I'm going to be working from home 2 days a week for the next 4 weeks. I didn't really think this through very well... haha. I'm not expecting to get *that* much work done while at home (so, working extra long hours the 3 days I'min the office), but I would like to maximize the time I do get work done without neglecting DD TOO much.
Any tips? Obviously while she's napping and after she goes to bed.
kiwi / 635 posts
How old? I'm doing light part time work at home to help transition back from maternity leave. I check email and respond a little when DD is playing on her tummy time mat. Also read email and watch any training videos while nursing. Anything requiring a lot of focus is during her long nap or after she goes to bed.
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
How old?
Chloe has been sick and clingy this month, so I haven't been able to get nearly as much done as I would have otherwise. I work during nap times and after my husban gets home, and on weekends. It's a temporary solution to our hopefully temporary issue.
pineapple / 12566 posts
I have been WAH since DS was born and he is almost 3. He didn't start daycare until he was 2, and it was only half days.
How old is she?
Work while she sleeps, obviously. Try to be very efficient and know exactly what you need to do/accomplish. If you are really desperate, put on some videos/TV if you are ok with that. Depending on how it goes, you may have to work in the evenings as well after your SO is home or she goes to bed. Any chance you could hire a babysitter for a few hours to get her out of the house?
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
What kind of work do you have to do? Is it silent work or does it require conference calls/phone calls to clients?
nectarine / 2797 posts
I don't regularly WFH while watching my LO, but I've had to when she's been sick or daycare was closed. For me, one important thing is to get up super early to get in a little time before she wakes up. So I"ll start at 5 or so, and usually that gets me two uninterrupted hours. Other than that, naps and after SO gets home are my other chances to get a lot done, and I just make up the work later.
GOLD / squash / 13576 posts
@swurlygurl: How old is your LO? Our LO is 16.5 months old and working from home is sooooo hard. The only time I can work is before LO wakes up, nap time and once he's asleep.
honeydew / 7091 posts
@littlek: @lamariniere: @Mrs. Jump Rope: @danda: 9 months - so, not such a long attention span... haha
@looch: Silent, computer work
@lamariniere: No problem with TV, but I doubt she would watch. No available sitters, which is why I'm working from home for 4 weeks.
It looks like I shouldn't expect too much productivity at home. I should probably cut my HB time too... .hahaha
squash / 13208 posts
I would wake up early and try to knock out at least 2 hours - then assuming she still naps 2 times a day - there is another 3-4 hours. Also if you have a play room I would bring the laptop in there and let DD explore on her own and you could probably get 15 mins here and there. Then you would just need a few hours after she is in bed.
OK so that sounds like a great plan but maybe it wont work?? lol
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@swurlygurl: ok, because I was going to suggest a headset for your phone, reduced background noise a lot!
At 9 months, my son would have stayed in the jumperoo for an hour if I let him, do you have something similar?
persimmon / 1427 posts
I work from home a few days a week, but LO is in daycare. The only way I could get 8 hours of work done without childcare is to get up REALLY early, get a couple of hours of work in before she woke up, work through nap time, and then work the remainder of my hours after she goes to bed. Not idea at all.
GOLD / squash / 13576 posts
@swurlygurl: Is LO crawling? Once they are moving it's harder to distract them.
pomegranate / 3225 posts
I WAH 2 days a week with an active 11 month old. I only charge about 4 or 5 hours of real work those days. It was a lot easier when she was tiny, but is still doable I feel.
Here's what I do:
Mornings I work on the couch in her play area. She entertains herself with her toys for the most part while I work/watch... then I work during her morning nap (1 - 2 hours). Then I go work out (she's in the stroller), then have lunch. Then it's more play time and me checking my laptop. During her afternoon nap I work also.
Jumperoo saves my sanity some days... so does games on the iphone, giving her puffs if i need to make a call, etc.
If I have something with a deadline, it can be hard, and I have to work before she wakes or when DH is there to watch her. For the most part, I'm happy with it and even though I feel guilty I can't play with her all the time I'm happy she's not in daycare on those two days. Conference calls are obviously hard. I try to call as soon as she goes down for a nap.
Also, I have a back up sitter if I have to go into the office on these days. This doesn't happen very much, but it does happen from time to time.
Overall, good luck! Hopefully things work out!
pineapple / 12053 posts
I WAH full time and it can be tough. I do most of my work on the computer so my biggest thing is cutting our distractions and being efficient when she is napping. I can only leave her to play for 20 minutes at a time if I'm on the computer so I save computer work for naps, don't do chores unless she's awake (it takes longer but she's more entertained). I actually don't work after bedtime bc DH and I don't get time together otherwise. I have a priority list and try to stick with that!
grapefruit / 4649 posts
I can't remember how much novelty counts for at that age but what if you had a few "new" activities stashed for her so you could just keep pulling out things she can do? Things like this:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/52495151877265642/
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/52495151879060507/
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/52495151879825234/
You can let her play with her normal toys and then as she gets antsy you can maybe buy 5-10 more minutes?
It might not work for your schedule but maybe consider something like taking her to a swimming class/free swim or something else new and tiring. Often after that type of thing they will take better naps which might be helpful and fun.
My last suggestion is to consider a mother's helper instead of a sitter, someone who can just come over and play with her, even at 13 they might be able to help you out for an hour by playing with her.
grapefruit / 4823 posts
I always woke up early to work before DS was up. When he napped, I busted butt! I had a baby gate and just let him roam around the room I worked in. He had tons if toys in there to occupy him...as much as possible. You just can't dawdle and just need to work when you can
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