happy compromise.
If you’re not sure about entering into an entirely new career, try for entry-level positions that give you a feel for the work and knowledge required. From there, take an online course to match up your training with your career goals. If you enjoyed your old career but want more responsibility, updating your education can broaden your options.
Three Top Jobs for Working Moms
A number of exciting, challenging careers are available for working moms (and dads) with childcare needs and scheduling conflicts. Check out these top jobs recommended for anyone returning to work:

Fashion, Interior, and Graphic Design
Work for yourself in a career that allows your personal creative expression to shine through.
Get This Job: Freelance designer
Work It: Train yourself to freelance in graphic design, fashion design, or interior design. Bring in business through word-of-mouth recommendations. Freelance designers work with individual contracts, meaning that you’re only as busy as you want to be.
Make It: Self-employed freelance graphic designers reported average earnings of $60,000 in 2004. Elements like training, advertisement, and your local market demand will greatly influence your own earnings.

Physical/Massage Therapy
Help restore movement and reduce pain in people suffering from an injury or disease.
Get This Job: Physical therapist aide, massage therapist
Work It: While physical therapists and their assistants careers require training, try working as a physical therapist aide first–a job that typically only requires some on-the-job training. Additionally, a third of physical therapist aides work part-time, allowing for a flexible schedule. Massage therapy requires completion of a certification program. Massage therapists typically work 15 to 30 hours a week.
Make It: Physical therapist aides made about $21,380 in 2004, and job prospects are expected to grow much faster than average through 2014. In 2004, massage therapists earned an average of $15.36 an hour.

Home Business
The years when your child needs you at home may be the perfect time to get a home business off the ground.
Get This Job: Small business manager
Work It: The daunting task of running a small business can be made easier with education. Training in business/management fields can give you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.
Make It: Look for groups like the U.S. Small Business Administration to offer special mentorship programs for women starting or growing a business.
Towards a Guilt-Free Sick Day
Once you find a job you love with benefits that fit your life, don’t be afraid to enjoy it. A recent study published in Personnel Today found that about half of the respondents said their employers allowed them to take a career break for family reasons, but fewer than 10% actually used the time they were given.

Moms returning to the workforce often need to update their skills or gain new skills through education. Find a career that allows you to combine a challenging day at work with your family’s needs, and you’ll be more likely to enjoy your time–both on the job, and off.

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About the Author
Amelia Gray is a teacher and freelance writer in San Marcos, TX. Amelia earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from Arizona State University.