I'm Trendy! I'm Tired!

Once again, I have found myself teetering on the cutting edge with absolutely no idea how I got there. At some point, while I was chugging coffee, staring bleary-eyed at the computer, and praying that my little angel's naptime would last just ten heavenly minutes longer, working at home became the next big thing. In short, "momprenuers" are totally hot!

Who knew? Well, Hybrid Mom, for one; momprenuers have been covered here for quite some time. But, finally, other publications are starting to catch on, as well. For example, not too long ago, a US News and World Report cover article announced that the new "mommy track" leads right to working from home. And, according to Linda Shapiro, co-founder of the publishing company of Hybrid Mom magazine, two-thirds of stay-at-home moms start their own businesses ("The New Mommy Track." US News and World Report. September 3, 2007).

Thinking about jumping on the work at home bandwagon? Great! But, don't go in wearing rose colored glasses, stylish though they may be. The life of a momprenuer is not for the faint of heart. You must be prepared to: 

• Drag your tired, beleaguered self out of bed at an ungoldly hour in the vain hope of working for a while in peace.
• Have nine out ten productive trains of thought derailed by a screech of "Mama! Come here!"
• Realize (too late!) that you've inadvertently addressed an important batch of documents to Dora the Explorer. Swiper, no swiping!
• Find that every piece of typing paper in your home office has been stolen for rainbow drawings, paper airplanes, and yesterday afternoon's game of "post office."
• Explode the occasional Kid Cuisine meal in the microwave while desperately trying to finish up your email.

And, of course, there's more, so much more, but who has time to tell the whole story? Not me, that's for sure. Naptime is over for the day at my house, and I hear the pitter patter of disruptive little feet. But, before I'm dragged away to fetch juice or play Candyland, let me just say that if you've got a momprenuer dream, then go for it! After all, you're already kicking ass at the hardest job in the world! But, you just might want to keep those spiffy rose colored glasses handy after all. You're going to need them to hide the bags under your eyes!

Kelli Simpson is a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom from Norman, Oklahoma. Her better know alter ego, Mama Zen, blogs at www.thezenofmotherhood.blogspot.com.

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