https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:05:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/remote-work-as-a-sahm#post-2924568 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 19:42:04 +0000 karenbme 2924568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agreed this sounds ideal! Make sure you get a contract so that you’re both on the same page and have something to refer back to. Congrats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/remote-work-as-a-sahm#post-2924566 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 18:29:10 +0000 MoonMoon 2924566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: a flexible, wfh, remote position that doesn't require alternate childcare? Sounds amazing, congrats! I hope it goes great for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/remote-work-as-a-sahm#post-2924564 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:42:00 +0000 bees_knees 2924564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks, all, for the input! You gave me a lot to think/ask him about. </p> <p>I just chatted a little more with him about it...sounds suuuuper flexible, starting off at 5-10 hours a week, told me not to worry about childcare because it would be fine if I could just work a little here and there and kids in the background wouldn't be a problem. Going to take the weekend to mull it over but I think I'll probably go for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/remote-work-as-a-sahm#post-2924562 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 14:03:00 +0000 Jess1483 2924562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work from home with no/limited childcare (I teach with Outschool). My work is about 60% needing to be completely without kid distraction and 40% stuff I can do with kiddos around. I schedule my stuff they can't be around for either before my kids wake up (I usually work 1-1.5 hours every morning), during nap for my youngest (but I won't give up nap every day for scheduled stuff) and some when my husband gets off work (he works for a boss in a different time zone, and thus is done by 3:30). It's a lot to juggle, but without childcare costs, it's nice. Total I work about 15-20 hours a week. Any more than that I would absolutely need childcare.</p> <p>BUT after a number of years of mostly staying at home, I am loving working a bit again and feeling a bit more like "me" and not just "mom." My youngest is 2, so I won't have a lot more hours for work any time soon, but I also will have the potential to expand hours as my kids get older/more independent/at school.</p> <p>I don't know if that was at all helpful! I think if it's intriguing, go for it! Just be really clear about his expectations--is it going to frustrate him if he can hear your kids in the background? Will there be any work you absolutely can't do with kids around? What does he want your response time to look like? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/remote-work-as-a-sahm#post-2924561 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:45:53 +0000 LadyDi 2924561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I've been a SAHM for a couple of years and I do occasional freelance editing, but at the beginning of the summer I had the opportunity to take a position as a remote assistant for a local mom who owns a cleaning and property management company. I wasn't really looking for a job either but it kind of fell into my lap and I took it! My kids are 6, 3, and 2, so in the fall the oldest will be in school full day and the 3 year old will be in pre-school three mornings a week. I have found that I can work 10ish hours a week without feeling like I need extra childcare (but both of our parents live nearby and I do use them for childcare one day a week). That's about what I personally feel like I can squeeze into my day without feeling like I am letting other things slack too much. My hours are pretty flexible...typically I work a bit in the am, an hour or two in the afternoon during nap and quiet time, and then sometimes a bit after they go to bed. A lot of my job is just replying to texts and emails so I do that throughout the day if the kids are playing. I have let some things go in order to have time to work (like a grocery delivery instead of going to the store). I'm really happy I took the job though and it's really nice to feel good at something and be appreciated for something outside of being a mom. </p> <p>I would just think about when you're going to work and realistically what you think you can manage, setting up a dedicated workspace if you can, and making sure that you both have the same definition of flexible. Sounds like a great opportunity though, you should go for it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/remote-work-as-a-sahm#post-2924560 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:34:36 +0000 agold 2924560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely say yes and just learn as you go. If it doesn't work out, then at least you tried. I can imagine you will need a good computer and a legit copier/scanner/printer that can auto scan multiple pages at a time. Probably some adobe programs. Since they know you don't have a legal background, the office knows what they are getting into. Ask any and all questions you want! I'm sure you will be able to work whatever hours that you want, as long as you get the work done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/remote-work-as-a-sahm#post-2924559 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:01:21 +0000 MrsSCB 2924559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How many of your kids will be at home? Are the oldest two school age? And what are your plans for after they’re all in school? I ask, because if you’d like to go back to working, this seems like a flexible way to keep your resume current with some job experience. I’d probably just want to know how flexible the hours will be and how many. As for salary, maybe look on Glassdoor or somewhere to see what hourly rate is typical? I’ve always found that helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/remote-work-as-a-sahm#post-2924556 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:45:32 +0000 bees_knees 2924556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Writing here to get some insight--you guys always have the best perspectives! (seriously. Most of my best parenting/life advice has come from here!)</p> <p>My high school best friend's uncle just called me. He is an attorney and looking for a legal assistant. His practice is located about 6 hours away from me, so this would be a remote position. He is aware I have 4 young children and sounds like he would be very flexible with hours worked, with the expectation that as my kids get older and in school I would increase my work load. </p> <p>I did not apply for this position, nor am I even looking for work...his sister (my best friend's mom, who I am still acquainted with) recommended me as someone who is bright and would be a good fit (which is so flattering!) I have been a SAHM since our oldest was born 7 years ago. We don't *need* the money, but obviously extra cash is always nice! I also have zero legal background (I have a BS in psychology and a BS microbiology and worked as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist previous to having kids) but have always found it interesting.</p> <p>I guess I don't even know what I am asking :silly: What are the downsides here? Has anyone been in a similar position? I am mostly worried about being strung pretty thin. Our kids have never had any outside childcare (and it's ridiculously expensive here), but my parents are close and would be able to help whenever I needed it. </p> <p>What sort of questions should I be clarifying with him, besides how many hours I would be working a week? How do I negotiate salary? What other logistics do I need to be thinking about? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920661 Tue, 10 Nov 2020 13:59:19 +0000 nana87 2920661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for audiobooks. My 6yo listens to books for hours on end! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920658 Tue, 10 Nov 2020 12:57:57 +0000 castilrm 2920658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’re still doing distance learning here so my kinder daughter usually has work to do in the morning and early afternoon and that keeps her busy while I work. Afterwards, I try to get her to go outside - either I’ll walk with her or she’ll go in the yard and play with chalk, water, sensory bins, collect random leaves/rocks, etc for awhile. I also ended up buying subscriptions to KiwiCo, Raddish, and Little Passports, so those keep her busy for a few afternoons a month (although she needs help with these so that backfires in terms of giving me time to do work!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920636 Tue, 10 Nov 2020 05:03:36 +0000 SweetCaroline 2920636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: we live on 20 acres and spend hours upon hours outside :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920632 Mon, 09 Nov 2020 22:55:51 +0000 PinkElephant 2920632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: ooh like a labyrinth- fun! DH would go bonkers over the sound of the marble on a cookie sheet but I love it!</p> <p>@SweetCaroline: I feel your pain on the Peers. My kids will not do the gorgeous mermaid and unicorn glittery sticker mosaics for anything. I cannot figure out why, because they like stickers, crafts, and unicorns/mermaids. 🤪 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920599 Sat, 07 Nov 2020 18:55:40 +0000 Kemma 2920599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I send my kids outside! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920598 Sat, 07 Nov 2020 16:50:17 +0000 gotkimchi 2920598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: we love art hub for kids too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920597 Sat, 07 Nov 2020 14:54:49 +0000 bhbee 2920597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kinder son will spend hours doing Art Hub for Kids on YouTube. The only annoyance is that youtube needs supervision, but he’s a good rule follower about sticking to their videos so far. I like how they always have a kid do it next to the adult so you see it doesn’t have to be perfect. He loves their origami too but can only do a bit on his own. </p> <p>All my kids love Legos and sometimes I give challenges to keep them busy - there are lots of calendars and such floating around that have one for every day of the month. Like build a rocket ship and Martian today ... builds overall creativity as the more they use the pieces, the more ideas they have next time. </p> <p>I also just cleared out an eye level bookshelf for our little Christmas Lego sets and basically made a diorama and they have been super into it! That could be a fun project if you can find the space, where you set up an initial idea and she rearranges and builds on it, you could give ideas for additional things it needs. I added a string of fairy lights from target, kids always seem to love little things like that to add to the magic. And I put in some small empty gift boxes (I have a closet full of these, ugh) to make different hills/levels which adds to making it a little world. Obviously a bit of work to set up at first but better than cleaning up sensory bins in my book :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920592 Sat, 07 Nov 2020 14:00:10 +0000 SweetCaroline 2920592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Fantastic ideas! Thank you!</p> <p>@PinkElephant: YES! I just ordered some rice and funnels, etc. Time to resurrect the sensory bins. I have some water beads also.</p> <p>@ilovepie: i love that! DD has zero interest in audio books. Maybe I can get her started with a read a long audio book. I think she would enjoy following along in a picture book.</p> <p>@LadyDi: Oh great idea! I think I could get her set up with one of her Lego Friends sets and she might stay busy.</p> <p>@Dahlia: Yes, I definitely need to do better with invitations to play! Also, good reminder. I will set up a call with my mom for her.</p> <p>@erinbaderin: @caitcat: You guys, my kid will not do perler beads by herself. It's such a PERFECT activity to stay occupied and burn some time but NOPE! Time to try again!!</p> <p>@kce56: Yes! We have a book of Highlights mosaics and they are so fun, DD won't sit to do them though, stinker :silly: </p> <p>You've all given great ideas. I need to focus on invitations to play and reintroducing things she hasn't bit on in the past. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920588 Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:13:48 +0000 kce56 2920588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD is very into perler beads and sticker mosaics! They have some cute ones on Amazon with mermaids, unicorns, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920585 Sat, 07 Nov 2020 06:43:51 +0000 caitcat 2920585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kindergartener has been on a kick with perler beads lately. She's okay-ish with the tiny ones, but can do the bigger ones ("biggie beads" I think they're called?) all on her own. Well, aside from the ironing. :) But it takes her a long time to settle on the pattern she's making, so it buys me some time regardless. </p> <p>She'll also still play with sensory bins that we rotate in and out. She had an elaborate setup with some lego figures playing in water beads yesterday that she stuck with for almost two hours. It was great!</p> <p>And this was a random gift she got for Christmas last year that was a big hit - she'll play with a set of melting putty animals (like this one <a href="https://www.papersource.com/gifts/melting-sparkling-unicorn-10001131.html)" rel="nofollow">https://www.papersource.com/gifts/melting-sparkling-unicorn-10001131.html)</a> so often. They don't take long to make, but she's oddly amused by watching them melt slowly and seeing which one melts fastest/slowest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920583 Fri, 06 Nov 2020 19:53:07 +0000 erinbaderin 2920583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Melt beads. My kindergartener also really likes drawing, so we got a How to Draw Pokémon book - the instructions are a bit advanced but he loves to trace them. He also really loves How To Draw videos on YouTube. We have a huge collection of Schleich animal figurines and he’ll play with those for a long long time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920575 Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:51:30 +0000 Dahlia 2920575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Legos, Playmobil, magnatiles, puzzles, all the crafts (we've had good luck with paint by sticker, coloring books, general art supplies), podcasts, Facetiming with my parents (she can talk to them for an hour or more if they let her), Outschool classes....<br /> I agree with the above that rotating toys and creating "invitations to play" is helpful </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920573 Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:33:11 +0000 LadyDi 2920573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't tried this yet with my kindergartner but I know there are a lot of guided "how to draw" videos on youtube. DS is getting more into coloring and drawing but he's not very creative so I want to give those videos a try to see if they will keep him busy for awhile. He loves instructions, so he can play with LEGO for hours if he has instructions to build something specific. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920542 Thu, 05 Nov 2020 22:16:57 +0000 ilovepie 2920542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine will listen to audio books for hours. Or story podcasts like the alien adventures of fun Caspian. </p> <p>Definitely rotating toys and stuff strewn on the table to create with. I'm bad a strewing, but even new markers, stickers, playdough with different toys than usual will work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920541 Thu, 05 Nov 2020 22:00:15 +0000 catgirl 2920541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I stand them up like walls. If I use a small baking sheet she will sometimes pick it up and try to guide it through by moving the tray side to side and front to back. Sometimes she will use a straw to blow it through the maze. We've also used a marble instead of the pom poms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920539 Thu, 05 Nov 2020 21:54:27 +0000 PinkElephant 2920539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: This magnatile maze sounds really cool (and like a great OT exercise, haha) - do you lay the tiles flat, or stand them up like walls? Does she use a tool of some sort to move the pompoms?</p> <p>@SweetCaroline: For any of my girls (4, 6, and 8, so no kindergartner....but close), I find that just "rotating" toys and leaving different things out on different days helps. If you're ok cleaning up a little mess later, my girls really like sensory bins of rice (especially if it's colored), beans, etc. and some cups/scoops, with small toys like shopkins/hatchimals to hide in the rice and "find". If they play with a bin inside a larger bin or on a tablecloth, clean up really isn't bad. At her age she might be prime to enjoy some of the "Dot Marker" coloring books and paint-dot markers, or Melissa and Doug has a (slightly neater) washable stamp marker coloring book with different shaped "stamps". Does school provide any digital programs she could be permitted to use for a limited time during the day? I really am not a screen time fan, but I've been okay with things like Amplify, Guided Readers, Raz Kids, ABCya, ABC Mouse, many of which are free or she may have a subscription to from school, when I need to occupy the girls and keep them from fighting with each other or getting too loud and crazy when we're on calls. If you've got indoor space and can handle a little noise, we just got a My First Flybar (introductory pogo jumper) that is ok for indoor use and my kiddos LOVE to use to burn energy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920535 Thu, 05 Nov 2020 21:18:38 +0000 catgirl 2920535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's so hard - DD might play with something for an hour one day and only ten minutes the next. But things that have the ability to keep her busy independently: magna tiles, her dollhouse, her art supplies, puzzles, and dolls.</p> <p>I find the key is to set up some inviting play options. So I might set up a scene with her barbies and leave it out for her - it inspires her to jump in. With the magna tiles I might build a maze on a baking sheet and she has to get pom poms through it - then she tries to create her own. We move the dollhouse to different rooms sometimes so it feels new. </p> <p>We encourage her to use her camera to take pictures of things she does while playing independently. That way she can show us later rather than while she is playing. </p> <p>But honestly, the main thing is to let her get bored sometimes. I find that if I don't step in she ends up filling more time. But it's hard to deal with the initial whining or disappointment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-keeps-your-kindergartener-busy#post-2920529 Thu, 05 Nov 2020 21:01:32 +0000 SweetCaroline 2920529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sure many of you were or are WFH while keeping kids alive. I had DD home with me while WFM March-May (baby born end of May), then we were isolated at home on maternity leave June-August.</p> <p>So fortunate to have DD at in-person school, but starting to feel itchy as we have 18 days scheduled of no school coming up Nov-Dec and certainly more unscheduled days off. I'm in lots of meetings (and it's my busy season) and am looking for creative ideas to occupy DD. She's in Kindergarten--what keeps your kids busy and happy?</p> <p>DD could play school with her imaginary "kids", play with her craft cart or whiteboard for hours *if she is in the mood*. Looking for other things to have in my back pocket. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-holding-myself-back#post-2919665 Sat, 17 Oct 2020 07:41:48 +0000 karenbme 2919665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: Congratulations on getting your current employer to match and give you new opportunities!! They clearly know your worth 😃 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-holding-myself-back#post-2919664 Sat, 17 Oct 2020 00:40:00 +0000 codeitall 2919664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man, after much deliberation with family and soooo many wonderful anonymous helpers from Hellobee and FB, I'm pretty sure I'm going to decline the new offer. It has great flexibility (they've done teleworking as a geo-distributed company for a while), the culture seems great, and the job sounds interesting. I'm declining for two reasons: 2020 is already maxed out on change for my family so my mental coping capacity is shot, and the new job has room for growth in the long run, but I'd be doing some menial work I'm less fond of until we got the headcount to hire new employees. I was able to get my current company to nearly match their offer and they're reworking the org for the next projects I want to do.</p> <p>@agold: Totally agree! It is so hard to be happy with what you have when you know you could have more! Although I'd pass on the pool because I've heard they're a bit of work haha!</p> <p>@Bluemasonjar: Stress of the unknown is already the catchphrase for 2020, like, do I really want to sign up for more of that? I have growth opportunities, but they're nontraditional. I'm not ready to commit the time and mental effort to large-scale people management, so I've turned my technical architect skills to solving large-scale multi-team problems. There's probably a couple more projects like that in my department before I'll have to start reworking systems I've already built. Maybe that's my problem, I can think of more projects to do, so I'm not mentally done haha :silly: </p> <p>@PurplePumps: This is a major concern of mine that by bumping to the top (and a little over) my salary band that I won't be up for raises outside of annual merit increases. Buuuuut I have insane flexibility here, not just with work/life balance (I've breastfed on zoom calls :shocked: ) but I get to pick what work I do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-holding-myself-back#post-2919566 Wed, 14 Oct 2020 19:06:35 +0000 PurplePumps 2919566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Based on personal experience of my husbands.... I think if you can get the flexibility you want with the new job, and the growth opportunity is there too, there is no reason to stay at your current job, esp not if they're only willing to match up to 75%, and not even if they match 100%. My husband changed jobs 2 years ago and just got a new job last week. The first job change, he was very hesitant and also torn when his current employer offered to match the new offer completely. It was a job he was at for 11 years, he had a great network, was in an amazing leadership pipeline, so he did talked to few higher ups for career advice... and the consensus was that he should take the new job with the two biggest points being if they're willing to match now cause you threaten to leave, it just shows how under paid you were to them in the first place! More importantly they also agreed that if you are willing to stay for a salary bump, it could possibly stunt future raises/growth cause they know you're comfortable there and you've shown you'll stay put. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/am-i-holding-myself-back#post-2919546 Wed, 14 Oct 2020 11:22:50 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2919546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am also in the middle of considering a job change and I think part of it is the stress of the unknown. Sounds like you are comfortable where you are but are limited in growth opportunities. Flexibility is a huge consideration for me as well and I try to weigh that against a salary increase. I think getting it in writing will be reassuring and if they commit then I think you should make the leap!! </p>