I've always loved being an at-home mom. Even though some of the days were long and tedious when the children were very young and we had no money to speak of, I always loved being there. Over the years, as the two grew up and my time became more my own, I used that time to make everything better: I painted the house, learned to really cook, and developed my own interest in writing. I was even lucky enough to go back to school and get my master's when the kids hit junior high.

Sometimes I feel self-conscious about still being home as much as I am, even though my daughter is now in college and my son is a junior in high school. Most of my SAHM friends have returned to work, and those that never interrupted their careers are now at the top of their game. About a year ago - after my son got his driver's license and a cute new girlfriend - I began to see that the empty nest would need a lot less nurturing on my part. And losing friends to the outside work world meant that life was getting a tad lonely, too. Still, that nest remained a big part of my identity. 

Some pithy advice I saw in a cartoon several years ago reminded me that I had options. "If you want to start at the top of your profession, invent your own profession," it said. So I pulled together all of my skills and experiences, and - after taking a very deep breath - that's just what I did! Now I manufacture a day planner for women and give lectures on time management. My core message is this: Spend every day doing what you deeply, authentically love to do. 

Since being at home is still something I love, I feel like I have the best of both worlds now: A real challenge working to make a success of my business in the outside world, as well as enough time in the more interior world of the home. Like any mom balancing work (and I include all volunteer work in this!) and home, some days there isn't enough time or energy to do justice to both. But there's a lot of fun and challenge in the chase.