Times have changed, and never has this been more evident than in the role of women, both at home and at work. Women continue to prove themselves.They are not only good in rearing kids and taking care of the home, they are also professionally competent evidenced by their success in legal, management careers and government posts.
Eight years ago, The Help’s founder, Astrid Escover Stanek, envisioned a business scenario where mothers can be professionally involved, grow, and contribute to the family income while caring for young children at home. She also wanted flexible schedules that centers on family needs.
On a typical weekday morning, a mother gets kids up and ready for school. If she’s a working mom, she also must get ready. In recent years her office, a few steps away, has been set up in her home. No 9-to-5 hours constraint, she is a virtual assistant (VA), an online employee where businesses get administrative support via the Internet.
A virtual assistant’s daily schedule involves detailed tasks like answering emails, creating blog content, and providing administrative support for authors. Because her office is at home,she can schedule time for herself and her kids. She might pick up the children from school in the afternoon and make them a snack. Eventually, she will help with homework and if her presence is requested at the school, she’s able to go. For a young family, virtual assistance employment is their best bet to have extra income.
Interestingly, motherhood and virtual assistance share organizational and marketing skills. A mother’s management skills are phenomenal. She runs a household involving people (human resource). She’s good at handling finances.Being a chaperone on occasion provides her with the opportunity to carefully observe behavior. She also becomes computer savvy so as to better assist her children in researching the web for homework.School sponsored sales and exhibits are where she hones skills for pitching ideas to future clients.
That all women can be successful at being a mother and, at the same time, in her professional life is a strong belief at The Help. Being a mother doesn’t necessarily mean a woman is relegated to the home. Staffed by mothers who are professionals, the women at The Help can pursue their personal ambitions.
The Help is very much in step with the times.
To all the mothers of The Help, Astrid, Anna, Kathrine, Claire, Maria, and Yoli, Happy Mother’s Day!
Written by Yoli P. – The Help