Before my husband and I embarked on our journey to try to get pregnant, we did all we could to make sure things were “just right.” (You know the thinking I’m talking about, don’t you? The money, the car, the house, all that in order and straight as an arrow? That. I guess some people call it getting your “duck in a row.”) I switched to a school district closer to home that paid more, we bought a larger SUV, I cut back my Dr Pepper consumption, and drank a little more water. We were prepared. (So I thought).
What I always knew in the back of my mind, though, was that I really wanted to stay at home with our child. I know that’s a battle most moms go through: working and supporting the family finances or being home with a new baby. Throughout my entire pregnancy, I looked for jobs that would provide more flexibility than being in a kindergarten classroom all day away from our son. With every lead, a door closed. Every opportunity turned into a dead end. I was at the end of the rope; I was frustrated, tired, and disappointed.
I was due October 2, 2010, and in August, very much to my dismay, I headed back to work to set up my new classroom (our district re-aligned, and I was one who got moved). I got things set up for the few weeks I’d be there before the long-term substitute came in for my maternity leave.
Then a funny thing happened. My son arrived, and a door flew wide open. I had an opportunity to work from home for a friend’s small business. We crunched some numbers, looked at our budget, and made the leap. I was going to be able to stay home with my son, and I was over the moon! These days, many opportunities are available for work from home income for parents wanting to go that route (both moms and dads).
Now that I had this new gig, I needed a plan in place so that work and snuggles could exist in perfect harmony. Of course, my system was different than it is now with a preschooler, but the basics are the same. It’s not always easy, but it IS possible (and rewarding, and worth it) to work from home and have little ones running around at the same time. Working from home is not for everyone, but here are some of my tips to help work-at-home-mamas or mamas who may be interested in tackling a work-at-home gig.
Pick a time to work. For me, it is easiest to work when everyone is sleeping. No, I don’t mean naptime. That’s my time to recharge before the boy is back up and running. I mean nighttime. I’m always the last one up anyway, and this lets me use my time productively. I know lots of moms who use naptime to work, and that’s totally fine, too. The important part is to pick a time that works for you, and use it to your advantage to get the bulk of your work done.
Organize your time. Use a calendar or list to help you stay on track with what’s important each day. Since I like to work at night, sometimes I have issues that need to be handled during business hours that have carried over. When I know what I have to do, it’s a lot easier to get it completed. As moms, we talk a lot about keeping our families on a schedule, and it’s just as important to keep ourselves on one! I use a combination of things to keep my time organized: the Calendar app on my phone, a paper planner that allows met to allot specific amounts of time to each task, and Notability on my iPad to sync notes from iPad to iPhone after meetings.
Include your children (when possible). While this isn’t always a possibility, it has really helped around our house. My son loves to use my “work papers” to “do work” of his own. He’ll usually pull his desk up next to mine and get to it. Even if the task you give them doesn’t actually have to do with your work, including them lets them be part of it, rather than something that is taking time away from them.
Go mobile. Honestly, this is my lifesaver a lot of times. I can do a good percentage of my work from my iPhone or iPad, so I am able to go and do with my son without fear that work will come up outside of my “scheduled” work time. If something comes up that I am not able to accomplish while I’m out, I use Notability on the iPad or just send myself a quick email to remind me to take care of it when we’re home. You could do the same with your phone or plain ol’ paper and pen. It’s all about finding what works best for you and your family.
Stay Sane. Y’all, this is so important. I mentioned above that I use naptime for recharging while my son sleeps. This is a huge part of my day. I can tell a huge difference in the days I work through naptime and the days I use it to recharge (I’m sure my husband would agree). When working from home, it is easy to make all the time seem like work time if you’re not careful. I had a really hard time with this at first. Setting boundaries—and keeping them—will allow for the best work-at-home experience. Prioritize date night, quality time with your kids, and taking care of yourself! When you’re off the clock, be present and enjoy!
Are some days harder than others? Absolutely. Is it worth it to be home with my boy? You betcha! I wouldn’t trade it for the world, and I’m so glad we’ve been able to find a balance between work and home life that is perfect for us! Are you a work-at-home mom? Thinking about becoming one? What are you best tips and tricks?
Source: http://momquery.com/5-tips-work-home-moms/
By Jolie Gray
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