How to Be a Stay-at-Home & Work-at-Home Mom (SLIDESHOW)
Lisa Kanarek
Kate Gosselin, former reality TV star and mom, just started working from home as a contributor to CouponCabin.com. Many of us who work from home may say, “big deal, we work from home too.” But how many of us work with eight kids around?
It’s not always easy to work with children around, but it’s much easier when you go in with realistic expectations and a plan.
Click through the slideshow below for a few simple ways to calm the chaos:
- Make arrangements for childcare
You can’t (and shouldn’t) count on the TV or your child’s naptime to keep him or her busy (If you have to, make sure it is quality programming). There are several options to consider, from family daycare (your child goes to someone else’s house) to at-home childcare (a babysitter comes to your home) to a baby-sitting co-op (you and other parents get together and take turns watching the kids).- Find a preschool
If you have a toddler, consider enrolling him or her in preschool in the mornings so that you have quiet time to catch up on work. You don’t have to feel guilty that your child isn’t home with you all day. It’s good for kids interact with other kids.- Be ready for anything
Be prepared by keeping a box of toys in your home office closet or near your home office, to keep your child busy. Caller ID will make it easier to know whether or not to answer your phone, but if you have a scheduled conference call and your child decides not to nap that day, you’ll have a backup plan.- Set up a mini home office
Set up a mini home office. Bring in a small table and chairs and give your child an old, unused cell phone, glue sticks, and safety scissors. Add plenty of paper and colored pencils and crayons. Your child will be happy to be in the same room with you, and you’ll reduce the number of supplies your child takes out of your desk because your child will have his or her own supplies.
Click on each photo for an enlarged view.
Those of us who have worked from home for years, know what to expect when kids are around, but for someone who’s just starting out, or starting a new work-at-home career, being prepared makes all the difference. Not having a camera crew around can make working from home even easier.
For related links on genConnect:
- New Ways to Multi-Task For the Busy Mom (VIDEO)
- Tips for Feeding a Picky Toddler While Traveling
- Are You a Bossy Mom? By Laurie Puhn
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Category: Career, Career Development, Parenting, Relationships, Views on the News
Interesting. I had no idea Kate was blogging now for Coupon Cabin. I think the question of how she works with "kids around" can be answered in various ways. I have 5 kids, and unlike Kate, my kids are homeschooled. So my kids are ALWAYS around. I cook three meals a day for them, clean up, etc. The flip side is that I have a loving, supportive spouse who works at home with me, so I have help. I'm certainly not complaining, as I would rather be in my situation any day. Thanks for highlighting some of the finer points of working from home! I'm tweeting this now!
Five kids, all homeschooled has to be challenging. You seem to have everything under control and a great support system too. It's not easy to work from home, but the alternative, having to work for someone else, definitely makes the hard work worth it!