Children are expensive. And unless you are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie or some other celebrity, no one is just dying to give you money just to look at them.

So you must have a job.

Sometimes I can’t believe I workfor the organization I do. When I first interviewed for a position for my current workplace, I was so nervous about my prospective boss finding out I had a three-month-old baby at home. How would I be able to compete with the fresh-out-of-college, eager-to-please, no-baby-to-run-home-to-at-the-end-of-the-day college graduates?

Luckily, my now boss has four children of her own and could relate to the sleepless nights I was in the midst of, and voiced her amazement in the fact that I could pull myself together enough to make it out the house and into her office for an interview. In this case, I think having a child helped me. She was able to see that I could handle multiple responsibilites, something that gave me a leg up on the rowdy Spring-Breakers who were also looking for jobs.

So how do you go about landing a job with an organization that is family-friendly? Keep these tips in mind:

1. Consider your career field first. What is your dream job like? In order to get ahead, will you have to work long hours to establish yourself? Will finding childcare be a problem? If so, you may need to reconsider what jobs you apply for.
2. When interviewing, pay attention to the atmosphere in the office. Do people have pictures of their children on their desk? Are crayon drawings hung up on the wall? See anyone drinking out of a #1 Dad mug? All these might be signs that people won’t flip out if you need to rush home to pick up Junior because he suddenly came down with pinkeye. More than likely (and as long as you don’t make it a habit), they’ll understand because they’ve been there.
3. Treat motherhood as a bonus, not a negative. If you worry about how people will perceive you as a young mom, you will make it harder on yourself. Think about it: You’re able to juggle one of the most demanding jobs there are, without much of the luxuries older moms may have. I call that talent. Play up the fact that you work harder than the average 20-something, and you might get kudos for your efforts.
4. Inquire about policies such as flexible hours or alternate hours. I work 8-4 instead of 9-5 like most people in my office, which is lovely because I’m able to get a solid hour of work done before the office starts buzzing, and I’m able to leave before rush hour traffic hits so I can get to my daughter’s daycare on time. Be sure that if you ask for these perks that you’re able to deliver impressive results. They’re not going to let you work from home if your work is sloppy on those days, or you’re hard to get ahold of.
5. Check with Human Resource Organizations in your area who regularly compile lists of “best workplaces” in your town. They might highlight organizations with policies that meet your needs, or highlight perks that you might not have thought about.
6. Might sound sexist, but check how many women work there – especially in management positions. I don’t know if I would have been hired if my immediate supervisor wasn’t a woman. No, scratch that. If she wasn’t a mother. More women at a workplace, more possible mothers. Mothers have an unspoken bond. We look out for one another. Look how many female managers (ones who have the authority to create flextime arrangements and other family friendly policies) there are in the organization. The more people you can have on your side, the better.

So what do you think? How family friendly is your job? Does your workplace make it easier for you as a mom? Let me know in the comments!

One of the issues young moms face is lack of cash flow. We’re typically not as advanced in our careers as our older counterparts, so our salaries are usually lower, yet we still need to pay for the same things moms in their 30s do: food, doctor visits, diapers, daycare, etc. Adding a baby to a budget can be a tricky thing, but adding a side hustle to your life might help stretch things out a bit.

This blog is my side hustle. In addition to starting a dialogue among all the young moms out there, I’m trying to make a little money that I will ultimately invest. (Don’t get me started on how worthless savings accounts are – especially the kind with no interest whatsoever…argh!) I don’t have the time (or energy) to get a regular second job.

So what is a side hustle? Basically, a side hustle should be something that you do part-time to help bring in extra cash. It can be a hidden talent that you have, or something that you secretly (or openly) desire to do full-time but are too timid to take that huge leap. For me, I enjoy writing and while I get to do a little bit of that at work, my ultimate goal is to create my own magazine. This blog gives me that creative outlet and in the long run will provide me with a nice stream of side income.

How do you get one? The great thing about side hustles is that you generally make them yourself. Here’s a set of steps to get started:

1) Analyze: What do I enjoy doing? Notice that the question isn’t “What are you good at?” By asking yourself what you enjoy doing, you’re probably going to come up with an answer that’s a lot more vague and can lead you down more avenues. For example, you might enjoying spending time doing your girlfriends’ makeup before you all go out. Why not create a website, print some flyers, and do makeup for high school girls before big dances and events?

2) Discover why you think you need a side hustle. If you’re thinking of getting a side hustle to save up for a big trip or a nice Gucci bag, you might be better off logging in a few extra hours at work. But, if your ultimate goal is to strengthen your financial standing, or pay for some big-ticket item (like a house or college savings plan) then a side hustle might be where you want to focus your energy.

3) Think about your current job and how you could do some freelancing in that field.  Sites like freelanceswitch.com have great advice on freelancing and how to make extra money doing what you already do. Work in retail? Start an online shopping blog. Got a job as a secretary? Put those memo-proofing skills to work as a proofreader for college students.

Next: 5 Side Hustles That Can Make You Extra Cash Fast