What is your work-at-home job/business?
writer
How many kids do you have? List their ages.
3 kids: 8, 5, and 3
How many hours a week do you work?
10-30 (it varies)
How Do You Work at Home Without Paid Childcare?
I have used many tricks to try and work without compromising the very reason I chose to be a stay-at-home mom -- to stay at home spending quality time with my kids. I think it's really hard. Something always suffers. Either the family schedule isn't organized and running smoothly, or the house is a mess, or my work is behind. It's hard to play every role perfectly.
However, one thing that has worked for me is trading playdates with other moms. For example, I used to watch another mom's kids (or even do a little preschool/educational game time with them) on Tuesday, and she did the same for me on Thursday.
How Do You Keep Kids Busy While You Work?
Art projects, TV time (I try to limit to 1 hour a day and keep it educational), games that are easy to play without help like Hullabaloo or VReader, bringing toy sets into the office with me so my child can play on the floor next to me while I work.
Tips and Tricks
- Stay organized by having a routine for mornings and evenings and sticking with a plan as much as possible.
- Have a store of educational programming handy so your child can enjoy watching TV and learn something at the same time
- Keep a floor mat and small table near your workspace so kids can do play-dough, water color, or other engrossing activities where you are able to keep an eye on them.
