Mom Work From Home

But the issue then arises of what to do with them while you work.

Unless you are homeschooling older children, the children at home will be under the age of 5. So providing proper child care during the day is very important. You can't just let them loose and tell them to fix their own snacks and lunch. You have to make time and effort in their care throughout the day. But don't worry... it can be done!

Mom Work From Home - Set a Schedule!

Mom Work From Home - WHERE Should You Work?

It does involve a fair bit of being able to maintain concentration amid the hubbub of musical toys and talking Elmos, but this is a skill you learn to perfect anyway as a mom!

Try to come up with activities that will keep your children busy. Have coloring books and crayons on hand. Put a small basket of toys in the room, so they can keep themselves busy playing.

Try to keep your toy supply varied - I rotate mine, and I also use simple (safe) household items for entertainment to keep things interesting. My 16 month old, for example, loves playing with an empty quick-oats tubs, with a hole cut in the lid. He can sit there for ages, posting things into the hole, then tipping them back out!

For a little baby, have the bassinet in the room - and for a toddler, make sure your work area is baby-proof.

If your children are old enough, offer a reward or extra allowance if they are helpful. Make them a part of the work day by giving them small tasks, such as emptying the trash basket or dusting the room, or even vacuuming the floor (unlike you, they'll find it fun!).

Mom Work From Home - Working Without The Children Around

• Make the most of nap times. If your little one sleeps for a certain amount of time, schedule a certain part of that time for housework and the rest for working at your business (I try to spend the least time on the housework, by rushing to get through it as quickly as I can!).
• Try getting up extra early and working before everyone else is awake. This is the solution I use and - without a doubt - it's the one that works best for me. I'm most productive in the mornings anyway, so an hour spent working whilst the rest of the household sleeps peacefully is worth three hours at any other time!
• You can also try working AFTER the children are in bed. I do this occasionally but, as you know, it can be hard to get going after a busy day caring for your little ones! If you DO need to work in the evenings, try to get started IMMEDIATELY after putting the children to bed. Don't make the mistake of sitting down for a little rest first - it's twice as hard to get motivated again!
• Look into hiring a baby sitter for one or two days a week, for a couple of hours. If the babysitter comes into your home, then you'll still be right there should your little one need you... but it eases the burden of care enough to allow you to get some work done, too.
• Find other parents in a similar situation with whom you can arrange play dates. On the days you care for someone else's children as well as your own, you'll probably be pleased to discover that your child will be so occupied with his playmate that he won't demand as much time from you!

Allow yourself enough time in the day to care for and spend time with your children. Do your most important job of all - being a mom. Work from home should not take away from the care and quality time you spend with your children. If you have a small baby, take time to feed and care for him or her, quite aside from your work.

Go to top of Mom Work From Home.