Someone recently posted on their Facebook status that they had come to the conclusion women who have never held a full-time job while raising children have no clue what its like.
Apparently something had rubbed her the wrong way. But quite honestly, I know that feeling of being rubbed the wrong way when it comes to my working at home and raising children. I could say the same thing, “Women who have never had to work at home while raising children have no clue what its like.”
Working at home is a blessing, don’t get me wrong. But I continue to get feedback and hear comments that make me realize people really don’t believe that I have challenges. It is as if all they see in my life is a woman who can sleep in until whenever, keep up with her house, be available to her children and squeeze in some work when she can. Must be nice…yes, I have heard those words and they make me cringe.
Well here is the reality. I have so much work that I actually DO work full-time hours. So like any other woman who works a full-time job outside of the home, I still have to manage to find a way to get it all done. In fact, many times I can’t get it all done so things slide.
Lately it has been dinner. I have been working really hard on trying to get my family back on track with having decent meals ready for them. But my point is that working from home doesn’t suddenly produce extra hours in my day. I have the same amount as others and I have just as much work and responsibilities to my family.
Working from home has unique challenges that others can’t relate to. Believe me…there are some days when I wish I could head out the door for my job.
But in the end…I do come back to a deep sense of appreciation that I am able to work from home. Does it mean my life is easier? No, it just means that I have some advantages others don’t. But I also have some disadvantages that others don’t.
How do you deal with others who think working at home means you have it easy?
Related Articles:
Balancing Families with Working from Home
Challenges in Working from Home with Teenagers
Photo by David Boyle in Flickr