work from home/sahms how do you do it?

[Anonymous]

I am a SAHM who does freelance work. Mostly during morning preschool and afternoon naps. Sometimes I put on a movie in the afternoon but that is very rare. I started when DD was in preschool but she was such a solid napper before preschool that I could easily have worked during her morning/afternoon naps (total 3-4 hours). As a freelance worker (lawyer) it made no difference to my employers if I worked at noon or midnight so long as the work was the best quality and it got done on time. Now if I was trying to work during the day while taking care of a 1 year old that didn't nap, then that just would not have been possible and I would have needed a regular babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What crappy responses. I did this freelance work for several years when my kids were little, working mostly at night after they were in bed. A lot of very late nights. I also was in grad school when they were little and had a sitter for classtime, but did all my studying late at night. OP, you can do it for awhile, especially when you have one child who is a good napper, but it's not sustainable over the long haul. You really do need childcare in order to give your sharpest mind to your work and get most of it done in daylight hours. I know that childcare is expensive, but there comes a point when it's the only way.

I agree with this. I did it for two years, and now with a preschooler who doesn't nap, and a newborn, I've hired a part-time nanny so I can get my work done during the day rather than 10-midnight. Sleep is also important.

[Anonymous]

op - GET CHILDCARE.

[Anonymous]

If you do not need naturally need a lot of sleep, then working early mornings and late nights over the long haul is possible. My kids are only 14 months apart, and I kept up that schedule until my youngest went to Kindergarten. I worked out and did errands when they were in part time preschool (they both started as early as possible at age 2).

I don't think this type of schedule is for everybody. I feel refreshed after only 5-6 hours of sleep. If you need more sleep, you are going to need a sitter.

[Anonymous]

I freelance/work for myself and stay home with my kids. I hustled for 2 years to work around naps + and in the evenings but this was a recipe for burn-out for me. Last year, my kids were in preschool and I worked 4-6 hours when my kids were at school and I also had 3 hours of afternoon help from a sitter 3 times a week.

I don't like have childcare at home because I work at home. It's just too loud and there are too many disruptions.

Next year, I will have one in kindergarten and one at preschool from 9-3. I have no idea how people work around their kids but it's not possible for me.

[Anonymous]

You could always have a babysitting co op, or join! Get a babysitter, free and keep the money you're making by WAH!

The main reason most parents join or start babysitting co-ops is to save money on sitters. It's a trade instead of a paid service – you get free babysitting in return for providing free babysitting for others. And this can be easier than you think because watching other peoples' kids is less of a stretch when you're already home watching your own.

As your children get older, shared babysitting can actually feel more like trading playdates. The children are occupied playing together, which gives you more time to yourself.

The best thing about the co-op, besides not having to pay, is that our kids know each other and play together. So in some ways, it's actually better than having a babysitter come over because it's a treat for the kids to get to visit a friend's house. Plus, we know that these are experienced parents, and over time, the parents have become close friends too.

If you are interested, email me, [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

I work from home FT, and my 2 young ones go to daycare in the morning. They come home and nap in the afternoon. There would be no way I could get my work done with them at home with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could always have a babysitting co op, or join! Get a babysitter, free and keep the money you're making by WAH!

The main reason most parents join or start babysitting co-ops is to save money on sitters. It's a trade instead of a paid service – you get free babysitting in return for providing free babysitting for others. And this can be easier than you think because watching other peoples' kids is less of a stretch when you're already home watching your own.

As your children get older, shared babysitting can actually feel more like trading playdates. The children are occupied playing together, which gives you more time to yourself.

The best thing about the co-op, besides not having to pay, is that our kids know each other and play together. So in some ways, it's actually better than having a babysitter come over because it's a treat for the kids to get to visit a friend's house. Plus, we know that these are experienced parents, and over time, the parents have become close friends too.

If you are interested, email me, [e-mail]

Yikes! Can't stand other peoples kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could always have a babysitting co op, or join! Get a babysitter, free and keep the money you're making by WAH!

The main reason most parents join or start babysitting co-ops is to save money on sitters. It's a trade instead of a paid service – you get free babysitting in return for providing free babysitting for others. And this can be easier than you think because watching other peoples' kids is less of a stretch when you're already home watching your own.

As your children get older, shared babysitting can actually feel more like trading playdates. The children are occupied playing together, which gives you more time to yourself.

The best thing about the co-op, besides not having to pay, is that our kids know each other and play together. So in some ways, it's actually better than having a babysitter come over because it's a treat for the kids to get to visit a friend's house. Plus, we know that these are experienced parents, and over time, the parents have become close friends too.

If you are interested, email me, [e-mail]

Yikes! Can't stand other peoples kids.

LOL. But I'm sure yours does.