How to Balance Working at Home and Family

Hi E.,

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I work from home too so I know what you are talking about!I've had GREAT success keeping my little one busy by setting up multiple "play" stations. It takes some effort and creativity, but it has worked for me. For example, I will setup different play stations around the room-- legos, play doh, snack, drawing, trains, pop onz, water pouring, tea party table, etc. depending on the age/stage of my child. I try to setup stations for differents skills with different textures to keep her occupied and entertained. She moves from station to station entertaining herself and then we do snack time and play time together at the end. I try to mix things up and take breaks for snacks/lunch/together playtime so that we can enjoy some together time too.

Good luck!

Hi! I also work at home part time and my daughter is 16 months old. I've worked from home ever since she was born so I wouldn't have to put her in daycare.
When she was younger it wasn't a problem at all. She napped a lot and when she was awake she was content laying next to me while I worked. As she got older I started only working while she was napping. Since her nap schedule has now changed again I'm having to tweak things a little.
Here's what works for us:
I give her all of my attention in the morning when she wakes up and I eat breakfast with her. Then she plays quietly by my desk while I start work because she's already had a lot of my attention. I give her books to look at, favorite toys and such. She's really interested in what I'm doing on the computer so I'm going to get her a toy one so she can "work" with me. :)
I also take small breaks when I can and play with her, read to her, giving her my full attention. Doing that through the day really seems to help.
I don't know what type of work you do but my job is 50% online and 50% phone. I still mainly use the phone while she take her noon nap so it's nice quiet while I talk to customers but I am able to make and take calls some while she's awake if she's already had a lot of attention from me.
Hope that helps.

If able to, per your job... you either work at night, when child is off to bed & sleeping. Or, you get a part-time Nanny to help you at home to watch your child, or you put your child part-time into a daycare. But if you are a SAHM then putting your child into daycare just sort of defeats the purpose of being home with your child and then you might as well get a regular "office" job.

As she gets older, it will get harder to multi-task and manage a toddler... since at this age they need more in terms of stimuli and challenges and teaching them things, and socialization too. And they need YOU too. Interaction. Not just playing by themselves... just because Mommy is "working" at home. At this age as well, playing by themselves will only work for short spurts of time... and depending on their moods. It will NOT BE a "consistent" solution. And as a grown-up, we can't "expect" such a young child to just play on their own either. It is not in line with their developmental "mastery" of abilities.

If this is a job in which you are your own "boss", then well you can adjust and make your own schedule. Lots of WAHM's (work at home Mom's), simply work at night pulling all nighter's. That is similar to what I do.

But if you have a Boss... then you are bound to a schedule and performance priorities and those committments. For my friend, she got a Nanny to help her in her home... so that she could work at home. And this solution worked out well for her.

All the best,
Susan