If you’ve spent any time at all on the Internet lately, you might have come to realize that more and more women seem to be staying home with their kids. In fact, according to Pew Research Center, 29 percent of mothers are now staying home, a trend that appears to be on the rise.

But not all those women are abstaining from work completely. In fact, plenty are finding ways to work from home—seemingly “having it all” by managing a career and taking care of their kids at the same time.

Some have taken on multi-level marketing jobs, some are providing consultations in their former industries, and some have found work as freelancers in creative fields like writing or photography.

Perhaps you’ve found yourself considering making that same leap, daydreaming about being able to spend more time with your kids and still pursue a career you’re passionate about. If you’re thinking you might like to be a work from home mom, here are some tips for getting started:

• Arrange at Least Part Time Care: Yes, the whole point is to spend more time with your kids, but if you want to work full time, you’re going to need at least part time help. Consider hiring a high school student to come to your house after school every day to help your kids with their homework while you get a few hours of work in. Or talk to local daycares about the possibility of utilizing their services just one or two days a week. You’ll still get more time with your kids, but you’ll also be able to find time for work and sleep.
• Live and Breathe by a Schedule: Working from home will mean that a lot of your stay at home mom friends will want to get together for play dates and lunches. You should absolutely take them up on that, but only if it won’t interfere with your work. Working from home, especially while taking care of kids, requires you to be pretty regimented with your schedule. So schedule in time for social activities, but then don’t deviate from the work hours you’ve also scheduled.
• Accept Your Limitations: You may not be able to make as much money as you did at a former full time job, at least not right away. And you probably won’t be able to commit 40 hours a week to work either. Know that that’s okay, and be willing to accept your limitations. Sometimes, having it all means sacrificing in certain areas.

There are a lot of very happy work from home mothers who are finding success today, but they will all tell you it takes finding balance and a willingness to sacrifice. It’s not an easy path by any means, but it can be a very fulfilling one for those who are committed to pursuing it.

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Talk to 10 different women, and you’ll likely hear 10 different opinions on returning to work after having a baby. For some women, doing so is a necessity, though not something they are excited about. For others, going back to a job they love is something they’re actually looking forward to. But for those women who do re-enter the working force after baby, no matter where they fall in terms of their desire to do so, those first few days back can still be an adjustment.

Thankfully, there are ways to make that returning to work adjustment easier—for both you and your little one.

1. Find Childcare You Trust: The biggest key to reducing anxiety as you prepare to return to work is finding childcare options you feel good about. Some families are lucky enough to have grandparents nearby who are willing to take on that task, but if you don’t have that option, start looking into local daycares sooner rather than later. Ask friends for recommendations, conduct tours, and get on waiting lists whenever necessary. Feeling comfortable with where you are leaving your baby (and who you are leaving him or her with) is half the battle.
2. Ease In: It’s silly to go from weeks (or months) on end at home with your little one, to diving right back into a full-time work schedule. Instead, talk to your manager or HR supervisor about easing back into the work world. Maybe you could work half-days for the first few weeks, or just Tuesdays and Thursdays at first. Easing back in will make your whole transition less traumatic.
3. Break for Facetime: The beauty of our current technological landscape is that it allows you to stay connected, so use that! Talk to your childcare providers about sending you photos and updates throughout the day, and take advantage of Facetime or Skype when you find yourself really missing your little bug.
4. Look for Positives: If you’re truly struggling with returning to work, it can be hard to find silver linings, but they do exist. Think of this as your opportunity to talk to other adults throughout the day; as your excuse to take care of yourself and get some Mommy time! Sure, that time is probably less enjoyable when spent at work than it might be doing something you really love, but you may find you come to appreciate it more than you ever thought you would.
5. Savor Pickup Time: There is nothing better than the way little ones light up when they see Mommy or Daddy at the end of a long daycare day. Soak those gleeful smiles and hugs up; they are the reminder of how very loved you are!

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.