Parents who work from home

[snarkysparklefart]

I don't wfh, but I do have a 2 sided easel and a few old plastic table cloths (leftover from birthday parties, they make excellent mats for under the easel or other messy projects) and I occasionally put it in the corner of the kitchen while I cook dinner so DD can be in the same room, but I can have my hands free/ be less worried about mess. Sorting toys, wood puzzles, play kitchen, etc items are great for independent play for us. DD also has an older model leapster that she can mostly do by herself. If noise is not an issue for your job, encourage a pandora dance party, or set up a YouTube queue (we have a roku, but it's also an option on lots of smart Tvs) with more educational programs or nursery rhymes if all else fails.

I hope this helps, these are ways I catch a few minutes of peace when I can!

[elm1214]

Do you have set hours you have to work? I work PT from home, but I can't work with my girls home (too difficult). My mom watches them 2 mornings a week. I also work 3 evenings from 7-10 pm when DH is home to help. Could you work after they go to bed? It does suck because then I feel like I don't get much of a break with working evenings.

[elm1214]

Yeah working at night has been really hard for us, I hardly get to spend any time with DH on those nights. I'm trying to come up with a better schedule without asking my mom to watch the girls any more hours so its been a struggle. My only suggestion would be to have a box you can pull out only when working, so they won't get too bored with the activities. Have you tried the Melissa and Doug Water Wow books? They are reusable and mess-free. My DD is 2.5 and loves them.

[icequeen]

I did work from home for a few months but I had my nanny come to the house to watch DD. She was still only a year old so I could obviously not leave her unattended. We also have a service here called "Playdates" where parents can drop their kids off for a day or a few hours and pick them up. They run around a supervised activity center and you have to be registered and have your immunization records. It is pretty convenient if it is a once or twice a week type thing. I would suggest puzzles or a baby ipad. Honestly, I would not be able to get any work done if I were you, unless someone else was watching my kids.

[rodiesmum]

My friend who works from home says she gets up really early in the morning to clock on some work hrs and then an hour or two after everyone is in bed.

[estrellas]

I'm technically a SAHM (my visa paperwork says "house wife"), but we live at an international boarding school that periodically calls me in to substitute. I could do it every day for three weeks, or just once in a month. It's awkward, but we've got childcare arranged when it happens. I wish I had a work-from-home option!

[redfraggle]

I don't WAH, but I'm really surprised your 2 and 3 year olds don't nap at all anymore. Mine are close in age to yours, and if they don't nap, I have them play quietly in their bed/crib for a break in the afternoon. If not, then I'd look for some kind of childcare. We have some teens in our neighborhood who are willing to watch our kids after school and have some college students in the family who go to school in the area and are willing to come sometimes if they don't have class.