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Although I do not like "blanket" statements, rules and laws which box people in to: "Hear 'Ye, Hear 'Ye! Write and Wrong for Everyone!" I must take a moment and give my views taking the side of Self-employment. This is partly because we have learned to live on less in a world that dictates, "more". And being middle-aged, I'd have to say it is better to say, "I'm glad I did that..." than to say, "I wish I would have".

Thankfully, life in the U.S. is all about exploring options and having choices. Since I can not truthfully say that self-employment is better for everyone just because it is best for us, I can say that there are times that it is better than being tied to a job that you can not escape. We love the flexibility of my husband's work, but we do realize that not all work-from-home jobs are as flexible; such as owning a restaurant or a store. Everything is about perspective. Remember, in some third-world countries, self employment generally means definite poverty, and working for a call center means escape from it.

Our family has ten children and five that are still totally dependent upon my husband and me. My husband is skilled and smart enough to be working for a large cooperation such as IBM. However, he chose to become a self-employed landscaper. Not the kind of landscaper that pays out oodles to be licensed, bonded and hires employees who require benefits and insurance. He works solo (or with my twin sons when they can) and he works slower. Instead of charging his customers $100 an hour to get a 2 week job done in 2 days, he charges $30 and hour and takes longer to get the job done. Over the 4 years that he has been working this, he has built a reputation for fairness, honesty, and skills that can not be matched. People know that they can leave him in their yard and give them a key to their house and know that they are safe in doing so. Their only complaint is that they have to wait a few months to get him. He is always behind; but he makes it worth their wait.

The reason we like it this way, and we choose to forfeit the benefits and retirement plan, is that if I get sick or a child needs to be picked up when I can't make it, my husband usually can do it. He can take off 3 weeks to help me on a project or take a trip, and then he can work 14 hour days, 6-7 days a week and make it up if he wants; or not. He can take big jobs or little jobs according to our schedule with the family.

Our retirement is equity in our home and some savings plans. Some day, we can sell our home and live cheaply in a smaller dwelling, or we can stay put and be quite comfortable. Because of the size of our family, we know how to be content with little. If we have more, that's cool, but we do not need a lot to be happy. We could retire to a small houseboat on a lake in Texas, grow vegetables in pots, and be very content. Or perhaps we will "retire" to the mission field and build orphanages. Of course, if we happen to come across a larger sum of money in the next 15 or 20 years, our options would be increased. Perhaps we'll sell our home and invest in real estate on the side; 4 years from now we will be down to 2 children. We can downsize.

It doesn't matter. What is important, is to do what we are content in doing NOW. Tomorrow may not come for some of us. And if it does, it is better to look back and say, "Whew! I'm glad I did that!" than to say, "Man, I really should have...".

Learn more about this author, Soni Cido.
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