freelancers' watercooler: anyone else feel like they don't have a "proper" job?

[hatwoman]

I feel in need of a multiple water cooler rant...please join in

summer holidays: juggling and muddling, falling behind, not doing anything properly. I'm so ready for term to start...can't believe it's another week

dh's climbing trip and my deadlines: just as the school holidays ends and I should be able to back to normal routine (working full day Mon and Thur, school hours the other days) dh is going off climbing for a week. I have two deadines in 3 weeks' time, one of which involves standing up infront of a load of people and talking about the work I've been doing over the summmer

wishing I had a proper job: oh I know all the pluses but I just want an office and colleagues and working hours and child care.

please talk to me and tell me I'm not alone

Marsha
further up the thread I set out my rules for email
when not DOING email, close the programme
no sound alerts
get on with something else
THEN check email every couple of hours
if you reply right away they know you are not busy, or on Mumsnet!

Good one TalkinP.
It is probably a good thing I have lost my iphone (apart from the fact I loved using it). As cannot check email when out.

at marsha. I was wondering what on earth "doing it internally" meant and trying to fathom how it was possible for kids to simultaneously go quiet and run around like mad.

I just laughed out loud. Heaven forfend what doing it internally could mean for a toddler

Can i join you here? DSs went back today and i have bottomed out my office / studio. The only work i got over summer was out of the house (festival / event work) - there is NO WAY i can do anything with DSs about - even though they are quite good it's just too distracting....So now it all looks shiny and new - and a little bit too tidy for me

Now to find some more work for when the things i'm working on now finish (this is the bit i hate the most) ....

Oh and i had to put my foot down a coupld of years ago - when DSs were year 2 and 4 - i used to get bored friendly SAHMs knocking on the door ....sometimes two or three a day - because i was in ... in the end i had to be quite rude It's hard enough for me to get my shit together without that ....

Hello everyone, budge over.

I am a full time mum and I am also on call for work 24 hours. Now that school has started I am looking forward to getting into a better routine that keeps work separate and intend to be less accessible to emails. I am lucky to have managed the holidays well with work and days out balanced well. Things are about to get busier. My three worries being self employed are:

1. Juggling a fine balance between Mum/wife/employee/housekeeper/social life (comes last by miles) and feeling guilty;
2. Pressure to bring in new work when I have massive repair bills looming;
3. I have started to feel very isolated and need some adult company.

I love working from home - I have not idea how I would manage childcare if I worked FT. I may not be able to find a job anyway and feel conflicted.

Nice to meet you all

The main trick I have learned (mine are 13 and 11 - DS started secondary school today, DD goes back tomorrow) is to do all housework, shopping, organising BEFORE turning the computer on
and to close out of the browser when I'm meant to be concentrating
50 minutes on, 10 minutes off.

I've been doing forums for ten years
otherwise I'd go stir crazy when working late at night when DH is away
on the Ebay business board I have my own comfy chair!

Time to put the kettle on. Who takes sugar?

wonders if Hare has a drinks machine. surely decent coffee and mugs are one of the benefits of this s-e/wfh lark?

Ooh yes please TP2; black earl grey no sugar please.
So far today I have done 2 school runs and I have a third still to come (DD2's First Day in Reception). I have been to M&S to pick up half an order and then rung customer services to complain and make them send the other half. DD3 has had precisely 45 minutes' sleep and she is to have no more because she didn't go off until 9 pm last night and I had a deadline! DD2 came home hungry but happy, so that's all good. Have hoovered and made up spare bed and cleaned kitchen...just sat down to do some work while they are playing upstairs and I see it is already 20 past 2 and I have to go out again in half an hour!
First week back after hols always takes a bit of adjusting. I know I have a rhythm there somewhere, just need to find it...

Am looking forward to getting the house clean and tidy.
Will need to kick DH out to his workshop for a week or two.
And stop him and DD playing this www.sporcle.com/games/category/geography

no biccies I'm afraid - have to get rid of the summer holiday muffin top!

My DH has gone to sodding China! Seems a bit drastic - could have done with him last night to sit with the baby :(

One great thing about all this is not having to face carbsy carbs at lunch time. bleurgh

Ah yes sorry .... i was trying to keep up the 'watercooler' analogy - i mainline coffee with 3 2 sugars when at home...

TP2 - that quiz thing looks fun - will give it a go later

I have only been working from home for a year and half now but I absolutely love it. I worked in a high pressure office environment and loved the work but loathed the atmosphere so got out. Working from home suits my personality though as I am a loner and can happily not speak to another adult for weeks on end when DH is working abroad.

All my friends and family know only to text me during the day - I never have anyone taking the piss and wanting to pop over for coffee or whatnot. I made it very clear from the outset that I am home but working. People have got the message. DH has been great, hasn't yet asked me to do things that he can't do for himself.

Having said that, I really like being able to do laundry, chores, run errands when I want a break from my desk. DD is in childcare until she starts school next year so it works well there too. I didn't do much work this summer holiday because I didn't really need to and am now back in the saddle catching up. DD is only 3 so goes to bed early so I am able to work at night if I need to.

Oh God, I so hated the politics of working in an office and am so grateful for working at home to hours that suit me. Total and utter freedom.

Having typed all that, I am sure if I stick around this thread long enough I will start moaning letting off steam about stuff .

TP2 I like white, tea with one sugar please, very kind of you to ask.

actually hatwoman I think I may know what you mean. We cancelled a holiday and so both have this week off and did nothing whilst DC was at school. Actually I changed the bed, un/loaded dishwasher, washed and dried washing, answered emails, joined great new thread on MN. Vowed earlier to make sure things were tidy before bed so it was all sorted and ready for the morning. I have changed my mind and instead will go out for dinner, get things ready for DC and leave everything else. From next week I will prioritise and plan my day better.

Hate office politics and commute. Only been doing this for six months. I wish I could hotdesk somewhere for the day when DH is home. Off to check if this a free facility exists (unlikely but hopeful).

TP2, white coffee please :)

Regarding the commute, that's actually the one thing I miss about WFH as that half hour on the Tube to and from work was my reading time which has slid a little (until recently when I bought a Kindle and now am reading loads!).

I love how it's pissing down with rain and I don't have to commute in it. Uh-oh, still have to collect DD (3) at 5.30pm. Hope it stops by then.

I know what you mean about missing the reading time a commute gives you. But I am so much fitter as a result of wfh - I use my communte time to run and/or walk the dog

My commute was 1 hour 45 mins each way. Kindle made it bearable though - still try and make time cos I love it so much.

I care less about my hair now - wash and straighten the night before and if it gets wrecked on the school run I can sort it out. Beats being in the office all all day looking like I have had an electric shock and wishing I could wear a hat.

Coffee white for me too please :)

I've had a productive day today as MIL took DS3 for a walk this morning and DS1 and DS2 were back at school in their lovely shiny new clean clothes.

I don't know whether this is just me or whether it relates to working at home and trying to balance work and the all the domestic stuff but I am so disorganized when it comes to school. I forgot to pay the DSs' dinner money today, we were shopping yesterday in Tescos desperately looking for a PE t-shirt for DS1 to no avail (or at least he has a size four years too big for him!) and also realised DS1 needed wellies for Forest School yesterday. They are used to me but all the other mothers seem much more sorted than me!

the fact that we have not had a "summer" does not help.
dropping DS off at big school today in the pissing rain was blech
I'll get back to the gym tomorrow - that will help

How many of you on here with school-age DC work only during school hours eg 9 to 3? My DD won't start school until next Sept whereupon I plan on working like a madwoman between those hours only so I don't have to pay for childcare. Having spent £1000 a week (London) in CM/nursery fees since she was a baby I am looking forward to having more money in my pocket . Now she's in childcare from 8.30 to 5.30 (and she loves it, being with all her friends all day) I spread my work out during the day and do chores, running etc in between but when she starts school I guess compressing my workday will mean no being able t be so leisurely about work!

Not £1000 a week, I meant £1000 a month....

there are no set hours
there is school run, shopping, half hour email, hoover, yoga, 45 minutes accounts, lunch while doing MN, laundry, school run, 1 hour writing letters while kids zone out in front of TV, tea, homework, music, dancing lessons, tennis, supper, 40 mins remembereing where I was up to while DH amuses them
bed
work for an hour or two while he chills playing a game (napoleon or summat)
bed
if he's away I work till gone midnight
now kids are at big schoool, lose PM school run, gain hour

BUT
I've spent less than £1000 on childcare in their lives!