https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 20:55:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-288219 Sun, 09 Sep 2012 08:56:12 +0000 Mr. Jacks 288219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ali: having a backup plan is a good idea. I have to admit ar jumped into it with no.backup other than me potentially quitting my job and not working! That was not much of a choice, but luckily I Fletcher like I took to it like a duck to water. One thing that it helped melearn to do was switch back and fourth between work and kid on the drop of a hat. There were definite times where I was on a good roll and had to walk away from work. Being able to switch gears constantly can be frustraighting but it is a good skill to have in life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-288128 Sun, 09 Sep 2012 06:43:37 +0000 GrapeCrush 288128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ali: it's doable, but can be very difficult and frustrating at times! i work from home 3 days a week and go in to the office 2 days. those 2 days i go in are sometimes like heaven because i need the break. we have a pretty laid back baby who takes naps like whoa....but not all the time. some days he just wants to whine and be super needy(but what baby doesnt? lol) those days i cry to my husband(literally) and tell him i can't do it. then you have days like i did friday where he was so happy and occupied himself for the most part. sometimes i don't finish work until DH comes home or my 7 hour day turns into 8 or 9 hours, or i have to make up time when i go into the office(thankfully my work is pretty nice when it comes to me making up time). we tend to have more good days than bad days when it comes to me working from home, but it can be hard. you have to really want to do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-288100 Sun, 09 Sep 2012 06:04:47 +0000 Cherrybee 288100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mr. Jacks: WOW. Thank you so much for your input!!! You're super-dad!! I love the picture of you bouncing on a yoga ball, with a baby strapped into you, working!! It sounds like incredibly hard work - but it's one of those things, you try it and if it doesn't work you move to plan B! </p> <p>Following the posts on here (pointing out how hard it will be) I spoke to my mum and she said she would have the baby 5 days a week if I need her to, as long as I'm just down the road (which I am at home).... so I have a plan B now! Hurrah!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-288017 Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:17:26 +0000 JennyD 288017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Awesome! That's good to know.</p> <p>My husband gets a lot of calls in the middle of the night. Most of the field tech guys now know not to make small talk or chit chat if they call at night. I've yelled at several of them (but seriously, if you call at 3 am, do you really NEED to ask if we were sleeping???).</p> <p>I will keep those things in mind going forward! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-288004 Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:01:37 +0000 Mr. Jacks 288004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well to be honest, the house is actually cleaner now that I am working out of the house! Mrs. Jacks was very supportive in every way. She was never upset when she came home to a disaster of a house because she knew I was working. The kiddo was sleeping and when she was awake we were out doing stuff. The house work in our house was always split in a way that we did what we did best. Anything detail oriented, Mrs jacks did. Things like the laundry and the kitchen were always my areas (folding clothes is about all you can do with a little one around). </p> <p>But as far as things Mrs jacks did, taking little jacks when she walked in the door when I needed to finish something up or put out a fire (at work) was the most helpfull. I had several late phone calls with our India office that I am sure she never enjoyed. But the main thing was that she was supportive.</p> <p>And yes program development/software development, its all pretty much the same thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-287921 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 22:10:42 +0000 JennyD 287921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mr. Jacks: I'm really glad to hear from you on this topic! My husband just started staying home with our baby. I never had a problem multi-tasking and I too found that my productivity skyrocketed. I also was not always working full-time. My husband will be on-call, but he will have some flexibility about when does his work. He is also a programmer (similar to program development, no?)</p> <p>Was there anything Mrs. Jacks did/does that really made a difference for you? How did/do you balance housework? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-287842 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 20:38:56 +0000 Mr. Jacks 287842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As Mrs. Jacks said, I worked the last 2 years from home while taking care of Little Jacks. I was doing software development so, I could make my own schedules for the most part as long as I met my deadlines. One thing that helped was that I worked with my boss to get larger projects that lasted in the range of months instead of weeks. </p> <p>The only times that I actually did work durring core business hours was when Little Jacks was sleeping. She was not a good napper for me at all. I ended up wearing her in an ergo baby carrier for naps and just sat on a yoga ball and worked with her on my chest (not the best solution, but I developed some serious lower back muscles!). </p> <p>When I was on conference calls I muted my end the entire time, unless I absolutely needed to speak up. I generally had phone calls directly with my boss afterwards to wrap things up, since he did not care if Little Jacks spoke up on calls with him.</p> <p>When I had to do calls with clients, I always made it clear to the client managers that I will have Little Jacks with me (unless Mrs. Jacks was home), and that she may speak up on the call. I never ran into a client who had a problem with this as long as we were very up front with my situation. </p> <p>Now as far as getting the actual work done, there were definitely times where my 2-3 hours of work a day did not cut it, so to make up for that I did work several late nights and on some weekends to make up for it. </p> <p>But the biggest plus that came with working from home was that I was able to do most of my work in 2-3 hours a day. This was mainly due to the fact that I was not pulled into meetings 10+ times a day, and even if I was, I could mute the phone and work through it. My productivity and quality skyrocketed! My time estimates also were calculated by how many naps it would take me to complete a given task.</p> <p>But one thing that I was very diligent with was alway staying connected. If I took a walk or went to the park, I had my phone forwarded to my cel and checked my email every few minutes. You never want your boss to think you are not available if you are working from home. </p> <p>The other good thing about this was when Mrs. Jacks started going on business trip, I went with her and just remoted into my desktop at home and worked from the hotel while she was working! I got to take Little Jack on some cool trips that way without ever using my paid time off!</p> <p>So, is it doable? Absolutely! Can anyone do it? no. I can name countless people that I have worked with that could not do it, but I can also name countless that can. So it really depends on your self discipline and the job that you are in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-287803 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 19:55:29 +0000 Mrs. Stroller 287803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work from home for a traditional employer where most employees are at the office. There is absolutely no way I'd be able to work with M at home. I was able to send him to daycare after his am nap for the first coup,e months when he was napping an hour after waking up, but now at 8 months he needs lots of attention. A girlfriend of mine intended to work from home for the first year but found that at 7 months she too needed to send her baby to daycare. I'm sorry!</p> <p>I should also add that M is a great napper now, but I have to work during regular business hours so just working during his three hours of naps and then at night after he goes to bed wouldn't work for me. If you can work whenever you want, then it might work out. </p> <p>Can you find part time care and have your mom watch the baby some day? How about a condensed week so you only work four days and pay for daycare for four days? We got a good deal for our area on daycare, but it's still more than the mortgage on our last house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-287798 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 19:47:15 +0000 plantains 287798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe try looking for cheaper daycare options like in-home care versus being in a centre. That could be cheaper. My LO is. Extremely laid back and happy to hang out lo but I still couldn't work from one effectively for 3 days in a week. One day yes, but it 3. nothing anyone tld me could have prepared me for how all-consuming it is to care for a baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-287791 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 19:40:25 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 287791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mr. Jacks did it for 2 years without extra help. I'll see if I can get him to weigh in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-287780 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 19:11:08 +0000 mediagirl 287780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ali: it sounds to me like you have your head screwed on just right. You're doing things the right way - worrying about how you're going to afford a baby and give him/her the time she needs from you when you're working full time BEFORE you have the baby. </p> <p>We didn't know if we could do it so, we sat down and wrote out a budget to follow after baby. It included both paychecks and then all baby expenses plus our monthly expenses. I won't lie, it's going to hurt. We're sending her to a daycare near home because it's cheaper than the fancy ones near work. It's still $1,000mo, though. With that, we were able to keep saving for retirement, saving for our future, saving for her education, pay our bills and maybe treat ourselves every once in a while. Our goal is to give her the best life possible. To do that, we need to both work and unfortunately, neither of our companies would let us work from home. Our daughter has been really good recently about playing by herself. That being said, when she's fussy, there's nothing we can do but help her. I don't think I could work at home without help. </p> <p>I think everyone can find the way if they really want to. I know our daughter won't have the same life I did growing up but we're going to do everything we can to make sure she knows she is loved and taken care of. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-287768 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 18:56:36 +0000 lemondrop 287768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work one day onsite and various hours here and there from home. During a typical weekday, I can get about 2 hours in during naps, after that I'm not super productive when he is awake. He is a very easygoing baby, and does well playing on the floor with his toys- but he doesn't always sleep great, which leaves me dragging in the mornings, plus I feel guilty spending too much time focusing on work and not him. Mostly I either wait until my husband is home at night or on weekends, or once the baby is in bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-287746 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 18:22:58 +0000 JennyD 287746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ali: I totally understand about the "time poor". I just went back to work last week, and I already feel like I never see my girl. I'm sure you'll find a balance that works for you.</p> <p>I'm glad I could help :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-277567 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 04:31:58 +0000 Cherrybee 277567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@STBHISMRS Yay! Another person who has made it work! Thank you for sharing - and phew! Lol!</p> <p>@JennyD: Yes, really, really great ideas! The funny thing is, I'm a Financial Educator, I work with vulnerable people on low incomes and I would suggest all of those things to my clients!! Funny how, when it's me possibly having to manage on less money, I start to panic and think it cannot be done!!! Lol. </p> <p>You know, it's not money in which I feel poor - it's time. I'm time poor. That's what hurts the most, the thought that I'll miss those precious months and years with my child because I'm working... and someone else (my mum/ a sitter etc) will get to enjoys them - and I have to PAY for the privilege!! </p> <p>Well, we've started planning in plenty of time (before conception) so we should have a savings cushion and a great plan all worked out when the time comes - and all your advice and ideas are really helping us to form that. Thank :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-276466 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 15:39:12 +0000 StbHisMrs 276466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is possible and Jenny D has great tips! I'm working from home from 9-12 M-F and it's working. My lo is 10.5 months old, very active, but a very good napper. It also helps that I have a 10 yr old son that helps entertain her for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-276432 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 15:16:14 +0000 JennyD 276432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Thanks! I really think that planning and organization is the one thing I'm really good at, and that makes me able to be a good parent. And I really love to share my ideas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-276397 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:59:49 +0000 mrbee 276397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyD: what a fantastic post!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-276392 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:58:14 +0000 JennyD 276392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ali: You're welcome. It's hard, for sure, but so is being a parent, so....</p> <p>I was also going to suggest that you find a part time or weekend job, if possible, and save your pennies. That's part of how we made it work - I had about 6 months salary saved, which really took the pressure off getting back to work asap. And I think if you really budget and plan well, buy baby gear on sale (once you're pregnant), find out what you can get from friends and family used, ask for specific things at a baby shower, decide what you're willing to get used, that will all help too.</p> <p>Best of luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-276383 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:53:54 +0000 Cherrybee 276383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Yoursilverlining: No, my dad was given two months to live two weeks ago and I'm not pregnant yet so it's very unlikely caring for my dad and a baby will coincide. It will just give me an idea of how I perform, work wise, from home with caring obligations and, importantly, if and how I'll cope. </p> <p>@JennyD, thank you for sharing your experience and your positive words. </p> <p>Your replies have given me a lot to think about, thanks all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-276067 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:28:01 +0000 plaidpants 276067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have done it a few times and I don't think we could swing it on a regular basis. My LO is pretty needy and I am expected to be available for conference calls, so that alone is a dealbreaker. I have to like tapdance to keep her quiet and entertained, and still keep up with what's going on on the phone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-276056 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:21:03 +0000 JennyD 276056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like I need to add that my baby is super laid back and an amazing napper, most of the time. And while I do have deadlines, they're not set in stone. And I have been told by most of my friends that I'm nuts and they would not be able to do what I do, but I really believe if that's your priority, you will make it work!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-276040 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:17:56 +0000 babynumber1 276040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ali: There is no way that I could get any work done with my LO at home. It is hard enough to get dinner cooked with her some days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-276022 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:13:23 +0000 JennyD 276022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you can totally do it. I've been working from home for the past 7 months with my LO.</p> <p>Some tips:<br /> - Be organized: this means meals, cleaning, etc. This makes things run much more smoothly<br /> - Enlist help: if your mom can watch the baby sometimes during the day so you can get some work done, do that. I find it difficult not to socialize when someone helps me at home, so I go out to Starbucks and work for a few hours<br /> - Get a carrier: you can be holding a tiny baby while doing work. I got an Ergo which was a total disaster; you can't sit down in an Ergo (or I couldn't). I ended up with a double ring sling which was the best<br /> - Enlist your SO: my husband was great about coming home after work, making/finishing dinner and watching the baby so I could get another 2 hours in.</p> <p>Things that help:<br /> - a reasonable and understanding boss: mine is a knob and doesn't know what a baby is<br /> - a reasonable and understanding husband that is supportive of your goals: mine is the best :D</p> <p>Things I find difficult:<br /> - My boss<br /> - Sitting at my computer writing a report while the dishes are piled up in the sink and the laundry isn't done (this may just be me though)<br /> - Watching LO play alone while I work on something "urgent"<br /> - Lack of adult interaction (but if you're in the office 2-3 days a week, this will help)<br /> - Hearing that all my other SAHM friends are going out to the zoo, park, lunch, etc and I'm stuck at home working</p> <p>I will be returning to the office full-time next week, and my husband will be staying home with the LO for the next 5 months. He will also be working from home. I think it's all about your priorities. If you want it to work, it will. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-275708 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:55:22 +0000 LivsMama 275708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ali: totally depends on the baby and day. I work from home every Friday, but Im lucky in that any work I need to do can usually be done from my blackberry/ipad/or remote work access. I only have to "work" a total of a few hours a day. If I had to work more or consistently, I wouldnt be able to do it just yet. Maybe when she was little and immobile, but right now its hit or miss on how independently she plays and for how long. Id say give it a shot. you will have a good grasp on how feasible it is after a few weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-275707 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:54:41 +0000 yoursilverlining 275707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, you would also be helping to care for your sick dad, as well as a new baby?</p> <p>If that is the case - no way.</p> <p>I'm working from home a few days now, and it's only possible because my husband is also home and can take LO. Otherwise, she just doesn't nap enough to actually be productive. There is a reason my company requires work from home employees to provide proof that their child is in outside daycare I've found!</p> <p>Daycare doesn't have to be a negative, if you don't force yourself into thinking it is. You never know how you will feel - you might not be upset to go back to work at the end of your maternity leave. You might not want to spend all day taking care of LO. Also, daycare is great for your LO's socialization. S/he will get to play with other babies all day long, and babies love babies! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-275690 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:28:33 +0000 Cherrybee 275690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81. Yes, you're right. The question isn't whether it's possible but whether it's fair to the child..... I suddenly see that. I was just clutching at straws, really, because I'm so, so sad that I will have to hand my baby over to someone else all day every day when he/she is just a few weeks old. I guess I had no intention of actually working during the day but then, as @Andrea said, I'll just have to work all evening to catch up (and then be up half the night with the LO, too). </p> <p>Sigh. </p> <p>@Thehistoryofus - I'm not sure we have another option. We quite simply cannot afford full time day care. We simply don't have the disposable income. </p> <p>I'm worried that we wont be able to afford to do this at all. :-( How is it that so many of our friends who earn much less money than us can afford it?? (I'm getting myself all upset! Pull yourself together woman!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-275686 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:22:12 +0000 blackbird 275686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it sounds ideal, especially since your mom will watch her. She'll be very close to her grandma, which is excellent! </p> <p>I don't know that you'll get a lot done on that day that you are home but have no childcare...perhaps you could talk to your employer about working extra hours on the other days to make up for it? One of my friends works only a half day the day she has her kid at home (grandma's day off) but it takes her ALL day (sometimes not until her husband gets home) to get 4 actual hours of work in. Worst case scenario, you can hire a sitter to come to your house one day/week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-275678 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:11:01 +0000 mrbee 275678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's only possible if your baby is an amazing sleeper and very laid back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-275665 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 06:52:37 +0000 T.H.O.U. 275665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is really hard to work and be home for sure. I don't think I could ever do it. </p> <p>Also, I would REALLY think about your relationship with having your mum watch her. Its a great solution but it does add a lot to the relationship and its amazing how people change or their personalities come out around babies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-work-from-home-parents-out-there-is-it-possible#post-275664 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 06:52:07 +0000 Foodnerd81 275664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like people aleady said most of what I was thinking, but also, I think I would rather have my baby in daycare than being kind of ignored while I worked all day, as a long term thing. At the daycare they would be actively doing things with him/her, while at home, you would be trying to keep her quiet while you work, right? But I guess that doesn't help with the pay thing- day care is crazy expensive here too. Another thing, at least here, many companies require proof of daycare before approving the work from home thing. Could your mom take her another day so you only have to pay for day care 2 days a week? Is switching to 4 longer days a week possible? Thats what some people at my company do. </p>