Ideas to make life for the work-at-home moms an their families just a bit easier.
It can seem daunting to pack up all the stuff you need for a picnic, especially with little kids, all for just for one meal. But if you have a picnic bag or basket ready with all the non-food items, that will speed your way. Keep these picnic things in a backpack, canvas bag or basket.
Experience is the best teacher, but it never hurts to pick up tips from those who have been down the same path. So whether you've got words of wisdom to share or are looking for some advice about working at home or parenting or both, check out the links below.
It can seem daunting to pack up all the stuff you need for a picnic, especially with little kids, all for just for one meal. But if you have a picnic bag or basket ready with all the non-food items, that will speed your way. Keep these picnic things in a backpack, canvas bag or basket.
Organize kids' art supplies into an art room or art space for your child, so he can work on art projects on his own without interrupting to ask where the art supplies are
In the world of iPods and MP3 players, CD players seem almost as quaint as a cassette player or even a turntable, but they still have a lot of uses for kids. A CD player can be a valuable tool for work at home moms.
Work at home moms should remember that waiting is never easy for kids. But when kids know there will be an end to their wait, they are better at it.
Hungry children can be quite a distraction for work at home moms. While you will likely stop work to prepare meals for younger children, snacks are something kids preschool age and up can handle themselves, if given some guidance.
Work at home moms need to be prepared to do some work outside the home. To be ready on short notice prepare a bag of work-related supplies in advance. Keep the bag in your office so you can add to it.
Nap time can be so productive for work-at-home moms. But one of the problems of working during naptime is that sometimes kids don’t nap.
When you and the kids are home all day, the house naturally gets messier than when you're gone. Keep the clutter under control by doing picking up as you work.
Have a stash of things for kids to do when they are in your office, so they aren't looking to you for entertainment. Some ideas include...
If you work only part-time, it often doesn't make financial sense to hire child care. Yet sometimes you need a little alone time. Talk to other like-minded work-at-home and stay-at-home moms about a kid swap.
Part-time, work-at-home moms who have young children but don't have outside child care, should consider a membership to a health club that has a child care facility. If you have a laptop, bring it along and sit in the lobby after your workout.
Work at home moms should begin each day by making a daily plan.
Making lists for both home and work related task helps bring organization day of a work at home mom.
One of the great benefits of working at home is quitting your commute. So if you've given up the commute be sure your aren't still paying car insurance as if you haven't?
When working from home, you can use all the help you can get, right? So let the kids help out with your job or business wherever possible. As kids grow and gain new skills, parents must recognize when kids are ready for more responsibilities and privileges. Think of ways to encourage your kids to help both at home and, if possible, at work.
Just because you work at home doesn't mean school snow days and delays are simple. The key to dealing with weather emergencies is long- and short-term planning, i.e. have a snow day strategy.
At the end of each working day, turn off you computer. Not only will you save money on electricity, you will be far less tempted to work during the time you've set aside for family.
Rotating toys out of the toybox and out of sight will make them more interesting to a child when they return to the playroom floor.
When you work in an office, going home is the signal that your work day is over. So when you work from home, set your work hours in advance.
