I have had some fun in the work world. And I have had a couple of really good jobs I enjoyed that challenged me and supported me. But there was always something stirring.  I always did a little more than the next guy and I never really felt I was being appreciated for all that I did. The over and above. The sacrifice.  As if merely  acknowledging my work would increase payroll or make me feel too comfortable. You know?

I did some consulting, temping, and billing from home that was crazy successful. I can’t wait to get to that level of freelance income. But it takes time and patience.

The consulting, temping, and billing was great but it was more demanding in that my phone rang a lot, I was on location a lot, and there was always missing information when it came to the billing, which led to power struggles within the office.  When I became a Mom and had kids in the house the phone calls, the on location and struggle for information caused friction in the house. So that had to go.

I stumbled upon freelance writing. Why am I working so hard to build a constant pool of assignments and make this work?  I love it. Writing is my favorite thing to do in the whole world, for one thing.  I tried direct sales which I actually enjoy too. I feel if you like a product and believe in it you become a natural sales person. But with the way the kids suddenly impacted our income, and my sudden loss of income… I couldn’t make the money work.

Home businesses require up front investments and costs. I don’t use credit cards and kept finding myself short of cash. My printer was always running out of toner. I wanted one of those little receipt printers, like the epson tm-t88iv. It was finally my need for a credit card machine for potential long distant customers that made me stop and decide if I was doing what I wanted.

I wasn’t. So when I found there were ways to make money writing content online, I was thrilled. No up front costs, no inventory, no customers. Also no interviews, no commutes, and no pants if I so choose.

There are so many opportunities available to make money that don’t involve sitting in a cube or going door to door. It is up to you to find the right one for you.

My Sari is having trouble at school again. She’s 10, she’s ahead of the curve in so many ways that I forget how young she and innocent she really is.  And that she still needs many hugs.

She dropped a “b” bomb at school a couple weeks ago. “Kaylie is a bitch.”  That’s what she said to another girl. It got back to Kaylie who really IS a bitch, who reported it to the teacher. Not a big deal was made out of it because Kaylie and Sari have been at each other since 1st grade.  But that week my angel Sari used the “b word” again.  This time to no one in particular, using her Nintendo dsi, broadcast out too everyone within range on the way to a field trip. One day suspension she got from that.

Troubles have continued since then with Kaylie stealing away Sari’s best friend. Then stealing away the next friend that Sari started hanging out with.  Now she roams the black top alone at recess, is black balled at the lunch table, and excuses herself to the bathroom to weep a little bit so no one sees how sad she is that she suddenly has no bff or the possibility of getting one because as soon as she does, the mean girls will steal her away.

Oh boy! So we went out for some girl time this weekend. Dinner, shopping, book store and chit chat.  I left her in the kids area for a bit while I looked in the gift area  at a digital frame to showcase my family.  I perused PHILOSOPHY, WOMEN’S INTERESTS, LITERATURE, and HEALTH.  When my kids are not “thriving” I feel like I am failing somewhere. Like I’m not smart enough. Not taking things seriously enough. Not focusing enough on my family. Nothing felt right.  But then Sari came running to where I stood with Ayn Rand in one hand and Nanny Jo in the other.  She said so excitedly, “I found just what you’re looking for Ma!”

I looked at what she was holding up and nodded. Yep, she was right. I realized how in tune my daughter and I are and that we are all going to be okay. We walked hand in hand to the counter to pay for our books. She – Allie Finkle and Pokemon, I – the John Mayer issue of Rolling Stone.