https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 22 Jun 2026 20:40:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400540 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 17:09:11 +0000 birdofafeather 2400540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD1 goes to preschool 2 days a week so i can do my office work for my photography business. i still think people think i do it for fun, but i supported our family the last 2 years while DH did school/training. now that he's started in his career, i can relax a bit, but i still save those preschool days for my work as well as shooting on the weekends! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400534 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 16:55:21 +0000 Glitter 2400534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work from home as well. I am an actuarial consultant and run an online retail store. My husband understands the demands fully, but my side of the family think it's a joke. My nephews have even told me that their mom (my SIL) says I play computer games with DS all day. Little do they know that my work brings in at least 3 times than DH does monthly. I just laugh it off. Thinking I live the total dream - playing all day and living comfortably - is quite hilarious to me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400521 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 15:53:31 +0000 BandDmommy 2400521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work from home. My husband says he takes it seriously but I'm not sure I believe him. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400519 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 15:43:22 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2400519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel you! I work from home and the only people that seem to understand it's a real job is my immediate family. Due to the flexibility of my job when I am out of the house people seem to think I'm like Tommy from Martin. It's ridiculous. I don't talk about my work much, but since it's not something as familiar as what DH does I think his friends and family especially think he's supporting us. I remind them it takes two when they say slick things. Even people at my own company, but different departmemt think somehow my nend for childcare will be vastly different their own because of the hours/location they keep vs mine. Umm no! I'm happy too daycare pick up is at 6 pm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400502 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 14:25:10 +0000 winniebee 2400502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work at home and no one except my boss (who happens to be my father) and my mom (who is his office manager) as well as our nanny (who works 30 hours a week for us) really takes my job seriously. My sister will call me and be like "what are you up to?" Ummm work?! Even my husband thinks I have so much more flexibility than I do. I work 3 days a week, from home mostly. I'm a lawyer. I have deadlines. I have to go to court sometimes. In 3 days I make now half as much as I made full time physically working in a firm. I think maybe if I was full time people would take me more seriously? It's annoying but I know I'm cultivating my skills and making a difference for my family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400494 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 13:51:34 +0000 erinpye 2400494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to run a bridal business and sold my items in Nordstrom, among other boutiques, and in my own shop. It was SO MUCH WORK, and no, people did not get it, because I did it from home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400484 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 13:27:17 +0000 Mrs.Someone 2400484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a friend who didn't get it (before I had a baby) and would call me expecting me to be able to hang out whenever :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400482 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 13:21:45 +0000 nana87 2400482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: I know what you mean, it can be so hard on our relationship to have both of us working at home (though sometimes it's also fantastic, to be fair)! when we moved for me to start grad school, we both went from 9-5 office jobs to working from home (his job is still 9-5, mine is all over the place). we actually had to set ground rules about when we could talk to each other, especially since my office back then as well as now didn't have a door and is next to the kitchen--dh still 5.5 years later will forget and just start blabbering about whatever while I'm in the middle of writing a sentence or something :shocked: we're pretty good about balancing watching R while we're both working, but by good I mean I usually just don't try to work while she's home and he's working, except for a few minutes here or there (like, he will watch her while I shower or if an email comes up that I need to respond to immediately). I have so much trouble working while R is home/awake in general, I have to literally hide from her or there's no chance for any productivity, which means I can't use my desk since it's in our living room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400478 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 13:17:08 +0000 anonysquire 2400478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get this reaction from people as well! My family assumes that I can drop everything and go somewhere when they invite me the day before. Umm no, I work. And schedule clients. I'm not going to cancel on someone because you want a play date. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400477 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 13:16:56 +0000 Cherrybee 2400477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to WFH 3 days per week (and travel 2) and *I* didn't get it when I was expecting E! I wrote a post on here asking I I should WFH full time and keep LO home with me! What planet was I on???!!! </p> <p>My DH doesn't really get it. If I WFH now (its infrequent and ad hoc since my promotion), he leaves me errands to run and jobs to do in the house. Drives me batty! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400473 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 13:08:49 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2400473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's annoying. I worked from home before I was a sahm and saw clients at their offices. My one friend would ask to hang out/ if I could babysit/ drive her places middle of the work day. Ummm no?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400457 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 12:22:40 +0000 lamariniere 2400457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm self-employed and WAH and send my LOs to full-time daycare. There are a lot of misconceptions and I think people, especially the mailman, must think I just sit around all day. I personally love WAH and am not interested in going back to an office setting. Luckily for me, in my industry most people who do what I do are freelance/self-employed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2400433 Sat, 26 Dec 2015 11:25:52 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2400433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to work from home and people thought I just ate bonbons all day! They're just assholes :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399378 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 22:57:52 +0000 jhd 2399378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH works full time from home and I had several people tell me how great it was when I was pregnant since DH would be able to "watch LO" when I returned to work. First of all he works. How could he take conference calls with a baby? And second I hate that when moms care for babies that's normal but dads are babysitting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399374 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 22:47:34 +0000 skipra 2399374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That is annoying! My BIL works from home and I know my family judges his work ethic. Granted, my sister busts her butt at 3 jobs and the times that we visit he has "one hour of work to do" and then proceeds to hang out at the pool all day. I think people like him are what gives others that actually do work at home a bad rap.<br /> ETA: he has also complained about 20 hours of work being more than a full week's worth and that is his full time job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399367 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 22:40:25 +0000 HabesBabe 2399367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's because you work from home. I work from home, too (I telecommute, so I'm still a worker bee for a big company), and when I meet new people, they think I must sit at home and occasionally make stuff for an Etsy shop or stuff envelopes.</p> <p>But it works for me and my family, so that's all that really matters! I'm able to take lon lunches if LO has a play date and I always do preschool drop off and pick up. It's a good balance for us, even if nobody knows what it is I do for a living. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399292 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 21:46:32 +0000 LovelyPlum 2399292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: I've had people assume that about me, but to be fair, *I* assumed I could do much more with her here than I actually ever can! (Hence why I'm still grading, but whatever...) I think I'm more self-conscious about it than others are.</p> <p>I do get annoyed, though, because DH also now works from home, and when LO is home and we're both working from home, it is assumed that I am the one taking care of her because my job is more flexible. But I think there's a lot more wrapped up in that than just WAH. We've had several come-to-Jesus moments about that in the past.</p> <p>@littlejoy: I'd be WAY more annoyed about the insurance agent than the MIL. What a condescending, patronizing thing to say!!</p> <p>ETA: Strike that-like Darrin from Bewitched?! Seriously?!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399288 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 21:44:58 +0000 Corduroy 2399288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: Sorry you have to fight the misconceptions. DH works from home 2 days a week. Nobody has ever asked him if our LOs are home during that time or insinuated that he should be doing anything but work... except me. I always want him to start laundry before I get home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399273 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 21:31:18 +0000 Mama Bird 2399273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's annoying!</p> <p>I worked from home for a long while when my oldest was born, and it was hit and miss. The people I worked with directly knew I'm busting my rear end and putting in 40 hours a week as usual, but other coworkers I didn't work with at the time seem to have been under the impression I was on an extra long leave with some light work thrown in.</p> <p>And DH was pretty clueless and refused to let me hire even part time help (though he did take over the cooking). Luckily he spent three months watching the kid once I went back to the office. He never suggested I don't need help to work from home again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399211 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 20:50:11 +0000 FaithFertility 2399211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm annoyed for you! Sorry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399182 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 20:33:51 +0000 wrkbrk 2399182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: LIKE DARRIN FROM BEWITCHED? B*tch please! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399104 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:40:17 +0000 wheres_c 2399104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>People don't seem to understand, especially my family - heck even my husband.<br /> They ask me to do chores for them, call me during the day etc. Friends even ask me to babysit!<br /> I work full time and make more than 50% of our household income. They think it's my "little job" also! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399100 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:38:32 +0000 wheres_c 2399100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: hahaha my UPS driver said the same thing! I even posted about it on here! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399097 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:37:19 +0000 nana87 2399097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: oh dear! :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399093 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:33:58 +0000 littlejoy 2399093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: Our UPS driver asked if all I do is shop online all day. :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399087 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:31:33 +0000 nana87 2399087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That would annoy me so much!! </p> <p>Dh works from home and I often do as well, but people usually understand for the most part. Like, no one has ever expected me to be able to write my dissertation with lo underfoot. I do feel self conscious about it sometimes though with random people--like, the doormen in our apartment building must wonder why we're around all hours of the day, haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399079 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:26:44 +0000 youboots 2399079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm annoyed for you. You are SO good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-work-from-home-do-people-understand#post-2399058 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:08:38 +0000 littlejoy 2399058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is FaceTiming with his mom right now, and I'm working in the other room. </p> <p>I just heard her ask what he meant when he told her I'm taking 2 weeks off with LO while she's out of school for break. He explained (for the millionth time) that I am not a stay at home mom. She then said, "Well yeah, I just didn't figure she needed to take time OFF if LO is home." She then made some remark about how she doesn't understand why we need to send LO to preschool at all. She told DH's entire family that I "write jingles, like Darrin from Bewitched!" ... Ummmm?</p> <p>Once, our insurance agent was giving me a quote for business insurance, and when he saw how my income, he reached across the table, patted my hand, and said, "Wow! You make a lot with your *little job*!". </p> <p>FWIW, I'm a full-time brand strategist &amp; graphic designer. I run my studio from home. I'm in my 7th year, and feel like I'm pretty successful (I make over 1/2 of our annual household income, have worked with hundreds of clients over my career, and am "respected" in my industry). I bust my ass to provide for my family. </p> <p>What gives?! Why is the assumption that my job is less important because I'm a mom? Or because I work at home? Or just because I'm a woman? </p> <p>I guess I should add that I don't really care what people think, it's just annoying. DH is supportive, and we're a great team. Silver lining? :) </p>