How do WAHM do it?

I have a 12 month old and have been working from home since day 1. I am starting to loose my mind! How do you get your work done? My DS can't be in my office because he tries to disconnect my printer/fax. I can't work on my laptop in the playroom because he gets upset he can't hit the keyboard. During my recent conference call DS hit his head and I forgot to hit mute
Is there a science to this? maybe a manual

Any advice would be appreciated.

How do WAHM do it?

when I work at home, I ask my mom or a family member to come over and help watch my kids. If they can't for whatever reason, I will try to do a lot of work when they are napping or sleeping for the night.

Re: How do WAHM do it?

I cannot WAH and watch DS with my job. Would shortchange both. When I WAH someone else is watching him.

Re: How do WAHM do it?

I'm right there with you ... with 17 month old twins!

I work during naptime, and I work after DH gets home which means a lot of very late nights for me.

They are basically down to 1 nap now from 10:30/11 until about 12:30/1:30.

They have "rest time" in the afternoon around 4pm too ... quiet time in their cribs where they can play with some small toys or take a quick nap if they want. I don't know how much longer I can keep that going though, I think they're going to stage a revolt soon!

Fortunately I don't need to be 100% available during regular office hours. While they eat breakfast and lunch in their high chairs, I can respond to some emails quickly.

Most people will say that you should have child care for when you need to be working. That's an ideal situation, but just not possible for us financially.

I am looking forward to when they turn 3 & they are in nursery school for 2 1/2 hrs a day 2 or 3 times a week, and then hopefully come home and take a nap.

Re: How do WAHM do it?

If you work from home, you need childcare.

I had a consulting gig where I worked at home except for meetings. I often did my work at night after the kids went to bed. It was terrible!

Re: How do WAHM do it?

Re: How do WAHM do it?

Posted by PreshusSmurf

I'm right there with you ... with 17 month old twins!

I work during naptime, and I work after DH gets home which means a lot of very late nights for me.

They are basically down to 1 nap now from 10:30/11 until about 12:30/1:30.

They have "rest time" in the afternoon around 4pm too ... quiet time in their cribs where they can play with some small toys or take a quick nap if they want. I don't know how much longer I can keep that going though, I think they're going to stage a revolt soon!

Fortunately I don't need to be 100% available during regular office hours. While they eat breakfast and lunch in their high chairs, I can respond to some emails quickly.

Most people will say that you should have child care for when you need to be working. That's an ideal situation, but just not possible for us financially.

I am looking forward to when they turn 3 & they are in nursery school for 2 1/2 hrs a day 2 or 3 times a week, and then hopefully come home and take a nap.

How do WAHM do it?

If I work from home my DS is still at daycare or with one of the ILs.

Work is impossible to get done with a toddler around. Was possible as a newborn but only when he was sleeping.

Re: How do WAHM do it?

When I first started to WAH, my kids were 2yo and 6mos and napped religiously from 1:30-4pm. My co was in a bind so they were completely content to have me available only via email during those hours.

Now I have a 10mo, 3yo and almost 5yo and I cannot get anything done unless I have a sitter here. Even if DH or my mom is here, I still find I get interrupted for, "Where's the kids' clean laundry? Or do you want to join us for lunch? How about we all go to the park today?" My sitter's the only one who understands the fact that I "work"...haha.

Re: How do WAHM do it?

I WAH 2x's per week and the boys still go to daycare. I wouldn't get any work done if I had them home with me.

Re: How do WAHM do it?

Posted by MCD0524

I have a 12 month old and have been working from home since day 1. I am starting to loose my mind! How do you get your work done? My DS can't be in my office because he tries to disconnect my printer/fax. I can't work on my laptop in the playroom because he gets upset he can't hit the keyboard. During my recent conference call DS hit his head and I forgot to hit mute
Is there a science to this? maybe a manual

Any advice would be appreciated.

Message edited 1/30/2013 5:58:12 PM.

Re: How do WAHM do it?

I bring my kids with me to work- as does my sister.

It's not the pleasure people think it is

I love having them with me- but both my work and thekids suffer from it.

How do WAHM do it?

My friend who works from home has a full time nanny.

Re: How do WAHM do it?

Everyone I work with who has children has childcare. There's absolutely no way to do both

Re: How do WAHM do it?

Impossible. I work from home part time. I don't really have set hours so it's hard to send to daycare or get a nanny. It's in spurts. I try around nap and when my 3 yr old is in preschool. Doesn't always work out so easily.
I have my laptop on the countertop in the kitchen and my iPhone in the office upstairs, which doesn't help since I work downstairs in the kitchen.
Unfortunetly if I have a conf I put on the tv for too long, but when it's quiet I play with the boys. I also do some excel spreadsheets at night.
I do ok, but not worth getting a nanny. Maybe over the summer I'll have my niece be a Mother's helper a few days a week to get the kid's outside and play while I work inside

How do WAHM do it?

I work from home, set hours and I have a nanny that comes to the house. I would never get any work done if I didn't have someone here watching her and I would feel like I was (for lack of a better word) neglecting her. I know it's different for those who don't have set hours and can work around LO's nap schedule. DH seems to think I can make due w/out a sitter- he's nuts!

How do WAHM do it?

Thank you to anyone that answered. My scheduled "was" DS took a nap from 8-10:30am so I put DS in to sleep around 7:45 and I worked 8-10. I would then sign off. Then I would sign in at 2pm and work till 5 (during afternoon nap). Then I work again from 7pm-10:30pm once my DH is home. I don't think a nanny is an option. I do have a mothers helper 1 day a week for 2 hours but she does it for cheap (she is only 11) since I am home with her. I am going to start looking for another mothers helper..If anyone knows anyone I am in Seaford, please FM me. Thanks!!

Re: How do WAHM do it?

Re: How do WAHM do it?

I just met with HR to establish an official WAH schedule 1 day a week. One of their requirements was that I have childcare. I could never work with my 2 little ones at home. I have to sit and focus to do my job. I also make a lot of calls or do research so there is no way I could do that or concentrate with kids around.

Re: How do WAHM do it?

I work at home, but I am a freelancer, so I guess its different for me. I do not have childcare. I work mainly at naptime and at night. I also work weekends when DH is home to watch the kids. I have deadlines I have to meet and as long as I meet them it doesn't matter what time of day I work. If I find myself really in a bind, my mom can watch the kids every once in awhile.
Since I don't make a regular salary, and work is not always consistent, I cannot afford to hire a nanny or bring my kids to daycare. I have to make it work. It is extremely difficult, most days I do not get any time to relax at all.

Re: How do WAHM do it?

Re: How do WAHM do it?

How do WAHM do it?

I work from home and DS goes to daycare. There's no way I could work and have him home. I get a lot of calls during my work hours and DS loves attention, he will try to speak to me while i'm on the phone, so there's no way that would work.

How do WAHM do it?

I am lucky that I get to make my own schedule, so I do my work during naptime and at night. A lot of people like to work through email, so I don't have to call much, so even when she's playing I can shoot emails out.

Re: How do WAHM do it?

When I was pregnant with DD I was naive and thought I could do it.
The first day I tried it I knew better.
You can't do both- focus on your job and your child 100%.
You end up short changing both.

If I have to do it in an emergency- like she is sick and can't go to daycare, and I have nobody else to watch her- fine.
That is once in a blue moon and I suck it up and deal

But on a regular basis. No way
DH has to be home watching her or she has to be at daycare in order for me to work