Working from home - Any tips?

[AnnieMo]

I was wondering if anyone can give me any tips on successfully working from home - is it really possibly with a toddler in tow. I have recently started a new job which does have an office, but much of the work is out and about and I can also work at home. As my dh also works funny work patterns and is often at home during the day we decided to reduce ds's hours with the childminder and share some of the childcare between us. I only work part time but have to be flexible about hours. Anyway dh is fine looking after ds if I am not in the house, but if I am trying to work from home he always seems to assume that I should be on duty and the things he has to do are more important! On Friday I had a nightmare day - dh was rushing backwards and forwards to the garage with a sick car so wasn't at home much, ds decided to resist an afternoon nap and so I was running up and down to the computer trying to fit in bits of work and getting more and more stressed - i was ready to jack it all in. I just find juggling it all so stressful - is there really a way to manage it? Any tips greatly received.

Wow sounds like we were doubly unlucky then.

But I've just remembered my coping strategy (not working hugely well yet as I keep forgetting it). Whether or not you have a separate tax account, try to get into the habit of thinking of your income in terms of your income after tax. So if you earn on average, €20 per hour, think of it as €14. (and also think in terms of your average earnings per hour, rather than what you actually charge clients). This way, when i see something worth, say €100 I know that it will in fact cost a whole days work, not 5 hours. And believe it or not, it does make a difference.

Yeah, I couldn't agree more. YOu can claim for a chauffeur but not a nanny? What parallel universe is this?

It is a universe in which it is still assumed that childcare is a private responsibility, ultimately to be shouldered by mothers or possibly grandparents. One in which the government is finally pushing some of the burden onto employers (while they kick and scream, of course)but refuses to accept that decent, state-funded childcare should be our right. 'Flexible working' is all too frequently interpreted as 'working round children' in exactly the way we've all just said it can't be.

Sorry to rant, it makes me really really cross. As cross as the assumption dd is frolicking around me while I earn, as it happens, slightly more than her father.

Yes, I agree. I find it infuriating that the government is so keen for women, including single parents to work, yet so unkeen on providing tax breaks for childcare or state-funded nurseries. Do they have any idea of what a chunk it takes out of the average salary? I earn a reasonable amount and it cripples me. For those on low wages it just doesn't add up to work.

So what do you actually do, Aloha? And the others?

AnnieMo if you have the space it might be worth an aupair as they shouldnt have sole responsibility for the child but can occupy them while you work and you can hear what is happening, also of you are feeing you can pop in and out when necessary. We set up a small business when ds was born and had an aupair (this is a whole other topic I think as it doesnt work for everyone) while he was little and I didnt want him out of my 'indirect' care and then when he turned 2 put him in nursery for 2.5 days a week. The rest I do in the evenings and used to do when he slept in the pm but he has dropped his sleep now..
The noise has always been an issue - someone always stubs a toe and lets rip right in the middle of a client phone call, or a stray child sneaks into the office mid conversation. We're quite nifty on the mute button now!
Good Luck

Oh yes one more advantage of in the home childcare is that if they are poorly you can still carry on doing bits and pieces. With ds in nursery he gets sent home and i get the 'day off'. It happens more than I thought it would.

motherinferior - we do environmental consultancy work - how about you?

Bubby, I think it's a really good solution but we simply don't have the room - I work from our living room as it is. However, IF we had another & ds is in nursery I would consider a cheaper mother's help for the early days. I really value my solitary few days though!

Motherinferior, I'm a freelance journalist (mainly women's mags) which I think is similar to you. Maybe we should start a campaign!

Aloha, you've got it on the nose. Health and social care stuff as well, some women's mags. Combination of the deeply worthy and the unspeakably frivolous.

I work from a room at the top of our house and am already dreading giving it up to new child some years down the line. Mind you, once we stop paying for childcare we can probably afford a magnificent loft conversion.

Mmmmm... (imagine Homer Simpson voice)... not paying for childcare.... I'll be rich, rich, rich... mad cackle... we have 3beds, one for sd one for ds and one for us. I'd love an office I could shut the door on. Thinking of a conservatory off the kitchen as option but would be v cold in winter I think. Anyway, just thinking out loud here so will go off and do work (about incompatible sex drives, as it happens - cf the how many times a week thread!)

Motherinferior I too dream of a loft aaahh the space the views....unfortunately I'm told children get more expensive the older they get not less. My dd has eyes on the loft for her OWN room so how selfless will we be as parents - I will let you know when the time comes.

Two lots of childcare are going to come to soooo much - nearly a grand a month - that I think we could do a conversion and stick it on the mortgage. I think. There you are, AnnieMo, all you have to do is shell out for childcare and adapt your home! Seriously, though, I love working like this.

You can probably claim quite a lot of exciting things back off tax for the current article you're writing, Aloha...I claimed 6 acupuncture sessions for a piece on complementary health. Mind you, if you're anything like me the whole topic will send you into a frenzy of abstinence. My last couple of articles on healthy eating/fresh food saw me hitting the chocolate ice cream and noshing on food past its sell-by date like no tomorrow.

I agree with you motherinf it is great working from no dress code and no fixed hours etc.and food in the kitchen on constant tap....oh the weight I've gained now I only have to walk downstairs to work and can plunder the childrens lunch box supplies whenever I feel like it.

Seriously I work with dh which can be shouty and doorslammy but we also really get a buzz out of achieving something together and sharing the results of our labour! And we take far too much holiday whenever we feel like it! And the kids see much much more of dh as he can do school run if he wants some fresh air or a bit of a break.
As far as we are concerned it has been a massive improvement in our life and the pros far outway the cons
Whatever you decide to do I hope it works out for you and that you reach a comfy decision vis a vis childcare.

I like the idea of a frenzy of abstinence When you put it like that it does make sense to move to a bigger house, add to the mortgage and import a nice Polish girl to look after the baby for £60 a week! My nursery fees are going to be a bit less than a nannyshare though, when he finally goes. However, despite all my moaning, I still like it a lot more than working in a poxy office with horrid recycled air and lots of other people's emotions to handle. In short tips are: Childcare is essential, save for your tax in a separate account or have a nervous breakdown like me, don't think you can do the housework as you work, set yourself up with a permanent place to have an office set up with separate phone line and computer etc and if your dh is looking after the kids, he's LOOKING AFTER THE KIDS, RIGHT!! Oh, and it's harder if the sun's shining and you've got no motivation. Bored with sex (feature) already...

Writing about sex can't be as boring as some of the things I had to write about yesterday. On the other hand, I didn't have to go to any meetings and can slob about in drawstring trousers purchased from Catford's finest charity shops and pushed well down under enormous tum, which isn't exactly permissible in offices.

That may be worth factoring in, seriously, AnnieMo - you don't get paid maternity leave but as you don't have to commute you can keep working for longer. Not necessarily a blessing, but definitely a factor which I'm finding quite noticeable at the moment.

Aloha, have various ideas of what's claimable but probably better to email me through mumsnet on that one!