Rooster, you're not the odd one out. I think I agree with you. I get the feeling that there is always more to these tales than we hear. Just like I carefully type and re-type so make this sound the best, the original comments probably were as well.
I'm not putting anyone down here - just giving another point of view - the mother's.
When I got married, my brother gave me the best advice. He said to "not run home everytime you have problems and complain to Mom".
Good advice. We're parents, we worry. We'll hold a grudge against an in-law longer than they do against each other. The same goes with money. If we know about all of your little money problems, we'll worry about the big ones around the corner and try to protect you and head them off.
Having been married to a guy with a home business, I've been there. It doesn't matter if you work at a factory or at home, if you make X amount of dollars one month and that is enough to hold you throughout the year, as long as you budget it to last - that is fine.
However, if you work at the factory and you get laid off for a few months or if you work at home and have nothing coming in for a few months - just like the factory - you are laid off. Except, the guys at the factory might qualify for unemployment insurance.
Mom is going to worry. It isn't that you are employed at a home business, it might be that she is worried you are out of work.
My dh decided that he didn't make enough in his home business to support the family and have insurance, etc. so he decided to let it go. Too bad, I thought it was starting to pick up but I think he wanted the safety net of a regular paycheck and insurance.
So to all of you complaining that mom just doesn't understand computers - it isn't computers - it's money. Down is down whether your home business is using a computer or cutting trees.
If you don't tell her about the down times she won't know about them. If you only tell her what a great job you are doing at home, that's what she'll hear.
Someone else mentioned having a mother who questions their money use whenever they have to ask for help - afterall payday is only every two weeks. That happens. Most people budget their income to last between checks. If you don't have to ask for money they'll have nothing to complain about. Ignorance is bliss. My mother in law likes to say that at least her sons were thoughtful enough to not let her know they weren't perfect teenagers. The same goes with money. If you blew it - don't ask mom to bail you out and you won't have to listen to her. Think twice when you get paid again.
I never ask my children how much money they make. Once they are out on their own, that is their business, not mine. If they need more money, they'll find a way to make it. We've never been asked to help to make ends meet. Our kids all learned to live within their income. They like to say that they learned what not to do from watching their parents struggle to pay bills.
So don't take Rooster's 'cut the cord' so negatively.
IF averaging your income will make Mom happy - so be it! If it doesn't, then you'll just have to tell her that you don't want to discuss your business or money. As long as you don't bring it up, your mom needs to learn to leave you alone.
