Work-at-home moms have their own electronic magazine on the web, chock-full of useful tips, columns, inspiration, advice, opportunities, and more.

Cheryl Demas, owner, editor, and web-mistress of WAHM.com, the on-line magazine for work-at-home moms, has combined work and family with considerable success since 1995.

Turning points in a life are often marked with discovery and challenge. Sometimes the path people thought they saw for themselves changes at the "fork in the road" and you step into new territory.

Cheryl stated, "In June 1994, my (then) seven-year-old daughter was diagnosed with diabetes, just three days before her younger sister was born. I discovered the Internet because I was searching for diabetes information."

She continued: "Online, I connected to other parents of diabetic children; these people have been instrumental in helping our family deal with my daughter's diabetes."

"I started the site almost by accident," Cheryl admitted. "When I decided to be an at-home mom, I also started looking for a home-based business. I chose website design." As a double major in mathematics and computer science, her choice seemed natural.

But over time, she quickly became aware of a disturbing trend. "I became frustrated and offended by all the work-at-home schemes and scams aimed at moms at home, so I started writing about my experiences."

In the transition from working outside the home as a software engineer for over 10 years in commercial and military avionics, to a work-at-home mom, Cheryl said, "I posted my writing to my website and got an overwhelming response from moms who were in the same boat: well-educated women, who wanted to be home with their kids, yet still wanted and needed to make money."

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. So too, in this case, that out of need, a successful business was born. "I decided to concentrate on WAHM.com, the online magazine; for work-at-home moms as my full-time, home-based business."

To generate revenue, Cheryl sells banner ads through her ad agency, HerAgency (http://www.heragency.com). She also provides a classified ads section on WAHM.com. The online community that WAHM.com reaches and services is the target demographic audience for many advertisers who realize the aggregate buying power of work-at-home Moms.

The evolution of her online magazine, from its humble beginnings until now, has seen many changes. Lots of websites advertise themselves as the only site you'll need, but deliver little.

This is not the case with WAHM.com. Looking for an online community? Visit the boards where you can post a message. Read Cheryl's online column, and more than 70 articles she wrote from "Lessons My Mother Taught Me to The Music of Life."

Need food ideas for your hungry family? Visit The Crock-Pot Queen, where you can find family-pleasing recipes. Need some inspiration to get you though the day? Find it at Have a Pearl, then click on Poetry by Moms for Moms. Sign up for the newsletter delivered weekly to your inbox.

Need a laugh? Go to the cartoon section. Read tips and advice from seasoned pros on how to discover your own business. Go to the telecommuter's column for online jobs. Read Liz Folger's column, author of "The Stay-at-Home-Mom's Guide to Making Money."

Cheryl encourages visitors to sign up for her location and business directories. "I want to help others promote their WAHM businesses" she said, inviting visitors to submit their website and email addresses.

Networking is a big part of this website with helpful links, business opportunities, and the WAHM award. "I also provide my readers with generic press releases they can customize and use to promote their businesses."

About her philosophy behind the site Cheryl stated, "I work on the site every day. It's not flashy or fancy. I think people come to the site for information and entertainment. I don't want the pages to overwhelm the message.

"Working at home has been such a great solution for my family and me. My mission is to help other moms (and dads) realize their work at home dreams. I hope to increase the awareness of the many home-business options families have."

Home-based businesses can be a family affair, too. Cheryl enlisted Nicki, her oldest daughter, to design graphics for the website. "My whole family is involved in my business, and because they have this 'ownership' I think they are less likely to resent the time I have to spend on the business. I've met people from all over the world who, even though we haven't met in person, I consider them to be my friends."

Website promotion is critical to the health of any web-based business. The more you put the message out, the more traffic you generate. Cheryl knows the importance of this step.

"I collaborate with other sites with similar audiences in promoting each other's sites to our mailing list and newsletters. I'm always on the lookout for reciprocal links. I self-syndicate my weekly column/cartoon to other sites, and I provide a free weekly cartoon that people can automatically display on their site."

And her new book "The Work At Home Mom's Guide to Home Business: Stay at Home and Make Money with WAHM.com," will be out in the Spring of 2000.

"I designated the third Monday in August as 'Stay Home with Your Kids Day.' We had a tremendous response this year, and local papers featured several women's home-based businesses."

The growth of the Internet and the expanded communication it offers have supported and encouraged the development of home-based businesses. Cheryl stated, "I'm able to do my work at any time, day or night, and I can easily communicate with people all over the world."

Cheryl's vision for the future of the Internet looks encouraging. "I can imagine companies allowing more and more people to work at home. And, more large companies that are completely web-based, with no physical office space at all."

WAHM.com has brought many gifts to Cheryl but none as meaningful as "it has changed my life completely. I'm now doing what I love."

Get over to WAHM.com for inspiration and business building ideas. You'll be glad you did!