For those who work from home...

Are you actually able to get any work done? I get so frustrated. It's constant stop and start.

I had to turn work down yesterday. They needed it done pronto, and I just didn't think I could deliver. And believe me we need the $$!!

Then at night after they go to sleep it's always my plan to get things done, but many times I wind up falling asleep.

 

Are you actually able to get any work done? I get so frustrated. It's constant stop and start.

I had to turn work down yesterday. They needed it done pronto, and I just didn't think I could deliver. And believe me we need the $$!!

Then at night after they go to sleep it's always my plan to get things done, but many times I wind up falling asleep.

 

I work some from the office some and some from home. I have to get stuff done at home or they won't let me keep my job. I have hired a great lady from the community to come and help me. It's the best of both worlds. I can be with them and oversee their care, but also have help so that I can get work done. Do you have the opportunity to hire someone to help?

Warmly,
Colette

 

I have a teenager that comes in the afternoons on Tues and Thur from 2-5 and they girls are in a Mom's Day Out Program from 9am to 1pm on Tues and Thurs. My mom comes on Mondays from 9-1 and then I am on my own for the afternoon. Then on Fridays my mother in law takes them from 9-5 and I am off on Wed. I seriously could not do it without help. I mean I could but I really wouldn't get anything done. Its tough. I would definently consider hiring some help! The great thing is. The teenager isn't going to be the greatest but they will learn and you are always there overseeing everything!

 

I've always worked at nap and bedtime. Those have been very strict times in our house because I need to get things done. Work comes before housework in the heirarchy during the times when the girls are asleep because it "needs" to be done while housework is usually just a "want". During the first couple of years, I didn't even try to work when the girls were awake because I would have been up and down with them. Naps and bedtime did give me enough time to get a few hours of work done everyday though.

 

I find it sssoooooo frustrating. I posted just the other day how stressed I am. Today was a good day though, my best friend came over from 1 til 7; she took care of the babies, did some housework, fixed dinner and cleaned up after. I felt like I had gotten 10 times the work done that I had done in the last two weeks- and I had a clean kitchen to boot. The biggest saving grace when I'm so frustrated though is to walk over to where they're fussing to deal with them and they look up at me and smile those big toothless smiles- it melts my heart.
I was just reading a post on kudos to SAHMs...I agree, and I'm upping the ante to special kudos to those of us who are both bread winners AND primary caregivers to our bundles

 

Yeah, it is tough. I was telling DH two days ago that I have mastered the art of multi-tasking ... I actually did an interview on the phone (i'm a freelance writer), took notes and gave my girls snack in their high chairs!!

I try and make the calls I need to make in the morning, and then do my best to take the calls when they come in. Yesterday, while doing an interview, one of the girls hurt her finger in a toy! I have had to explain on more than one occassion that I work from home and that I have twins ... usually people are fine with that. Obviously, if I was doing something like fundraising, I would not be doing it with them awake.

When I have to write, like I will tomorrow, I will do my best to get started in the morning sometime and then I will finish at night once they get to bed.

I like the idea of getting a teen in in the afternoons, but not sure that will help me when I can't get a hold of people. I will consider that, though. I guess we can pay them pretty cheap.

 

I didn't work from home but I did take K&K to the office with me starting at 6 weeks until they were 4 1/2. I worked M-F 9-5 in an office over my bosses garage. I guess the benefit of being out of the house was I wasn't tempted to do household chores because I wasn't home. We are creatures of habit so I quickly established a routine. I could save my major paperwork until they were napping but it was also part of my job to answer the phones and you know you can't control when that will be. Many a time I was answering a phone and writing a message while feeding a bottle, I actually got fairly good at it. Oddly enough I went back to work the Monday after Thanksgiving the year the K team was born. For the first couple of weeks I didn't think I was going to make it. I am not sure if it was partially the stress of the holidays or the fact I had been on bedrest for so many weeks prior to delivering but it was stressful and I did contemplate figuring out something different. After a couple weeks I felt I really had a hang on the routine, I knew when I could get things done and when I should concentrate more on the babies and they learned too. Growing up in the environment really made them adjust well in my opinion, of course at each new phase I thought gosh there is no way I am going to be able to do this but I did. It is hard to be the breadwinner and mom at the same time but for me it was all about establishing a routine and then getting the most out of nap time which for us was pretty good. K&K were great nappers thank goodness!

There were a few times I had to tell the person on the phone about the twins and how my boss let me take them to work with me. Usually the response was amazing and the next time they would call they would ask how they are doing. I haven't been there since May, my bro still works for the company and a couple of his customers still ask how the twins are. I think that is sweet. Our deal in the office was to always be honest about everything so if we had to tell people there were two babies (and three dogs) in the office then so be it. Like I said, most people enjoyed learning about our work situation. I think it made them realize we were human and not just trying to sell them something.

 

I work FT from home, but I have a nanny here to watch them 8-5 M-F. I'd never, ever get my work done without someone here. I've been so crazy busy that I've been working 6-8 hours extra a week at night when they are playing with DH/going to bed.

Those of you who get work done without anyone to help you out...hats off to you! Whenever I attempt it I just feel like running around pulling out my hair.

 

I run my DH's business from home which includes answering phones, submitting claims and payroll stuff. I don't have any help from anyone for the girls. It's really really hard. I usually start about 5:30 am with paperwork and work until they wake around 7:30 am and I do more paperwork during their naptime (1-3) and then more in the evening. For the phone calls, I usually run around the house trying to avoid a crying toddler to schedule the appts. It can be stressful but it can be done. I feel like I work 5x harder at home than I did when I worked in an office and it doesn't ever seem to stop. I feel like I am always working 7 days a week 24/7. Good luck!

 

I do website design for small businesses, by referral only so I don't have a constant stream of clients, but ALL of my clients know I'm a SAHM and that I work during naps and at night. But I base my deadlines on knowing that I only have a max of 4 hours to work on stuff during the week (more on weekends) I won't work past 10 PM and I HAVE to exercise every day.

I don't think I could work from home if I wasn't self-employed because I just don't have the hours to put into it. My priorities are kids/DH, me, work. The good thing is we don't depend on my income. It's just extra fun money.