Guest Blogger.
Uggghhhh. It is not as easy to work from home with kids under foot as you may think. I now remember why I had “retired” from writing for a while. Imagine: you are sitting down with your deepest thoughts and have your article all planned out. You pull out your notes, review them and sit down to write, then suddenly “Potty! Potty! Potty!” or “Mommmmmmmyyyyyyyyy! Billy hit me!”
Even when you have prepared the children with everything you can possibly think of including a movie, popcorn, and juice. Even if you take them potty before you start work and wait until they are happily enjoying their time without your direct involvement. The second you are ready to think, there they are! There goes your thoughts.
I thought online tutoring would be easy from home. I mean, I’m home, since there is no phone used they can’t hear my kids on the other end, and all I need is my brain and my computer. Billy has been at an age where he lets me do things and can play independently. However, even when we go potty, get juice, make a sandwich, pull out his special toys, and put in his favorite movie, he still manages to need things.
It’s actually pretty funny, I’m sure. I think it’s because he knows I can’t leave my computer for the hour while I’m tutoring. Most of my students are now scheduled for when Alex is home, so he can entertain Billy for an hour. But I do have a few days where Alex is not home. And some days Alex does not want anything to do with his brother.
I always smile when moms want to work from home doing “thinking” or phone work with small kids at home. Even Billy goes to daycare/preschool so I can get things done. Any type of work that has to be “scheduled” is very challenging with little ones.
With writing I’ve learned how to “save that thought”. I often wait until my husband is home so I can then just yell at him to take care of the kids.
I have to admit I love direct sales because it does get me out of the house, without my kids! Woohooo to adult conversation!