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Working At Home With Small Kids Feels a Lot Like Playing "Beat The Clock!"

by Irene  |  1272 views  |  6 comments  |        Rate this now! 

My day is chopped up into a million segments.

Type two words, go make a bottle.

Yype four words, go make a peanut butter sandwich.

Research on computer for two minutes, go take 3 year-old to the bathroom.

Curse myself for not bookmarking the website I had previously found with the aforementioned important research.

Go get 3 year-old off the toilet; remove my curious one year-old from the shower stall where he is happily playing.

Turn on Blues Clues. Run back to computer, sit down. Breathe. Place one finger on key board, poised to strike a key.

Stop. Go back downstairs to console crying one year-old who has just had his favorite blanky confiscated by grinning 3 year-old.

Turn off Blue. Hold one year-old on lap while typing and singing the Alphabet song with 3 year-old who is

coloring in coloring book by my feet. Actually accomplish some work this way.

And so it goes. The clock is always ticking, and I know my minutes alone at my computer are invaluable. I feel like a marathon runner most days--sweaty and out of breath, but also pushing myself much harder and

farther than I used to think I was capable of.

Working from home is alot like playing beat the clock, but I love it!

About the Author

A work at home mom with a 10 year old, three year old, and one year old.

Read more by Irene




6 comments so far...

  • That describes my day pretty much, except I have a 2 year old and an 11 month old! Nothing like typing an important assignment with two kids on your lap!

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Genesis on 12th April 2008

  • LOL, about the bathroom breaks! That is so true!

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Irene on 14th November 2007

  • You're so right! I feel like I have to maximize every minute and even debate the best time to take a bathroom break! "Hmmm. Can I spare that two minutes?"

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Shannon Hutton, M.Ed., M.P.A. on 14th November 2007

  • LOL, it's like you are describing one of my days... except I only have one little one running around. :)

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by WAH(web)Mommy on 12th November 2007

  • Thanks Nataly!
    I think we just have such a hard time being away from our babies...we just make it work somehow. But, believe me, many times I sit and daydream about working outside of the home as well. But, then I remember this time goes by sooo fast..I am lucky to spend as much time as I do with my babies!!

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Irene on 9th November 2007

  • You made me laugh out loud with this article - thanks for sharing it. I really have no idea how you moms who work from home while the kids are there do it - my hat is off to you!

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Nataly on 9th November 2007

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