TO FREELANCE OR WORK FULLTIME--THAT'S THE QUESTION

I found the following paragraph very interesting, see currently I'm working full time, have been for a while, and I don't like it at all, and would love to do freelance. I have started a blog on web startups http://www.onwebstartups.com
I realize that if you haven't had a full time job for a while it's hard to remember what they can be like, so I thought I'd make a few comments.

Yet it’s exciting to think of going back to work in an office, of wearing a business suit and heels instead of lounging around in jeans and sneakers all the time.
-> Really? are you sure about that? I wouldn't really miss dry cleaning all of my work clothing, always having to buy different shoes & have a different set of work clothing, how hot it feels in the summer walking around in my wool work pants just b/c we have to dress in business casual and never have jeans days...

The idea of being part of a team, of attending meetings and holding a position of responsibility is enticing, not to mention being able to avail of other perks, such as subsidized health insurance.
-> The healthy insurance is a great point, and I myself have taken advantage of the one I get from my full time job several time. Hmm being part of a team can of course be great if you are the team leader which is largely based on position rather than skills in corporate America. Meetings are generally a big waste of time, I think at our company we have way too many meetings that could be avoided leaving employees with more time to do actual work.

I also feel that going back to full-time might make it easier to make a clearer separation between home and work.
-> That is a good point. I'm a single guy so I don't have to make a big of a separation, but for a mother I'm sure some kind of a separation is necessary.

I think you should stick it out as a freelancer, as nothing is more important than family.

I'm a single father of three little ones and I work from home full time. As it is just the four of us, and they are all under the age of 4, I have no choice but to use daycare services - but, of course, working from home allows me the freedom to come and go as I please. ie. emergencies, pediatric visits, and so on.

Once they reach school age, I'm sure half the battle will be over, but to have the freedom in their early years to spend time as I see fit with them, and to balance that with a flexible work schedule that I create is certainly a great blessing and convenience.

Once you're offered the job, start asking questions about flextime, attitude about leaving early for school events, how they feel about casual dress and telecommuting, etc.

I'm sure HR will tell you one thing, so see if you can find a female employee with children to talk to.

Then if it seems like a good fit, go for it! You'll quickly find out if you've made an error, you can easily give notice and go back to freelancing. (That's the beauty of the freelance lifestyle.)

Good luck and keep us posted.

I've made the move from freelance (single) to full-time (married), and back to working from home (father).

I originally switched for the office atmosphere, but grew frustrated with office politics and dress-code demands, not to mention the burning desire to be my own boss and make my own decisions.
After the last move, I was concerned about my productivity at home with a baby, but now I'm looking forward to taking my lunch breaks with my wife and daughter and living my semi-retirement now instead of when I can't appreciate it (See The Four-Hour Work Week).

how i can work at home please explain me.I like to work at home through internet.

thanks.

For me, for as long as I remember, being successful was wearing those power-suits and stilettos, having a leather suitcase, having a big-fat-professionnal title, having responsabilities and having people respect me.
Now, here is what really happened.
Those power-suits and stilettos cost a fortune that, being a single-mom, I don't necessary have.
The leather suitcase ? it means overtime not paid.
The big-fat-professionnal title ? it means nothing. Everybody is manager of something. And I mean Everybody.
As for the respect... yes, they respect the work I do. But I am sure they say to themselves : have you seen her ? working so hard for what ?
Once our priorities have been set, it is still easy to be tempted by other signs of success. But always remember what are your priorities. That is why I am actively looking at freelance opportunity right now :)
Good luck !