I’m looking for tips from work at home moms. What kind of routine do you use to balance chores, kids, & work?
Paula from Maple Street asked:
I have a three year old at home with me during the day, and I feel like I’m always shooing him away to get my work done, but it’s counter-productive because it makes him even clingier. The hubby and school age kids look at me like I’ve been eating bon bons all day since the house isn’t any cleaner than when they left in the morning. Daycare isn’t an option until I’m actually making money with this new endeavor, and kind of defeats the purpose of working at home anyway. I know there is a way to get it all balanced, I just need some guidance and practical advice from someone who’s got it going on. Thanks!
Thanks everyone for some helpful tips. I’m kind of doing a conglomeration of all of it, so evidently I’m on the right track. I’m also going to negotiate a day with Grandma so that I have a kid-free day to really concentrate on work.
Nanny - I would love to spend the entire day playing with and teaching my children. I would also like to feed them and keep a roof over their heads. To try and lay a guilt trip on me or any of the countless other moms who are struggling to balance work and family, happiness and survival, is judgemental and insulting. We all have to do the best we can with what we’ve got. Your ID of Nanny suggests that you are paid to watch someone else’s kids. Don’t let your negative impressions of your employer make you think you’re better than the rest of us moms. Most of us are working our jobs AND cleaning our houses AND caring for our children AND caring for our aging parents, etc. I’m sorry, but we just don’t have any spare time to join you on your pedestal.
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Filed Under Toddler & Preschooler |
Tagged With Conglomeration, Guidance, Making Money
Comments
6 Responses to “I’m looking for tips from work at home moms. What kind of routine do you use to balance chores, kids, & work?”
put them in bed early and stay up late, + work during naptimes.. thats the only way i ever get anything done.
you can do your business and chores while the child is sleeping and watching tv, best time for business early morning hours till the child wakes up. you can do chores and some business also when he naps just check on him every half hour.
I thought my 4 month old would be easy, but it is so hard to get things done! I use the exersaucer and the baby einstine to give myself at least 30 minutes uninterrupted. You could try to make a video routine,maybe close to naptime when he is more tired. Set the stage, tell him what you expect, give him a special spot, let him choose the DVD of the day, and then tell him you are going to work and he can’t talk to you unless he is hurt or the DVD is over. Then you cna get started and follow up during nap time. Make nap time a must too. My friend of 2 and 4 year olds tell them they will have to be in their room on their bed for the nap hour. Sometimes they sleep, sometimes she has to go in several times and remind them, but mostly this is the routine and they accept it. Three year olds thrive on routine. It just takes a while for them to learn it! Good luck!
You shouldn’t be “shooing” your kid away from you - isn’t that the reason you wanted to stay home? To raise him? That should be your first and only priority - spending time with him, playing with him, teaching him and enjoying every minute with him!
I am a stay at home mom, and yes it is really hard to do all that is needed. Right next to your desk maybe you could have a desk for your three yr. old. They can play office with you. Have there pretend computer or just some coloring books, their own office supplies. That way they are next to you and maybe they won’t be so clingy. If they have a t.v. playing, maybe some earphones for your child, so you don’t get distracted. You need to stick to a set schedule, yes it takes effort, but in the long run it will pan out. I think you need to talk to your family about your feelings, and they should try to understand, it is a group effort. Why don’t you make crock pot meals, it cooks while you work. We have a chart where my children have a schedule of chores they need to do to help out. Just because they go to school, doesn’t mean they have no chores. When we grow up, we work, we come home, we still work. That is life. Well I hope it turns out for you.
When I started my business at home so I could be a stay at home mom, seriously I didn’t get any business work done. I did get housecleaning and stuff like that done as it’s easy to include the child (takes longer though), and teach them at the same time you’re getting things done. But as for the business, I had to do that when I could totally concentrate, at nap time and evenings, early morning. If you’re trying to be a stay at home mom, then that’s your first priority, even though you’re wanting to center on your business. Unfortunately, that probably just won’t happen. If your child doesn’t have your attention during the day, then daycare would probably be funner, safer and more fulfilling anyway. Not that you have to be with your child 24/7, but you really won’t be able to concentrate on anything business-wise with a toddler around. My older sister and her husband raised a child until preschool at their business, but they worked together and could share the responsibilities, they also had office help that tended to look after the kids when necessary. I ended up moving my office out of the house to the business district and putting my little ones in daycare. Sucks and I feel guilty, but that was the only way I could get anything done and make $$ at my own business which is flourishing. So are the kids, they love daycare, but I still feel guilty and wish I could be home.