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‘Mompreneurs’ – Inspiring moms who ditched the traditional 9 to 5 to spend more time with the kids

In this economy times are tough and women have to fill the role of both employee and mother to see that their children have the best life possible. But with daycare being so expensive, and time away from the kids being so hard, more and more moms are finding their own way to make income while not sacrificing time away from home.

Gone are the days of the housewife or full-time mom.

In this economy times are tough and women have to fill the role of both employee and mother to see that their children have the best life possible. But with daycare being so expensive, and time away from the kids being so hard, more and more moms are finding their own way to make income while not sacrificing time away from home.

Here’s a few local moms who decided to take that leap of faith and left the corporate world for a more flexible and fulfilling life.

Samantha Gill – Freelance writer/social media strategist 

Samantha Gill is the wife of a teacher and a mom to two adorable children. She is a blogger (www.kinandkindling.com), a social media strategist, and the owner of her own freelance company where she helps clients market their brand. She’s proud to say her freelance company is now a full-time gig where she gets to do what she loves and stay home with her children, but it wasn’t an easy road. She was once working full-time for an advertising company where she spent five days a week in the office. She wasn’t giving her full attention to her family because she felt trapped in a 9 to 5 schedule and she didn’t feel fulfilled in her career either. So, she decided to make a change. She sat down with her husband and crunched numbers until they could figure out exactly what they needed to make ends meet. She worked part-time for a retail store and even answered phones at a real estate agency. Although these positions weren’t exactly exciting, they were helping her reach her goal. When she was home she focused on her freelance business, and in time, her clients started to pick up until she no longer needed a part-time job. Gill never has to miss a moment of watching her beautiful babies grow and she’s happier than ever before.

Bonnie Nadler – Uber driver 

Bonnie Nadler is a stay-at-home mom. She has a 10-year-old, a 1-year-old, and stepchildren who she says are her world. After she had her daughter last year, she went through horrible postpartum and couldn’t go back to working at Walmart where she worked for 17 years, so she decided to make a change. Her blessing, she says, was when Uber came to town. She is now an Uber/Lyft driver and she absolutely loves it! She says she can work when she wants for how long she wants and has the potential to make great money. She loves meeting new people and having adult conversations after being home with the kids all day so this job, with a flexible schedule, was the perfect fit. She says being in the retail business for so many years really took a toll on her, so being a driver for Uber/Lyft has helped her find her love for people again!

Michelle Helles – Caregiver 

Michelle Helles made the choice to leave her career in sales when her son was 16-months-old and her daughter was on the way. She didn’t have much of a plan but knew she had to find something that allowed her to spend more time with the kids. She became a part-time caregiver for two seniors and hasn’t looked back since. One woman she cares for is limited physically and the other struggles with Alzheimer’s. She says the work is very rewarding and the shifts are short. She’s able to spend plenty of time with her little ones and still collect a paycheck. She says her paycheck is small compared to the “pre-kids” paycheck but she’s gained the gift of time. “I would make the same choice a hundred times over. I am finally the thing I wanted to be when I grow up – a stay-at-home mommy! Not terribly ambitious but incredibly meaningful to me.”

Amanda Glenn Thorp – Rodan + Fields Consultant

Amanda Glenn Thorp ditched the corporate world just six weeks ago! She, too, wanted more freedom and time to spend with the kids. She says what helped her take that leap of faith was believing that if she got knocked down, she could get back again. She also believes in her company, Rodan + Fields, and says she has a very supportive husband. “I have two children and I didn’t want to give them lip service. I wanted to actually show them that they can do whatever they put their minds to.” She also offered this professional tip: “Don’t wear yoga pants while working at home, they expand with you,” she joked.

If you know an inspiring woman who deserves to be featured, email us at sweetbuffalo716@aol.com  

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