Please HELP!!!! WAHM Trying to Find Balance

Hi E.,

I SO know how you feel. When I started working from home everything was great. Then it's like it dawned on my daughter that this was a way to push my buttons and get what she wanted. She knew that if I was working then I couldn't focus my full attention on her at times. I felt like I was spinning in circles, yet going nowhere. I was trying to work and do it all at one time, all day long.
I finally set a schedule. I started first by watching our days for a little bit to see when she was the rowdiest and when she was a little more relaxed. I try to spend a little time working in the mornings before she gets up, then we spend the morning - breakfast etc. together. We have our time when we play and color. When it's nice outside we spend as much time out there as possible. I can work while she plays in the yard. Luckily my position allows me to work mainly by appointment so I can also schedule during naps and our slower times. But the main thing is to have a schedule and work when it's work time and stop when it's not. We have to work smarter, not harder. Even though we are working at home, we still need to acknowledge some kind of closed sign or we will work ourselves ragged and still not be where we want to be.
The schedule will be hard for all at first, but we all like structure and predictability. Once everyone gets used to the schedule it will just be "a way of life." Hopefully you will get to relax a little too.

Have a great one!
A.

Keep a schedule, I know it's hard.
Let the children help you work as well. Give them little "jobs" and pay them with treats they normally don't get on a regular basis. I don't know how everything is set up but if you have a playroom or an office make a little drawer or storage ben with toys they only get to play with when mommy works and they have to be good to get them as well.
I'm sure your 4 year old will understand, maybe not the baby.
I hope that helps or maybe brings some ideas to you.

E. - I friend of mine who runs a business from home does this: Buy some toys that are special and keep them in a basket and only let them play with the toys when you need to work. This really works for her. Good luck!

I FEEL YOUR PAIN!
Same thing here, and I don't even have the mother's day out break!
However, I have a neat document that a friend gave me about ordering your child's day so you can run a home business. You have to be pretty structured, which is HARD for me, but when I stick to it, we have great days. It works better with the almost-4-yr-old than with the almost-2-yr-old, but that's to be expected. One thing that helped was a wireless network in the house. My kids have video time twice a day and I could sit in the same room with them while they watch Barney or whatever and get 30 min of time on the computer with internet access and printing capabilities. Also, they have a morning "break-time." After some morning fun and togetherness, around 10am one goes to their room or the play room for 30 min while the other has one-on-one Mommy time, the next half hour they switch. The next half hour or so, they've been apart so long that they'll play happily together, or at least in the same room (I usually suggest the activity) for a half hour. After that it's usually lunch time, then I read them a couple stories and send them off for afternoon naps from about 1-3. Even if my older child doesn't nap, she is to stay in her room for the full 2 hours and rest or play quietly.
This REALLY cuts down on the amount of work I do in the evenings. And, for my husband's sake, the 9pm hour is "us" time at least 3 nights a week.

Start with typing up a schedule and posting it to the wall or refrigerator, and see how your kids' day flows naturally. You may be doing all of the right activities, etc., but just need to work on transitioning quickly. A Pampered Chef kitchen timer will help. Also, I had a hard time scheduling things in half-hour blocks, etc. I simply set goals by the hour: "in the 9:00 hour we will have a snack and play outside, then pick up toys"
Move things around based on your fixed outings and obligations (MDO, dance class, Bible study, etc.).
And, for starters, just work on one part of the day at a time. It will take about 3 or 4 days to get the kids used to the morning break. It will, of course, be easier if the previous half hour or so has been some very fun "all together" time.
And, if something doesn't look like it's working, move it or take it out. It may take you a month to get the right routine/schedule, but you can do it!
Good luck!

Sounds like you can use an extra hand. Find someone that you can balance out your schedule with. Something like, "I watch your kids for X hours, while you work, and you watch my kids for X hours while I work". I'm sure many people would be up for it. As much as we hate it sometimes, kids are going to be kids and act like kids, you can only do so much to keep them on their toes. You're stressed out and have every reason to be! Woman, get someone to help out.

Well, if you have a solid time/s a few days a week that you could schedule and block off and would be willing to allow me to bring my 5 month old I would be willing to come over to assist with the kiddos and housework while you work if you are interested ____@____.com