WAHM - do you use childcare?
For those work-at-home-moms, do you have childcare for your kids while you are working, or do you work with your kids around? For those that work with kids in tow, how do you balance being a mom and getting your work done?
I am not a WAHM but I have a work-at-home-dad (WAHD)
My husband works at home with our son around. He has a really hard time with him from day to day. So there are times that my husband will take our son over to his grandparents house so that he can get some work done. While our son is in preschool it works out great. My husband was getting 2 1/2 hours of quite time 3 days a week. But now it all has changed because school is out. And of course business has picked up.
I am sure that my husband would love to know if any one has some great suggestions. His business really needs to run from 8 - 6 Monday thru Friday. Any suggestions would be great!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mommy of Aaron
Swap!
I occasionally swap kids with my friend so I can get work done or go to a meeting/event outside my home. I have been thinking about hiring a jr higher from our church to help out sometimes around my house while I'm home. This would give her babysitting experience while there's still an adult around and it wouldn't be as expensive as hiring an older babysitter. We even have some homeschoolers at our church that maybe could do it during the school year. I also occasionally use my parents to help out since they don't work on Fridays.
Monica
Mom to Brian, Wesley, and Curtis
Wife to Lavon
www.MonicasBooks.com
Was in the Same Boat
Working from home especially in the summer is hard with kids around. BUT there is something you can do. It depends on the age of the children, I am assuming the child is smaller. I also started off my day (meaning waking up earlier) and getting the most important things out of the way while my children sleep. It was quiet and I got a lot done. But it also meant getting up at 6 am to get paperwork done. Once they were awake I gave them one free hour to bug me (I gave them breakfast, talked about what needed to be done for the day, etc.)After that was done, I would tell my children it was time fr me to "Work" and not play. I set them up with things to do that I know would last for an hour at least. Then I took a 5 minute break with them. And then reset them up with different things to do for another hour. If it lasted more than an hour I was YAHOO! I know it's hard to do that, but sometimes it's good to take a 5 min break with them and give them your attention (get them a snack, get yourself another cup of coffee) and then head back to work. I found I actually got more done this way! After they got older it was longer than hour. Now they go 4-5 hours without "bugging" me. And we do the same thing though. Good Luck.
Fun things for the child to do while you/hubby works:
Buy a small child's computer that has learning games on it.
Books that if he tares them up while you are not looking its not a big deal.
Joni Lochtefeld
Unique Creations
Photos, Photo Montages,
Day Care Cameras
www.uniquecreationsvideo.com