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| Well I just started as a Independent Avon rep, so I set my own hours and work from home during nap time, I also meet moms at the park or library and give them a catalog which they can order from my online store. Or I work in the evening when my toddler is playing with daddy! |
| posted by charise on 02/13/2008 02:03 PM
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2 words: Patience and Coffee.
Seriously though, I work PT, 3 days a week, and I think the hardest thing to do was figure out how to balance the demands of both my jobs (administrative secretary and Mommy). I was lucky enough to find a paying job that doesn't require me to bring work home, so when I am home, I focus on being Mama. Also, schedule is key...we do errands on the same day each week, trips to the library/gymboree, etc as well, that way I feel in control, and our osn gets a good balance of quality time with me. |
| posted by on 02/13/2008 02:07 PM
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| I agree with Lauren on the LOTS of coffee! It's tough. We are very lucky to live in the same area as our parents so we get a lot of help from them. I work 4 days a week. We try to get all of our rerrands done on Fridays so that we have most of the weekend free to be with Daddy and play as a whole family. I try to get a Lot of stuff done when my son is taking naps and he goes to bed at 7:00, so I can do some stuff at night too. |
| posted by Brooke on 02/13/2008 09:45 PM
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| I work from home full time however my daughter still goes to daycare because my job requires my full attention. Schedule is the key! I keep my daughter on a strict schedule and follow it to the tee. We shop on the weekends or maybe after work one night (however after daycare grocery shopping is always a nightmare with a hungry toddler). Its definetly not easy however you need to enjoy your time with your child when you are off of work. It seems to me that is the only thing that keeps me sane is my time with her. My husband is a HUGE help with housework. He works 12 hour days though so on the days he is working we get nothing done :). Good luck and the best advise I can give is keep everything routine. |
| posted by Stacey on 02/13/2008 10:33 PM
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| I agree with everybody--coffee/caffeine is key! Ok, but really--just accept the fact there is no "balancing" working and a busy toddler (sorry, I know this is no help!). I work from home, and I know how things can get crazy sometimes. I try and work early in the AM before my daughter wakes up (which sometimes means getting up at 4 or 5), during her naps (getting shorter everyday :( , and if I need to, after she goes to bed. My husband works afternoon/nights, which sometimes gives me mid-AM to work too. I try and devote my full attention to her during her waking hours--although, I'm not perfect, and sometimes when I'm overloaded with work I've been known to put in a movie so I can get some things done. I've been trying to involve her in household tasks during the day (like helping me unload the dishwasher, letting her vacuum with her play vacuum while I do the real thing, or even giving her a wet dish cloth to wipe down the table)--she doesn't always want to help or understand what I want her to do--but at least we are spending time together--and I may get some house stuff done! Have you thought about getting a delivery service for your groceries or some other common errand? We moved to a rural area a few years ago, but before that, we used to get a grocery delivery service and it saved my life (I would love it now, not wanting to bring a toddler grocery shopping!). I actually think I saw an ad that Amazon.com is delivering groceries now? I could be wrong. Just know you can't do it all--its impossible! Remember the saying, "A Jack of All Trades is a Master of None?" I feel like that sometimes--you have so much to do that you do a mediocre job with everything. Just try and put 100% to the task at hand and live in the moment, try not to think of what you should be doing instead/what's going to happen next--when I'm working I try and devote full energy to that--and when I'm with my family, I focus on them and try not to let the crazy list of to-do's get in my way. Your toddler is not going to care if the house is dirty or laundry isn't done--just remember to put your family first--the fun, hanging-out, lazy times are what you will be most special to you! I don't care what you job you do, you can always be replaced--you can never be replaced as a mom--its the most important job in the world! Hopefully this helps a little--good luck! |
| posted by Nikki on 02/14/2008 08:59 AM
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| I'm still learning. I am an insurance broker and get paid only by commision. It's very difficult to be one way at work and then another at home. |
| posted by Nadine on 02/17/2008 10:30 PM
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| I have a 2 yr old and 5 month old at home right now. My hubby is a professional firefighter. He works 3 8 hr dayshifts and then 3 days off then 3 16 hr nightshifts then 3 days off. I am working from home as a freelance writer. There are days it's sheer craziness. Like others have said, the most important thing to remember is that your children are only young once and you will never get these times back. I steal time here and there, during naps, early mornings or late nights. My 2 yr old son helps me empty the dishwasher, put his clothes away- so what if the end up a little crumpled. He also helps me push the swiffer wet jet and sometimes the vacuum (you have to watch though, i read an article about a child's foot getting run over!). When I see the smile he gets when I let him help me, I melt. I also bought him one of those learning laptops so he can work just like mommy. That lost its luster after about a week! I also don't drive so, I have figured out time efficient ways to do a lot of shopping online(yes, including groceries from Amazon, just not perishables, they have them but, I am not sure about that!) I also love diapers.com. I get both kids down simultaneously for about 2 hrs, which gets me some time to work during the day. I agree that a schedule, or at least a routine, is imperative. I try not to be TOO exact with it though because of daylight savings time and my hubby's goofy schedule. Anyway, good luck finding your balance. Thanks to all for the good tips! |
| posted by Melissa on 02/19/2008 11:04 PM
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| Melissa that is great advice, I am so used to having to do everything that I never really thought about starting Allen helping me, like with his clothes. He shows interest but sometimes I think I get so focused on what I have to get done in the little bit of time that I push Allen aside to get it done!!! Those are great ideas and I will be sure to try them!!! |
| posted by Kyleen on 02/20/2008 03:54 PM
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