Working from home

[SmilingandWaving]

I'm going back to work next month after having DS & will be attempting to work 4 days a week from home. I work for a small family business as a book-keeper & its pretty flexible about when I work as long as I do 28 hours a week.

I'm not sure I realised how much time DS would take up as I envisioned him playing angelically while I got on with work but now the realities of motherhood have hit home I'm not sure how I'm going to cope. He'll be 5 months when I start working & he doesn't really like being left to amuse himself.

I can't afford any kind of childcare & DP is in the office every day so it'll just be me & DS at home.

Has anyone got any tips on how to make this work & is it even possible?? Should I just resign myself to working in the evenings & weekends and give up on the idea of having any time to myself?

If you are allowed to make up time in the evenings and weekends then you could make it work - but it will be tough. Working long into the night is tough.

If you have to be available during work hours then I can't see how you can make it work, especially if you have to take phone calls.

I work full time from home and I can't do any more than an hour if the DCs are in the house (and mine are older and can entertain themselves easily)

You can't make this work without childcare, I'm afraid, unless you only work when dc is asleep.

I don't have to be available to take calls or anything like that so I don't have to be available during office hours.

As I said I just can't afford childcare & I can't afford to give up work so I guess it'll be a case of working when he's asleep & every evening & weekend. Oh joy.

Thanks for the responses

Echo what others have said, you;ll have to do it evenings and weekends if you have no childcare.

I worked full time from home 3 days a week and had childcare to cover all my hours. Did save money on childcare by not taking lunch break and started at 8 while DH started at 10 so we only needed to pay for 5 hours a day.

Can you pay for 2 days childcare and then work the other 2 days when your dh is at home to care for ds?

Can't you afford any kind of childcare? Even just to give you, say, a couple of hours each day? It is impossible to expect to be able to do anything when you have a child that young - and even if you work when they are napping, or in the evenings - when are you going to get some rest/a break? You will exhaust yourself pretty quickly.

Could you organise someone to do 2 hours for you that lead up to your DS's daily nap? So giving you 3 hours a day (or more, depending on how long his nap is).

Otherwise, I can't see it being worth your while and you will be doing yourself no favours at all.

When I was pregnant with DD we were thinking of buying a post office and I thought I would be able to work in the Post Office at the same time as looking after her. Fortunately we changed our minds as I quickly realised how impossible that would be!

Can't honestly see how you can do this other than working when he is sleeping.

Consider looking for parents in a similar situation so that you can do shared childcare? I do this and love it, though I still use professional childcare some of the time as the shared care is a bit less convenient/gives me fewer work hours. But I've grown to love my friends' kids and really appreciate the set-up.
If you decide to work evenings/weekends, try to see friends/other adults a lot in the day, as it can be v isolating to do this.

We're on a really tight budget so I really don't see how we could afford it, saying that I haven't looked into it in any depth so might have to do a bit of research. I like the idea of shared childcare but I don't know anyone with children & we've only just moved to the area so not sure where I would meet anyone. My mum's a teacher so has said she'll help out in holidays so I guess that would cut the cost of childcare but I feel bad taking up her free time.

He's ebf as well which makes things more tricky as I'm already shattered from 3 night feeds every night & I'd never be able to express enough milk for a full day away from me.

DP seems to think it'll be fine as DS sleeps from 7 til 9 every morning "so thats 2 hours I can fit in". He seems to think it would be ok for me to work in my pyjamas and not bother to sort the house out or put washing on. I know I could never work like this though as I need to be dressed & have some order before I can concentrate properly.

I worked from home from when my oldest was a little bit older than yours. You need to be organised and to plan ahead but be flexible at the same time.

Try having some toys in the room you work that you only give your son when you are working so they are more interesting, and introduce a play pen or travel cot, before he starts to move so he gets used to it then you won't need eyes in the back of your head while you are working. Play for a few minutes to get him interested, then leave him to it while you get something done, repeat as he gets bored. Think about aquiring things so he can be like Mummy, an old key board to bash, a calculator he can play with these things entertain kids of all ages for a while.

If you know say that at month end you need to have a good spell to concentrate then try and arrange for granny, great aunt or someone to come for the afternoon, or if this is not going to work plan to sacrifice a Saturday and send your Husband to the park so you can get it done.

I am afraid the your husband is right about the housework, you can do that with your baby awake or if it hasn't got done he can do it when he gets home. Plan to get up and sit in your organised workspace pretending the rest of the house is seperate, as it would be if you had gone to the office. If the state of the house is going to bother you, make a point of doing it before you go to bed, time while little people sleep is too presious to clean and tidy I am afraid!

HTH

Claire

To meet other parents in this situation I'd try nearby colleges/universities (student parents often have a noticeboard or group) and any parent-baby groups that appeal to you anyway (obv free ones best!). AP groups, if you're a gentle-discipline type, are good because AP parents often want to work from home/flexibly. I met my friends through slingmeet, if baby carriers interest you (you can turn up with a pram - I did!).

I'd also look for any women in business-type organisations and try the AAT discussion forums for other bookkeepers/accountants working from home in your area. And I'd try WI or any other female-heavy group you might feel like joining anyway - it could be good to carve out a regular slot of leisure time whatever you do. The more people you know, the more options you'll have. And I'd use Facebook, netmums, local Internet forums, postcards in local shop window/library - there are so many isolated sahps who could use a bit of time, for work or anything else. If you can find a few nearby, whose parenting and kids you like, you'll be set - you can do 2 adults caring for 4-5 kids and get to know the adults too.

PS make sure your husband is doing enough childcare to know that you need a break during naps sometimes, and that you don't make yourself ill trying to do it all - let him come in to the mess.

Only a thought but could you ask local colleges if they'd like to place a childcare trainee with you sometimes? After all, you'd be in the house to supervise?

Does your OH help around the house and with the cooking etc?

Make a list of the daily/weekly chores and sit down with your OH and work out who should do what. 28 hours isn't much less than full time and you're BF and looking after the baby during the day. BF is tiring.

A few time saving things you could do if you have the space.

Bulk cook and freeze meals.
Get something like this [[ www.amazon.co.uk/APlaceForEverything-co-uk-Triple-Laundry-Sorter/dp/B001PNEF4S] laundry sorter] so you sort as you take the clothes off and don't have to do it just before you do the washing.
Seriously think about where the clutter comes from, can anything be reorganised to stop any of the mess happening. I realise looking after a baby you have to just drop stuff whereever you are at times. Maybe a few baskets around the place for things to put away so it's all in one place in each room.

I agree that you need to get dressed, it puts you in work mode.

Oops messed up the link:

Get something like this laundry sorter