2 Children s advocates tell us that the first five years of a child s life can greatly impact the rest of his or her adult life. Therefore, many women choose to put their careers on hold until their young children reach school age. Many organizations, especially nonprofit ones, rely heavily on mother-volunteers. They help out with schools, churches, food banks, homeless shelters, teen pregnancy programs, etc. Although volunteer work does not pay, it is real and valuable work that enriches the lives of all those involved.
Some mothers enrich their lives by learning or studying while at home with children.
Now, with the help of technology, it is possible to take classes at home via the television or the Internet. For several of the mothers that Lewis and Yoest talked with, motherhood was the turning point that forced them to do something creative, steering them into new entrepreneurial careers. Some mothers ran home-based daycare centers. Some former teachers tutored students on weekends and evenings. And there are many other opportunities for those interested in working at home.