Review: HomeWork

This weekend, I spent some time reading the inspiring stories contained in a little e-book, published by The Old Schoolhouse, called HomeWork: Juggling Home, Work and School Without Losing Your Balance.

The stated goal of this collection of personal stories is to answer the Big Question, "How do you do it all?" But, it does so much more than this: The tales contained within are as varied as each one of us and our respective families, uniquely knitted and providentially fitted together by our Creator.

And even though these fascinating tales of home entrepreneurship are separated into manageable categories--A Labor of Love, Computer Based, Creative Writing, and Business Support--again, the stories offer so much variety that I just got completely sucked inside each and every one of them and found myself dragging out the old pon-pons to give a rousing cheer.

For example, one mom shares the unique challenges of living in a RV, while promoting a specialty sewing business and another the joy of renovating her family home into a bed & breakfast, located on a seasonal orchard; one moms relates how she turned her love for travel into providing "five-star vacations at two-star prices" to her clients and another how she accidently built a thriving computer network management business; one mom tells the remarkable tale of how she was led by faith to become the writer of foreign language programs, one of which we actually use in our own homeschool ((The Easy Spanish)), and another how she turned a talent for copy-editing into an in-home and on-demand printing company.

These few snippets are only to give you a wee taste--imagine the rich meal inside!

If you currently run a home-based business while caring for your family and homeschooling your children, this book will be a nice reminder that you are not alone in the struggle to "balance it all." And, if you've had a home-based business stewing in the back of your mind for some time now, you may just be inspired enough to finally get moving. But, watch out! If you're like me, not currently working from home and hadn't even a glimmer of a thought of it, you may find yourself starting to stew, stew, stew.

Thankfully, you can stew your way right into chapters on finance and organization for home-based businesses immediately following the personal stories. How perfect is that?

What I liked best about HomeWork is that all of the stories could be boiled down to this: hard-working women who love both God and their families as richly as possible each and every new and challenging day, being passionate about what they do, whether it be income-producing work or the daily labors-of-love in the home and homeschool.

I very much enjoyed reading this e-book, although I don't know if someone currently running a successful business from her home, or someone not previously interested in working from home, would pay the pennies required to read it. But, if your--or now my--home-based business stewing has recently transitioned to a nice simmer or full boil, thanks to a loud and undeniable calling from God, it would be a small investment for a good deal of ideas and a load of blessed encouragement.

Oh, and if you're looking for the answer to the Big Question, "How do you do it all?"

Tell me: What do you think?