Working from home- any tips?

[sagalsmith]

I can't seem to see a way out and feel that I might be too close to the problem, hence writing in.
I live in a duplex, have 2 kids (2y8m, 16m), have full time homehelp. Kids stick to me as far as possible. Bringing them both out at the same time only works in the afternoon which gives me a couple of hours. If its been a particularly trying day, I find that all I want to do is drink a cup of tea in peace (which can stretch out to much longer than ideal). Its an open plan space so being in the living area doesn't work well. Going into the one spare bedroom doesn't work as dd1 will come looking for me and these days doesn't even seem to want to go out if she knows I'll be at home. Occasionally when I have some days out, the next couple of days brings a lot of clinginess.
I also have lots of guilt esp when it seems like they need me and I can actually technically be there.
Any advice/tips?

No advice, I'm afraid, just a bump! I'll be going back to work I'm a few months, and also work from home. Plan to get a day nanny to cover my working hours, but can already foresee problems.

Ok I have some thoughts, hope they don't sound too harsh.
It sounds like you need a better routine. You needs to a) be stricter with yourself and your kids and b) get a nanny rather than a home help.
A homehelp is exactly that, they help you, they don't do all the childcare. If you are supposed to be working then you should have proper childcare in place. Either a nursery place for both kids or a nanny who has the full time job of looking after the kids.
Then you need a routine that everyone understands, specific times when you are working and therefore not available to the kids. Set up your spare room as an Office. Put a green/red sign on the door and tell your kids that when the sign is red they cannot come in. Make the homehelp/nanny help you to reinforce this. And make sure you do to, do not get distracted and start playing with the kids when you should be working. It will undermine your routine and confuse the kids.
And stop procrastinating, when you are supposed to be working make sure you do (rather than having cups of tea) so that when you aren't supposed to be working you can spend quality time with your kids so that they know you care and aren't trying to avoid them.
If you also need some breaks and alone time schedule these separately from your work tim e- eg get a baby sitter in so you can go out for coffee with a friend or go to the gym.
Kids who's parents work in offices also have the issue of being more clingy when they get in, but you have the added difficulty that you aren't 'going out to work' so it must be harder for them to understand, so a strict routine will help them understand that you are working and not hiding from them.
hope this helps

I work from home, that is, I work in the café down the road while nanny looks after DD. It is much easier for everyone - DD, nanny and me - if I am not there. I don't know if that is practical for you or if you have too many files you need at home etc. but I would say if you possibly can, go out. If as Monkoray says you get a nanny rather than a home help, then maybe you can schedule your work time to start first thing in the morning, that's easier from a tiredness point of view.

If you can't leave the house, can your children? What about a childminder or nursery? Good professional childcarers will give your children enough settling-in time that the clinginess (and guilt) should get much better.

Even when DH looks after DD it doesn't work very well - today, for instance. He is supposed to be taking her out. She is tired and grizzling to go in her pushchair so she can fall asleep. She has been grizzling for at least half an hour (while DH gets ready) so I stick my head out of the study to ask when he plans to leave. DH says he has to do a poo and then he is good to go, so I put down my work, take DD, realise she is thirsty and has a dirty nappy. By the time DH has hung up the phone call he answered after his poo, I have given DD a drink, changed her, dressed her in weather-appropriate clothing and put her suncream on and half an hour has gone by. DH is high on the scale both of dad competence and support for wife's work, but this sort of thing happens EVERY time unless either I, or he and DD, are NOT THERE.

If not at home at all is not an option, I second Monkoray :).

Thanks for your responses. I think I find it so hard because of bad pregnancies too close together and my body only now feeling more normal (still having treatments for some preggie related probs). Husband thinks I should start exercising to gain energy and I know he's right. DD1 starting nursery in Sept so things will get easier. Need motivation and just glad I don't have an employer.
Laughed when I read about your helpful DH Weissbier. Been there.
Good news is that ever since posting, I've had more done in these few days than I have in a long time!