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Original poster

Working from home: frustrating or is it just me?

40 replies

expatkat · 12/07/2004 16:24

I recognize that I'm lucky to have the flexibility, but I find working at home rubbish. I have the same daily interruptions/domestic responsibilities that SAHMs have (the phone, the boiler engineer, the deliveries, the door-to-door peddlers, the phone calls to arrange playdates, keeping after the shopping and the ever-present mess) and then find it terribly difficult to return to "work mode" and end up checking my email or popping on to mumsnet--things I don't tend to do if I'm working straight through on something. In addition, I have to hide from the kids! Once they see me, extricating myself is a 20-minute endeavor.

Today I organized childcare and blocked out 3 hours to work on and finish a project. After all the interruptions I had 1 hour. I did a such a crap job on it, I'm embarrassed--very unlike me not to be conscientious. Hope I don't get sacked.

Anyone else feel similarly frustrated?

PS Plus, somehow it's not seen as "real work" to others if I'm physically at home. So if MIL or SIL come to visit, I'm expected to entertain. But er. . .no one gave me holiday.

OP posts:

bundle · 14/07/2004 18:21

miaou, how is life on muck? (i once interviewed someone, BG, from muck, do you know her?)

Miaou · 14/07/2004 18:24

Yep Bundle, know her well, she has just emigrated to New Zealand last October - miss her loads!

Muck is still ace, don't ever want to leave...!

bundle · 14/07/2004 18:25

oh wow, I hadn't realised. thought she was there for the duration. I expect she'll be getting lots of the great outdoors over the other side of the world, though. she was a bit of an inspiration, i loved her story about her children thinking the helicopter which took her to the mainland when she wasn't well was hers

Miaou · 14/07/2004 19:01

They had to move to the mainland for her dd's schooling (going into secondary education next year) so I think they thought they may as well move to another country whilst they were at it!

bundle · 15/07/2004 10:24

miaou, btw, I had gone to a meeting at dd's nursery, not snubbing you! but you do have this thing about killing off threads, don't you?

motherinferior · 15/07/2004 10:36

Grrrr, just answered the door. No, I don't know whose care is parked opposite. I am WORKING (well, actually I'm not but I could be, couldn't I). Horrid Disturbers of Diligent Home Working People. Want office. And Rottweiler.

motherinferior · 15/07/2004 10:37

(And I only answered the door because I AM expecting someone.)

bundle · 15/07/2004 10:39

Blu · 15/07/2004 11:40

One of your mail order clothes deliveries, by any chance MI?

bundle · 15/07/2004 11:42

surely not - she's bought SOOOO many skirts lately

Easy · 15/07/2004 11:59

Oh, now look, I've joined in. Tell me to go andf get some work done someone.

motherinferior · 15/07/2004 12:06

I am ignoring you all, magnificently, and going to Pack For My Hols.

Original poster

expatkat · 15/07/2004 12:11

I heard a story about Dame Edith Sitwell. . .Someone called round once, and her maid answered the door. The caller asked if Sitwell was busy, or if he could visit with her. The maid answered, "Oh, of course you can come in. She's not doing anything important. She's only writing."

I think about that a lot when I think about us mums who work at home. Not that any of us have a maid to answer the door for us, LOL.

It's been v. interesting to hear from the more seasoned and disciplined work-from-home mums on this thread. I'll plan to make use of yr tips.

OP posts:

CountessDracula · 15/07/2004 12:16

Luckily I don't have the stigma from my colleagues of not doing anything when working from home as most of them are based at home too.

I don't work at home all the time but am out on Client sites fairly often so I get the best of both worlds.

I have a nanny and the days I am working from home she takes dd out to playgroup and back to her house or round to friends which is great. I do miss her but get a lot more work done.

I do love working at home as i can be so flexible but it does annoy me when people assume I can be available for stuff when I can't.

Wifeof · 15/07/2004 16:39

Expatkat - luckily I have the opposite to the doorbell problem as I live in the sticks; my deliveries get lost because the driver can't find me!

I digress - rules while homeworking:

I dress 'properly' (not a suit or anything but just not slob kit) and as I have to do the school run first it makes sense...plus it makes me feel more proffessional.

Can't answer phone as only have 1 phone line - school and dh have mobile number for emergencies.

As colleagues in office normally have chats/coffee breaks, I don't feel guilty (in fact I positively plan) 10 min breaks every hour or two to watch headlines on TV, put washing out, load diswasher, sit in garden (haven't done that for a while!) etc.

I do not phone friends or my mum, go on MN (whopper!!), or do anything vaguely interesting. Anything pressing outside work, I set myself a deadline and take the decision when it comes.

It's very dull but it works!

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