I know I annoy people on Facebook with my updates that include links to my latest articles. But the people who truly know me, and understand my financial situation support me. This faithful tribe shares my articles, and helps me grow my business. So when friends on social media invite me to a ‘virtual party’ where they will ask me to buy whatever they are selling, I accept.

My sister-in-law is a health consultant for a company that sells fitness DVDs and nutritional shakes, I choose to buy her products than pay for a gym membership. Recently, after writing an article about my love affection for yoga pants, a friend introduced me to a company started by a single-mother raising seven children. Yes, you read that correctly, seven kids! Her company promotes female empowerment through its clothing, and women (mostly moms) sell to other moms. The Target Corporation has seen a major decline in sales since this discovery.

Showing up to essential oil parties, a Bunko night turned sales pitch for totes and organizers and opening up my home to a friend who wants to sell books is par for the course in my life. I support mothers, not corporations. I would rather line the pocketbooks of a fellow mother than the deep pockets of a CEO.

Recently, Verizon struck a deal to acquire Yahoo for $4.83 billion. That’s Corporate America for you, they don’t need my money. You know who does? The mom across the street with four kids whose husband is between jobs. The mother whose daughter is in the same dance class with my daughter, and needs money to pay for said classes. My sister-in-law whose earnings from her side wellness business pays for my nephews’ extra-curricular activities.

When I shared this viewpoint with someone, they responded with, “why doesn’t she just get a regular job?” Clearly this misinformed person hasn’t taken a look at daycare rates lately. Besides that, what business is it of anyone else’s but the mother herself, if she chooses to financially contribute to her family in an unconventional way?

The other complaint I hear from others about my fellow mamas making money through home businesses is that they self-promote through social media too much. My response to that is this: “Are you just as annoyed by television commercials, or email ads?” I find it funny that people don’t realize these women are trying to promote product, just like the big corporations do. The only difference is they don’t have the funds to get an advertising slot with a clever 30-second spot on TV in the prime time hours. I’ve even heard of people ‘unfriending’ or ‘unfollowing’ family and friends simply because they promote their work online. Way to be supportive.

How else are women who are trying to provide for their families in this economy supposed to market themselves? Word of mouth and referrals only gets you so far. Social media can be a beautiful thing for those looking to grow their business. As a writer, I can tell you I would have no audience if it wasn’t for social media. The same can be said for women running home businesses trying to find customers and clients. You may call it annoying, I call it networking.

So before you complain about that invite, or Facebook post coming from a mompreneur, think about where the money is going. Perhaps directly into a grocery shopping fund, dance classes, therapy for a special needs child, or maybe a nice pair of shoes for a mom who totally deserves it. Regardless, consider supporting a mom, instead of complaining about one. We have enough billionaire CEOs in this world, how awesome would it be if you could help a mom make six figures?