Work from Home, School's Out, HELP!!

If you only need 2-3 hrs. day I would look into hiring someone to help you. This way the kids can play outside while you are home and will be inexpensive. AS mentioned in other posts younger teenagers are a good option if you are home. I have the same issues and haven't found someone to help yet... I am hoping this summer I will get someone too!! :)

Hi Vicki,

I have a suggestion that might work for 45 minutes to an hour or so at a time. Put together what I call a "Phone Box". You will need 2 phone boxes, 1 for each child. In this box, put special toys and activities that each child really loves, (i.e., things that will keep them occupied for awhile). When it is time for you to be on the phone or otherwise occupied with work, take a minute or two before hand and set the boys up with their "special" phone boxes. The only way this works is if you ONLY use the phone boxes when you need to be on the phone and they need to be quiet. When you are done, praise them for playing nicely with their phone boxes, put them away and do something with them for 15-20 minutes, so they don't feel like they are being punished when you take away the phone boxes.

I also work from home and have used phone boxes successfully.

J. Penfield
www.teamwahu.com
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V.,

I was offered a position when I was pregnant with my first son that would allow me to work from home and not have to worry about child care. As it ended up, my amazingly supportive, current employer was willing to increase my salary to cover the cost of child care so I didn't leave. Soon after Jacob was born, I realized that there was no way I could have held the at-home position with my son in the house. And now, at age two, I realize that it would be literally impossible to maintain a fair level of work with my son around.

If you don't mind me saying, it's summer time. I feel that it's a lot to ask of your boys to not want to run around, be rowdy, be outside and have fun. Since I can remember, my youngest sister has been in summer camp with the church or the park district. She's now 15 and a 2nd year counselor at the church-camp, getting paid and LOVING it.

Another option would be hiring a teenager or college girl to come over for a couple of hours a day to entertain the boys and let them enjoy the summer weather.

Are there any SAHM's in your area that you can trade a couple of days with or that you can sit her kids in the AM and she can take yours in the PM? I'm SURE SAHM's would welcome the idea of having the morning (or afternoon) to get some things done for themselves, too.

Good luck!

T.

I hear you! I have worked from home for about 6 1/2 years now. I have two boys also, 9 and 6. Do you have any high school aged kids in your area looking for opportunities to make some money this summer? If not, try some junior high aged kids (they don't have a license yet and are more available) since you will be in the house, this is an affordable way to put someone else in charge of entertainment so you can work! It is a great way to break in a new babysitter for when (or should I say if) you get a chance to get out with your husband!

I am not sure you can expect them to be quiet the whole summer. It is their summer break and they want to play. Here are a few ideas:

Can you change your hours to work at night or when your husband is home?

Can you send them to summer camp half a day so you can make your calls then?

Maybe you could designate 1 hour per day a quiet time and that could be when you make your calls and when your boys have to play in their rooms with quiet toys or read books?

Can you get a mother's helper such as a high school student to come over a few hours a day to play with them outside while you make your calls?

Maybe a combination of these ideas will give you the amount of time you need to be on the phone. Good luck with this. I hope you find a solution or it will be a long summer for your boys and for you.

I would look into a mothers helper a younger sitter not ready to be alone with the kids. This is what we are doing with are three kids. 8, 5, and 2 on fridays i work out of the home all day and my husband stays home to work. We have a 5th grader who lives across the street from us coming over. Her job is to play with the kids help keep them entertained. No cooking or anything like that. She is not ready, i told her to make sandwiches and my husband would take care of anything else. I am thinking $5.00 an hour to pay her since it is three kids. and having her over about 4 hours every friday.
Also you will be able to train her/him to how you want things done so when she/he is ready to watch them alone they will already have the lay of the land.
H.

Lots of great responses. My first suggestion, which has already been said, is a "mother's helper". My 12 year old does that in our neighborhood. She hangs out with the kids so the parents can get things done on Sat. She gets $3 an hour. A good little salary for a young girl not ready to babysit. You might find a young teen boy who would love to be play and earn a little money too. Unfortunately, when mom is on the phone, 5 and 2 year olds want to play and get attention! I hope you find a way for all of you to have fun and be successful!

In addition to everyone else's suggestions, I would say see if you can find another mom to "trade" with. Maybe someone in your neighborhood who you trust could have the boys play at her house with her kids for a couple hours when you have to work and then you could take her kids for a couple hours when she needed it. I know I could use an arrangement like that so someone could watch my 2 year old every once in a while when I need to take my infant to the dr or that kind of thing.

I am in Lombard and do home dayare. I can take your 5 year old all summer and your 2 year old on t- th unitl July when i will have full time for both. if this is an idea. contact me at ____@____.com
www.gottotsinc.com
B.

I work at home (half the week) and occasionally have my older son with me. Last year when he was 5 I had him at home a couple of days a week after school. I think it depends on how frequently and for how long you need them to be quiet. With my older son it's not bad - I just set the expectations and make sure he has everything he needs (snacks, etc.) With my 3yo when he was at home sick last week, yikes. I don't think either of my kids would have been able to remember at 2 - but typically when I have a call, it's an hour-long conference call, not a few minutes.

My first advice would be, get them into some summer camp programs. Or can you hire someone cheaper - maybe a neighborhood middle-school student - to be a mother's helper and play with them for a few hours a day?

When they are at home, maybe you can do something using some sort of visual indicator (turn on a red light bulb when you are on the phone?) Then give a reward if they are able to keep their voices down during the call. Maybe even something little like stickers. At least until they get the hang if it.

I dont have any advice as I have a 2 boys ages 5 and 2 myself with another baby boy due any second now!!!
I just want to tell you I feel for you and I'm going to be reading the advice as well..cause I sure need it!!!

Good luck hun,

A.

I either trade with another mom, or I have some 10,11,and 12 year old girls come as mother's helpers. I pay them $2 an hour each for a few hours a few times a week. Its' great. They keep the kids occupied and I can get work done.

If you are working whether it's from home or in a office your attention should be on work. It's impossible to give 100% to work and 100% to your kid at the same time (as much as every mother tries). With the young age of your children need they need structure and attention during the day. If you are not able to give that to them because you are working (which is ok) you need help. Whether you have someone else watch them at another location or have someone come into your home I think its really what you need. You'll be able to focus on work and your kids will get what they need as well and the behavior will probably get in check as well.

Since you will be home, you could consider a younger baby sitter. It would also be cheaper. Most HS student will want at least $5/hr. A fifth or sixth grader would be happy with $2 or $3. I have a neighbor that just finished 5th grade. I wouldn't let her watch my daughter if I wasn't home but if I need an hour or so without (much) interruption she can keep an eye on her in the backyard while I am working in the house.

V., My 6 yr. old boy has just finished Kindergarten for the year, and I also have a 3 year old girl. I stay at home with them most of the time. Maybe we can meet and offer each other help with our situations. Email me and we can discuss it further. ____@____.com Thanks, Karen

Park District summer programs
Sitter

Good luck!