Question for Mom's Who Work from Home

It's not easy :) I have been working exclusively from home since 2008 (part-time before that) as a paralegal and some days I want to jump off of a building! I still have 4 kids at home - 13, 12, 10 and 9, but my youngest two are special needs and are more like having a 5 and 2 yr old. During the school year, I do "OK" since they are all in school full time. Summers are killer, though. Right now, I get up two hours before they do and try to get some time in. Throughout the day, I get a few hours in here and there, and then at the end of the night, I try to get 2 more hours in if possible (sometimes I am so fried at that point, I simply can't). I do have someone come to help with my 9 yr old during the day, but she has already decided after 2 weeks, that she doesn't want to do it anymore and is planning on giving her notice. I must say it hasn't been terribly helpful anyways since I hear everything that is going on and it takes so much will power not to intervene.

If it were me, I would see if you couldn't find some morning daycare or preschool program. That way, you could drop her off in the morning (maybe she could even do lunch there) and then get a 4 hr chunk of time, pick her up and have her take her nap, which would give you another 2 hrs or so, and then you would have the rest of the afternoon and evening with your daughter.

Finally, make sure that your friends and family understand that even though you are working from home, you are still WORKING! It took my family a long time to understand, that just because I am at home, doesn't mean that it isn't a "real job" and NO I cannot watch your kid, run an errand for you, talk you through some emotional problem, etc. when I am working - I wouldn't be able to do those things if I was at an actual "office," and I cannot do them now. Sorry to vent . . . can you tell it's has been a tough two weeks since the kids have been out of school? :)

Good luck!

In my experience -- I've worked from home through two children for the past 7 years-- you have to have a babysitter for the work time. It is not fair to your employer or your child for you not to separate your time dedicated to each.

My dd stopped needing naps in the middle of first grade. My DS stoped napping right at 3. I stay up until 2 a.m. working these days since my nanny left, and I'm not much of a mother the next day.

I find myself in great conflict quite often between time dedicated to my babies and time dedicated to my clients and honestly my kids lose out quite often. It's a pretty rotten feeling to them and to me, but it is work.

Do yourself a favor and dedicate 4 hours of daylight time a day to work and find someone to watch your baby. I had my nanny come to the house, so I was never away from them and that worked beautifully.

I wish you all the best!

If your daughter has any regular playmates, try to work out an arrangement with their mom - you take their kid for 2-3 hours three days a week and she takes yours for the same. Its not much more work for you to have an extra kid for a few hours, and you get 2-3 hrs to work when she has yours (out of your house). Even if the other mom doesnt need time to work, I dont know any SAHM who wouldnt mind havent a few hours every other day just to themselves - either to nap, shop, clean or get a manicure without towing a little one along with them. Approach her with your need and suggestion but then stress what the benefit would be for her (you dont want her to think she is doing you a favor and you shouldnt feel you owe her for agreeing to this, you want an even exchange). Good luck!

Maybe find a local college student majoring in child development or education. Since most university classes aren't everyday, you could have affordable care in your home and give you chunks of time to get work done. You can work together to find the best schedule for everyone.

How exciting! I work a lot on the computer during the day since my home business is done a lot online.

I work through nap time, night time and I set up a little snack or activity for the boys if I have to work more. Sometimes, I will turn on a favorite movie for them.

It's easiest to work for short spurts of time, so you can work throughout the day, but still spend lots of time with your child.

Maybe, you can even put her in a mother's day out program,. They are usually 2 days a week and from around 9-2. You can get the bulk of your work done then, and she will have lots of fun socializing and learning lessons and activities.

Hiring a sitter to care for your child in your home a few hours maybe twice a week would be helpful as well.

I've work as a full time telecommuter for 10 yrs. It's hard to juggle family and work but worth it. Although my kids were older a lot of my coworkers had very young children. The option that most seemed to use was to work during naps and after the kids went to bed. Some hired mother's helpers to come in and babysit a few hours a day. A few were lucky enough to have family members come over and take their kids which allowed them to work several full days a week instead of part time every day.

The most important thing is to make sure everyone knows your schedule so that you can work uninterrupted. My family, friends, and neighbors were always popping in or calling which was terribly distracting.

Ease into it and you'll find what works best for your family.

I work from home full time and have regular office hours. My daughter goes to daycare just the same as she would if I worked in the office. I actually work the same as if I were in the office...some days I am too busy to even go to the fridge to get some lunch. It just depends on your boss's expectations of your schedule and your work ethic.

Nap time or after she's gone to bed. Otherwise, a babysitter at home or MDO - the moms day out is usually less expensive than a babysitter. Obviously, it depends on how much you're getting paid vs. the cost of care to see if it's worth doing while she's awake :) Good luck!

I have worked from home since my first son was born. Same thing... my old boss made concessions & then couldn't lose me. :) Anyway, its hard. Its really hard. However, the plus sides are: no day care & extra money. The down sides (for me) are: my house is always a disaster (until the weekend, when we can actually do something about it), i feel many times like i'm ignoring my children (although i do have really good independent players & i keep the screen time at 2 hours for the 4.5 year old) & ignoring my work. I work when the little one is napping, when my older one is in preschool & at night. You could probably find a mom's day out preschool program for a few hours a few times a week also.
I love it because i still feel like i'm contributing to my company (that i've been with for 17 years) & that i don't have to send my kids to daycare for the entire day. I hate it because i feel pulled in a million directions all day. Some days i just wish i could go to an office to have some peace and quiet. :)
Good luck!
C.

You answered your question you get up early or work late into the night and at nap times. Or get a teen to come over nd play with her mto keep her buzy and close the door. She may cry at frst but will adjust. My sister did not do that and tried to take care of 3 busy boys. We would spent time entering data only to hit the wrong key and delete it all and have to reenter it numerous times in the day. Her computer was in the dining room no door. She thought the TV would keep them busy but not always. They fought allot.

I have a friend who enters medical billing data and gets up at 3 or 4 and works until 10 or so and after dinner when hubby is home. Her kids are older and very active in dance and sports. She says it works well for her but you have to stay dedicted to it. Good luck.

I have been working from home for almost 2 years now. But my job is such that I am on conference calls and have to respond rather quickly to e-mails. I have a babysitter come in during the day and watch the kids. It is great because I pretty much still eat breakfast and lunch with them and I can come out and sneak hugs all day!

One thing that is hard about working from home is drawing the line. Work will always be there now, you can't ever get away from it. Especially for you because you are going to have to be working in your down time from the kiddos.

Maybe this is a good time to encourage some independent play for your little one. This way you can get some work done while she is awake and not spend all of your "off" time working.

Good luck!

...Well it would ultimately depend on what your Boss expects.... and what your work 'hours' are and when you have to be working, as an 'employee.'

My friend, is employed, works from home.... has a young child like you... and so she has regular work hours like the rest of her office/co-workers and clients. She cannot just work whenever she wants, or at night etc. So, for her, although she is working from home, she had to get a Nanny to help watch her son.... because she is "working."

Again, it depends on your Boss's expectations and your requirements.
Because you are an "employee"... not just working for yourself.
If you are getting paid salary... or hourly, you cannot just work when your kid is napping. Or at night... unless your telecommuting enables you to work according to your own schedule, and is not reliant on day office hours like most, nor on clients or 'meetings' from home etc.

Since it's summer, can you find a neighborod teen/tween to come in a few hours a day to "babysit" while you get some work done? That will keep your evenings free to be with your husband and daughter and you won't lose sleep!

I have only been working from home for a year and a half- with a 5 yo, and a *almost* 2 yo. I do like to get up early and work for a hour before they get up and I still like to work after they go to bed at 7:30. I have to have them taken care of during the day as I have too many calls/work to do. If possible I will take my breaks to spend them with the kids- but depending on your work it may be hard to work while caring for kids. As a previous response said- it isn't fair to your kids to try to do both!

I would try to find another mom who has the same age child or close, and swap hrs for hrs. It's great since your already with your child, another just makes it more fun! And of course you can always try to buy a new toy at a garage sale and bring it out when you need to work. Your child will eventually learn to play a bit on his or her own. It's going to take time. Or save that special program he'll sit for ( even if only for a couple of minutes) for when you need to finish up something. Plan plan plan ahead ! Good luck, and welcome back tot he work force! L.

I know this is late.......a little behind on my emails. I am pregnant with my 4th child and I also work from home. I don't agree with all the other moms that say a babysitter is a must. I have been working from home since 2003 and have never used a babysitter while I work. Infants and toddler nap times are definitely work times. But, once they hit 18 mos to 2 years old, I used different tactics.

I had a box of toys that were only allowed to be played with while I needed a little time for concentrated work. It was right beside me, so we could have each other's company, but it kept them playing quietly while I concentrated. These toys were never allowed out at any other time, so the kids see it as a special treat.

I also set a timer for them. When the timer went off........they knew it was time for "mommy time" and we would play a game together, read a book, or just do whatever the child(ren) wanted to do WITH me. Then, I would reset the timer and do it again.

I used daddy time. For an hour or two after dinner, the kids spent quality time with just daddy while I got a bit of work done. This happened about 3 times a week. The rest of the week, we all spent time together.

Weekends. Although, family was always our priority on the weekends, if we had some downtime, I would try to get in a few hours of work while my hubby was home.

Rewards. I became good at setting family goals for my work and shared the reward with the kids. This is better if the kids are 3 or older. I would tell them that mommy needs to do ______ by ______ (make small goals for kids to see results faster). If I got my goal accomplished, we would all do something special (i.e. eat a picnic lunch, play at the park for a while, popcorn and a movie together, etc). Believe it or not, the kids get the hang of it and start asking you how close you are to your goal. It is also a good lesson for kids to learn.

You can do this and it is a great opportunity for you and your child. Just have to be a little flexible and include your child in as much of your "work" as you can. She will actually feel very important when she gets to be a part of it all. My kids did. Good luck!

Can your husband take over for a few hours at night or when he gets home?