The Stay at Home Mother

As we welcome 2009, we have been bombarded with news about how bad the US has become with their financial crisis.

People have lost their jobs, their homes and are financially bankrupt.

Here in BC, it is predicted that 40,000 jobs could be lost this year.

It is a sobering reality that in Canada we are also headed for a possible disaster....

So what is Canada doing?

The Canadian government has agreed to bail out the auto industry to the tune of 4 Billion dollars. To put that in perspective - 4 Billion dollars would be like giving each person in Canada One Million dollars each. That's how much money that is. Don't you think that kind of money would be better suited to hard working Canadians than the auto industry?

Why are we rewarding failure?

The rest of us have to pay when we make mistakes - we lose things very dear to us because of poor financial decisions - I don't know how many of us could personally go to the government and ask for a handout because we invested in the wrong stock, or made a really bad real estate deal.

As a stay at home mom, I am worried.

I have been writing this blog for three years now, and I am worried that despite many women who want to be at home with their children - that this kind of recession will make it even farther from reality in their minds.

It will make it appear impossible now.

We are all feeling the pinch in areas such as rising gas prices, clothing, groceries while trying to take care of our families and home.

I still believe where there is a will there is a way - but sometimes the way is so much harder - and that's why its the path less travelled.

But I can tell you that these past three and a half years that I have been at home with my children have been the most rewarding and wonderful years of my life.

I refuse to give in to the fear. Women are resilient - we are adapters and we can over come challenges like this (which is why we are entering the entrepreneurial arena at a pace of 3:1 to men).

So what are we to do?

Stay strong. Believe in what you are doing and find ways to continue your journey to be at home with your children. If being there for them is what you want to do - don't let anyone (including the naysayers of the financial markets) tell you any differently. It may be tougher now - but its not impossible.

And if you are trying to find a way to have a home-based business and bring in that extra income - keep your eye on the ball. It may not happen over night, but it will happen and can become a reality if you stay true to it. I promise you.

I am still teaching a class at Small Business BC each month - "The Entrepreneurial Mom - starting a home-based business" - www.smallbusinessbc.ca and there are lots of support groups out there like Enterprising Moms Network.

Let 2009 be the year that you make the impossible - possible.

You Can Do It!