As a stay-at-home mom running a home daycare business, I struggle with the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" Six years ago, I left my telecommunications career to stay home with my children. I grapple with my career options as I realize my youngest will enter first grade next year. I've toyed with the possibilities of labor and delivery nurse, genetic counselor, and accounting. The jury is still out.

I met with a George Mason University (GMU) twenty-something academic advisor in the School of Business Administration a few weeks ago. I wanted to find out how many credits I would need to earn a second degree in Accounting to complement my bachelor's in Information Systems (earned in 1986 from this school). I transferred to GMU from Mary Washington College in 1983, and the advisor couldn't find any record of my transfer credit in the system. She said, "It's not in the database. That was before they stored records on a computer." I felt like a dinosaur.

Taking the plunge back into the career pool can be intimidating. To keep your brain from feeling like the forgotten, freezer-burned popsicle behind the frozen peas, keep yourself in-the-know while you're at home. Read material related to your field, take a course or two, join a professional organization, attend industry events, and keep your computer skills fresh. Also, keep your accreditations up-to-date (if you are an accountant or a teacher, for instance). Open a LinkedIn account, a professional networking site used to locate past colleagues, discover inside business connections, and gain advice from industry experts.

When you decide the time is ripe to re-enter the workforce, be determined and confident. Your time at home with the kids was valuable and you acquired many priceless skills along the way. Account for work gaps in positive ways: emphasize volunteer/community work, projects led at your child's school, and any freelance or pro-bono work. Alert the world that you are looking for a job via word-of-mouth or e-mail. Network with friends, family, prior co-workers, and of course, networking sites on the internet. The pre-conceived notions that taking a career break to stay home with your children ruins your chances of returning to work are simply not true. Mothers with a college degree in a professional field who return to work within ten years don't have many obstacles in finding full-time jobs. Part-time and flexible positions are another matter; they are out there, but more scarce. Other factors that ease your return are to stay in the same geographical area and field.

However, many women, like myself, are changing career paths when they return to the job market. My friend, Jennifer, a former financial analyst, decided to change gears and earn her master's degree in Elementary Education. Another friend, Trish, worked as a business analyst, stayed home with her kids for eight years, and is now enrolled in the accelerated one-year nursing program at George Mason University. She wants to be a neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse, since her daughter was born prematurely several years ago. According to Trish, "When you're older and have kids, you realize the value of relationships and caring for other people. When you're younger, it's all about the money." As we mature through the trials and tribulations of raising children, we re-evaluate our goals. A career choice driven by salary might later be replaced with one sparked by passion or flexibility. In my neighborhood, numerous mothers are finding jobs in the schools (such as parent liaisons, teacher's assistants, and substitute teachers) so they can be home by the time their kids return from school each day. We figure life is short, so we should love what we do.

Many women are returning to school to give their skills a face-lift. The educational options are plentiful: traditional universities, community colleges, online universities, trade schools, certificate courses, and informal classes, to name a few. Community colleges are now booming; they are a great bargain. The reputation of online schools has evolved from second-rate to reputable. Three such schools are University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, and Strayer University online. Hybrid (a combination of online and classroom instruction) and evening courses are also available. These types of classes offer busy moms convenience and flexibility.

For the formal schooling options, students should ensure the school of their choice is accredited by a federally approved agency, in order to be eligible for financial aid. Up to $12,500 in federal Stafford loans (to graduate students) and $5,350 in Pell Grants (to those who qualify) are offered per year. Community colleges in some states provide free tuition to unemployed adults, and future federal legislation may enable this to be offered in all states.

Moms are a valuable commodity, and are returning to work in record numbers due to our fledgling economy. They wear many hats as leaders, organizers, multi-taskers, and mediators; they bring a wealth of life experience to the table. Abundant opportunities exist to reach their educational goals, and their career canvas is wide open, just waiting to be painted with a kaleidoscope of new callings.


Formal Educational Options:

Northern Virginia Community College (Culinary)
Hospitality Management Program
8333 Little River Turnpike Annandale, VA 22003 703.323.3457.

Personalized instruction by experienced chefs and managers in hotels, restaurants and food service establishments around the world. Hands-on training on modern, commercial foodservice equipment. Culinary Arts Certifi cate Program (one-year, full-time study) or Apprenticeship Program with three years of full-time paid training under qualifi ed chef (attending classes once a week)..

The Art Institute of Washington Northern Virginia
21000 Atlantic Boulevard Sterling, VA 20166.
888.627.5008.

Offers bachelor’s degree programs in Advertising, Fashion & Retail Management, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Media Arts & Animation, Photographic Imaging and Web Design & Interactive Media; associate’s degree programs in Graphic Design and Web Design & Interactive Media. Small classes with hands-on learning. Student- faculty ratio of 20:1..

George Washington University (online)
Online and combined online/on- campus (hybrid) courses available. Undergraduate and graduate degrees, certifi cates and individual courses off ered. Areas of study include Health Sciences, Health Care Administration, Nursing, Professional Studies, Education and Human Development, Project Management, Tourism Administration and Museum Collections Management and Care..

Heritage Institute (Trade School)
8255 Shopper’s Square Manassas, VA 20111
703.334.2501.

Provides training for the following careers: Massage Th erapist, Cosmetologist, Pharmacy Technician, Personal Trainer and X-ray Medical Technician. Career Services Department provides dedicated assistance to graduates seeking jobs..

George Mason University Office of Continuing
Professional Education Krug Hall, Room 211
4400 University Drive, MS 2G2 Fairfax, VA 22030.
703.993.2109
 
Provides continuing professional education/training programs for individuals/organizations. Off ers a huge array of classes: Business/ Accounting, Map Design and Cartography, Certifi ed Wedding Planning, Entrepreneurship: Start-up and Business Owner Management, Forensics and Cold Case Investigations, Grant Writing, Medical Transcription, Nature Photography and Video Game Design and Development, to name a few. Convenient locations in Fairfax, Herndon, Manassas, Arlington, and Sterling. Credit, non-credit, degree and certifi cate programs, on-site, and online options available.

Informal Educational Options:

Wilton Method Classes (Cake Decorating)
Thinking of starting your own cake-making business? Wilton Cake Decorating classes off ered at local Michael’s stores in Fairfax, Manassas, Gainesville, Reston, Sterling, Vienna, Leesburg, Falls Church and Springfi eld. Four courses: Discover Cake Decorating, Flowers & Borders, Fondant & Tiered Cakes and Fondant & Gum Paste. From simple birthday cakes to tiered wedding cakes.

G Street Fabrics (Sewing, Fashion Design, Home Decorating)
5077 Westfields Boulevard Centreville, VA 703.818.8090
6250 Seven Corners Center Falls Church, VA 22044
703.241.1700

To those aspiring seamstresses, fashion designers, or interior decorators, G Street hosts a wide assortment of classes featuring all aspects of sewing: Beginning Sewing for Babies, Costumes, Leather and Suede, Zippers, Laces, Silks, Couture, Modern Tailoring, and many others. Other unique classes include Patternmaking, Sketching/ Fashion Design, Heirloom Pillows, Embroidery and Beading, Fabric Painting and Dyeing, Curtains, Table Runners, and Re-upholstery.

Washington Photo Safari (Photography)
4545 Connecticut Avenue NW #620 Washington, DC 20008
202.537.0937

One of fourteen professional photographers on staff provides photography tours geared toward any skill level/type of camera around the Washington, DC monuments and memorials including the White House, US National Arboretum, National Building Museum, National Mall, Hillwood Gardens, Kalorama Heights, Rock Creek Cemetery and the Cherry Blossoms. Off ers tours to the barns, farms, and bridges of Frederick County, MD, historic Fells Point in Baltimore, Harpers Ferry, WV, NYC and even international locations. Provides tips on composition, lighting and exposure. Covers these types of photography: kids outdoors, fi ne art black/ white outdoors, architectural, digital, editorial, event, interior museum, nature, nighttime, pet and indoor/outdoor portraiture. Private tutoring, critiques, gift certifi cates, and group rates available.

The Quilt Patch (Quilting)
Bernina of Northern Virginia
10381 Main Street Fairfax, VA 22030
703.273.6937

Acquire the skills to make beautiful quilts that sell. Quilting classes available on the basics, machine piercing, applique, garments & sewing, color design & other specialties, embroidery/ soft ware and machine mastery classes. Learn how to make art quilts, holiday placemats, laptop covers, table runners, fabric toy boxes and pot holders on Bernina sewing machines.
 
Northern Virginia Community College (Writing)
4001 Wakefi eld Chapel Road Annandale, VA 22003
703.323.3000

To aspiring writers, non-credit and continuing education writing courses off ered on the following topics: beginning writer’s workshop, memoir, grant proposals, business, technical, editing, grammar refresher, children’s, mystery, magazine, romance, fi ction and business/ marketing. Online and campus classes available.

	SUZANNE RHODES Suzanne is the author of Th e Little Embryo Th at Could: Conquering Genetic Termination, Secondary Infertility, and Other Injustices. She lives in South Riding, VA with her husband and three children. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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