I have just become a SAHD for two 3 year old girls...I know already that I will need to work part time (to maintain my sanity) I have a strong marketing background and was wondering what some of you guys do part time from the house. Obviously, I am seeking some ideas for what I might be able to do. Thanks for any help and, you guys could not be more right, the site is horribly addictive.
Question from a newbie...

I help a friend who is a web designer for marketing e-mails. He designs the e-mails, and I do all the grunt work like changing out the product names and prices and other tedious details. I make about $75 a week doing that, which is enough to help our budget. People sign up for them, so I don't feel bad about the spam, either.
See an example here:
http://www.gabp.com/emails/autos/auto81/040108-50dollars.html
I also direct children's theatre.
I've heard other Dads who do online surveys and tutor.


The primary reason to work part-time should be to add income to the household budget, especially if your wife doesn't make that much.
Another good reason is to keep up an active work resume so you don't run into trouble if you decide to later re-enter the workforce. I do know that it is possible to return without having worked professionally in the interim, but I imagine it might be harder.
Beyond that, there is a pseudo-advantage that you are feeding your psychological and social need to be the provider, but it's important to recognize this urge for what it is - a bad thing.
Working can be good for your mental health for good reasons. It's mentally stimulating and a healthy diversion from parenting.
Important to distinguish the last two.

In a very tongue and cheek manner, what I meant was that I know I will need to continue to do something in the marketing field. It is a passion of mine, but comes in a distance second to the opportunity to raise my girls. I just know I would like the opportunity to continue to keep my feet wet in that field and would love to hear how some of you guys balance these things. Thank you for all the thoughts guys.
P.S. Ticktock, thank you for the idea to Simpsonize. I say, without any shame, that your image was the driving force to the creation of mine.



I work part-time at home. Most of my work is done handling marketing for my wife's business. My background is in sales and the health field, and not marketing, so I am learning as I go. I also manage an online store we created.
Anyways, time for me is managed during naps, but I often can get things done when they are playing quietly on their own (as rarely as that is). I meet with people on days my wife is home (Usually once a week). So I am saying it can be done, you just have to be realistic in your goals and expectations.
Beware... working while home with the kids can cause more insanity at times. But if it is your passion you should be fine.

I left my corporate mktg job almost 3 years ago after our fourth child was born. I've had great luck picking up marketing consulting work (copy writing, graphics, web development, business plan development, etc.) through two local sources - the university Tech Transfer office and a local Business Accelerator (state funded group that's chartered to help entrepreneurs launch their companies). I'd suggest pursuing any way that you can to connect to startups (the closer to home, the better). Startups typically are starving for marketing talent, can't afford to hire a full time person (anybody that's any good, anyway) and are pretty exciting to work with. Hope this helps...

as Mr. Dad put it, can cause more insanity at times. And in my case, most of the time. Actually, burned out is more accurate, I think. lol
I've been AHD and continuing my business from home, working some evenings, late nights & saturdays for almost 3 years now. My wife just got a nice promotion/raise so I'm looking forward to scaling back or dropping work altogether. Can be even more productive with the kids that way.
As much as I would like to be able to do it all so to speak, it's gotten to the point where it just sucks.
So from my experience, my advise would be that if you don't have to work than by all means don't. Your thoughts and feelings about becoming & being a SAHD will change with time, most likely for the better (weather your working PT or not). I'm sure there are a lot of guys here that would back me on this. Plus there's the added bonus of being able to give your best for you kids/family.
And if you find it's not working out for you, you can always rearrange things and go back to work.

I work part time as a collector for a major bank, in the credit card division. The hrs are 24 a week, 3 nights 5 to 10 and Sundays, 10-6.
The benefits are great, full health, dental, vision, 401 K. My wife is due in about 3 weeks, so the plan from the start was for me to stay home. I found this job through a friend of mine, it fit my schedule perfect. good luck!

I've picked up a part time gig back at the ice rink I worked at before, and those few hours a week (14 hours over two shifts) do make a big difference for the "sanity issue". It's been nice being able to get out for a bit, do something I really enjoy doing, and make a few bucks for buying my hockey gear and what not. And this week, for the first time in 4 years, I went out and bought my wife a birthday gift that wasn't purchased with "her" money.

I work marketing and selling environmentally friendly cleaners and health and wellness products. I do it part-time, all from home. I definately have found that its a great break from being a stay at home dad, plus the money is great. E-mail me with any questions you might have about it at .
Again, I do it so that I keep my sanity. My wife started doing it, when I left my job and she got hers, I picked her business up. Good $$ for part time work! Business is good with all the Earth Day stuff in the news these days.
i have tended bar for local catering companies for many, many years.
it's brainless and pays well, gets me out of the house and around adults and up to recently was a way to keep my sanity.
but two weekends ago - at the eco-hippie wedding - people started breakdancing.
for real.
and then some girl did the worm.
sanity flew out the window then...
Joined: 2008-04-01
Dad Points: 8