Mama Working From Home
Life & Work

Mama Working From Home

Quick answer
Working from home can be a gentle, realistic choice if you want to stay close to your kids while still building your own income. In my case, moving from Indonesia to the Netherlands, learning Dutch, raising two boys, and supporting a husband who travels a lot made flexibility more valuable than a classic office job. It is not always easy, but it can help you grow as a mama, a partner, and a business owner, step by step.

What you will learn in this post

  • Why I shifted from airline life to home based work, and what changed after moving countries.
  • How I work around school schedules, unexpected calls from school, and real family life.
  • A simple way to start, one focus, small 3 month goals, and monthly adjustments.

Mama Working From Home, My Real Life Story And How I Made This Choice

Hi Twinklers, today I want to share why I chose to be a mama working from home, how that journey started from my airline days, and how this choice changed our family life.

In my younger years I was working in the airline industry for more than 10 years. Because I accepted a love proposal from one of the frequent passengers in my company, I had to move from Indonesia to the Netherlands.

That was not easy. I had to start and build my life from zero again. It is not enough to live in the Netherlands if I can only speak the English language. Not everybody talks, or dares to talk, English here.

Learning the Dutch language was my first priority. It would help me much more in my daily communication, daily activities, once I got children, or later on when I wanted to change my nationality and also apply for a new job.

Dream Job Vs Cupido

Working in an airline company was my dream job. My parents never had enough money to bring me to fly. So I always said to myself, one day I will fly a lot and I will visit and start living in a freezing cold country with cheese on my plate as my daily menu.

My dream really came true. I almost cried when I flew for the first time. The most special thing was, I flew as an employee from the airline company itself. I really made it.

I thought I would never step out from that job, I was too much in love with it. But what is too much. Once Cupido came to me with his arrow, I could not refuse anymore.

With over 10 years of experience in this specific industry, I thought it would be easy for me to find a new job. Yes, maybe it is possible, but another true love came in, a baby. Actually two babies in two years.

How can I say thank you to God, because He already trusted me to have these lovely little boys. I let go of my dream to work again in the airline company. Yes, it was my big dream, but it already came out once and I was grateful for that.

Working From Home

I opened a new chapter in life, as a wife, as a mama, and as a woman who was born with a lot of dreams. I wanted to do my best to take care of my kids and to support my husband.

My kids need me. I would never dare to stay far away from them and my husband also needs me. My husband is a businessman, he has to fly a lot. He needs to feel everything is safe at home. The kids are in the best hands he could wish for. That is my hand, as their mother.

I decided to start working from my home, to make an income from there, and at the same time always stay close with my family. I like to write, share what I see and I like to go shopping.

Before I built this blog, I did many other things. I grew myself from an online shop, personal shopper, eBay seller, until affiliate marketer. Now I do what I like to do. Being independent as a woman, always ready and on stand by as a mama and a loving wife.

Working from home is ideal for me and my family. I do not have anybody else helping me if I had to work as an employee outside the house. Other families may be blessed with Oma and Opa, who also can support them to take care of the kids if the parents have to go to work.

Of course daycare is also an alternative for a couple who wants to have full time jobs, but there are always so many unusual situations. This can create a lot of stress. For example, if suddenly school is calling, my kids have a stomach ache, the school changes the schedule because of teacher meetings, because of bad (not normal) weather, or because of the holiday season.

Working Around My Family

It was a little bit strange in the beginning because I was working without a uniform and did not have an official working place. I was working in my pyjamas on the sofa with babies sitting close to my skin.

But then I realized this would only make me grow more mature. It made me realize that I had to learn more about so many things, from service, administration, until marketing.

It opened my eyes and my mind much bigger than before. I am not a typical employee anymore, I have to make my own SOP, arrange my own working hours, create a target, plan, company direction, solve problems and take all the decisions.

I am the boss of myself. It feels fantastic.

Honestly, building my own company is not easy. Really on my own, no team, and no person to ask for advice. But I have a very lovely husband who always supports me and becomes a person who helps me to map problems so I can take action to solve them.

When it gets so frustrating for me, I look at my kids. And it always successfully puts me back into wake up mode.

After a few years of struggling my business was running. Now my kids are already 7 and 8 years old, I am really happy that I dared to take on this challenge.

Time is flying fast. I have such good quality time with my kids and I also see my husband growing with his business, because he can feel free to focus on what he wants to do. He knows he can trust me during his busy time.

And for myself, nothing is more important than the extra love that comes to me as my extra salary beside what I earn from my own business.

Life Is A Choice

“Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.” John C. Maxwell

Everybody has their own dreams, different situation, different history, different priority and so on. I cannot say working from home is the best decision for every mama or single parent in this world.

You just have to see your own situation and listen to your heart. Nothing is wrong with continuing to build a career and becoming an employee, but working from our own home is also a fun alternative.

We are what we choose to be.

I hope this post can help you to picture my feelings and my reason why I chose to change my old dream and adjust my future.

Thank you for reading my blog, please leave a comment below, what is the best choice in your own situation and why.

Thanks again for your share, Twinklers.

Little Helpers For Mamas Working From Home

On Twinkle So Bright I share practical tools that help me as a mama working from home, from planning and storage, to cozy work corner items that make long days feel a little softer.

If you want to explore my favorites and see what can support your own work from home journey as a mom, shop or work with me

How To, Start Working From Home As A Mom

Goal, make a gentle, realistic start without expecting perfection.

  1. Listen to your season

    Look at the age of your kids, your partner’s work, and your support system. Be honest about how many hours you can really work each week.

  2. Write down your why

    Are you working from home to be there for school runs, to reduce stress, to support a traveling husband, or to build your own income. Your why will help you stay focused.

  3. Choose one simple focus

    Start with one main direction that fits you, for example an online shop, freelancing, content creation, selling preloved items, or a mix that feels natural.

  4. Create small three month goals

    Set gentle goals, like getting your first client, listing your first 10 products, or publishing your first 5 or 8 blog posts.

  5. Block your weekly work time

    Use school hours, naps, or evenings. Put your work blocks in your calendar and treat them as real appointments.

  6. Review and adjust every month

    At the end of the month, ask what worked, what was too much, and what can be changed. Let your work grow together with your family.

  7. Protect your energy and joy

    Plan small breaks, movement, and me time. A tired mama cannot run a peaceful home or a creative business.

FAQ, Mama Working From Home

Is working from home realistic when my kids are still very small

Yes, but it works best with flexible work and gentle expectations. Choose something you can pause and continue, and measure progress in small steps, not perfect daily routines. 

Can I still call it a career if I work from home

Yes. A career is not only an office job. You can build a strong professional path through freelance work, an online business, or creative projects you run from home.

How do I deal with mom guilt when I am at home but also working?

Give your work a clear start and end, then close the laptop and be fully present. I also remind myself why I chose this path, and that being close to the kids is part of the reason, not something I am sacrificing.

What if I try it and it does not fit me?

Then you can change again. You can combine part time outside with part time at home, or choose a different kind of work. Your first choice is a starting point, not a permanent label. 

How many hours per week do I need to start

You can start with 3 hours per week if you are consistent. If you have 6 hours per week, progress becomes easier to feel. If you can do 10 hours per week, you can grow faster, but only if you protect your focus. The key is one clear weekly priority, not doing everything at once.

How do I avoid burnout when working from home with kids

Keep it simple. Choose one main focus per season, set a clear start and stop time, and batch small tasks like admin and emails into one block. Working from home should support your family life, not take over your whole house.

What are good “first options” for a mama who wants to start from home?

Start with one simple direction that matches your personality and time, for example content creation, freelancing, an online shop, or selling preloved items. One clear focus is easier than trying everything at once. 

How do I handle working from home when my partner travels a lot?

Build your work blocks around the most stable parts of the week, usually school hours and quiet evenings. Keep your plan light, so you can switch into “family mode” quickly when needed. 

Do I need a perfect workspace to begin?

No. I started in very real conditions, even working without a “proper” office setup. Start where you are, then improve your setup as your routine and income become more stable. 


Want to start a blog like this? WordPress.com is a simple way to begin. 

About the writer: Diah Puspito Rahayu
Mom and creator of Twinkle So Bright. I share simple family travel stories, shopping tips, and the real products we use.

More about me · Nasi en Stamppot on YouTube · Twinklesobright on YouTube
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