Ideas for dealing with this behavior gently but effectively?

[becoming]

I work from home doing medical transcription. I work about four hours a day, two in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one at night after the kids are asleep. My youngest is 28 months old. He has this habit lately of coming up to me while I'm working and pulling my hand away from the keyboard if he wants me to get up, whether it be to play with him or get him something or fix a toy for him or whatever.

Now, I don't mind taking a little break with him when he's needing attention, but first I have to finish the report I'm working on, because if I leave my program for more than a couple of minutes, my report disappears, and with it goes my hard work & money. Finishing a report can take anywhere from a minute to 10 minutes.

He doesn't accept any explanation as far as needing to finish my work, "Please sit down beside me while I finish this," etc.; no explanation will do. He keeps on pulling my hand off the keyboard time and time again, which makes it absolutely impossible for me to continue working. I eventually end up roughly pushing his hand away or yelling, and he ends up crying brokenheartedly the entire time I finish the report. I hate this situation. It goes on at least two or three times every day.

I have to work, and I have to work from home, and I already stay up way too late and get up way too early, so I can't do anymore of my work while the kids are asleep than what I already do. There's no one who can keep him, and I'm not willing to leave him with anyone anyway. I do this type of job so that I can stay home with my kids.

Any suggestions?

[Anastasiya]

Are you on a laptop? If so, move the laptop to the counter top during these times so it's at a high enough height he can't swipe your hand away.

Quite honestly, if I were doing your kind of work from home - I do work from home but not the kind of work where it would DISAPPEAR if I stopped for awhile (why does it disappear?) - then I would not hesitate to use a pack and play and when the hand swiping starts, I'd put him in the PNP (preloaded with some interesting toys - new ones perhaps that you can use just for this time?) and tell him that you know he wants you and you will spend some time with him in just a little bit but right now you have to finish your work. If it takes 10 mins to do one report, and you're right there with him, then it sounds doable. It's not like he'll be in there for an hour. When you're done, take him out, give him the attention he needs, then get back to work. When he does it again, repeat.

Some here may not agree with the idea of "caging" a little child, but when your livelihood depends on getting your work done at home, sometimes you have to do things with your kids you wouldn't normally do.

And it sure beats yelling at him and losing all patience. That's never good for anyone.

[The4OfUs]

Oh, I feel your pain, I'm in the same business. My kids are older but when they were that age it was pretty difficult. I had 2 main things that I would do when they were in a place that they needed me but I had to finish a report.

- Is there any way you can finish up with him on your lap? I used to be able to have kiddo on my one leg (with my arm not holding around them, but tuckedon the inside of them so they were on their own balancing and I could still type) and get work done - I also had a few little things they could only hold while sitting on my leg, to keep their hands occupied - not for too long, but long enough to placate them while they waited for me to finish.

- second, does he have an old keyboard of his own? I made mine their own "computer" with an old keyboard I took the cord off of, and a piece of cardboard with a monitor drawn on it, and had a little desk right next to mine where I would direct them to "help" me finish up by typing, that it would go quicker if they helped me.

I'd say 90+% of the time one of those two things worked...the other 10-% I redirected over and over and then reprimanded/pushed hands away. Not my proudest moments, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. And they certainly weren't scarred from it.

Hope this helps some!

[becoming]

These are really good suggestions, thanks. I really like the idea of holding him in my lap and letting him have something I don't normally let him have for those times only. His sister does have a little toy laptop, but she doesn't always feel like sharing, so I should probably get him one of his own -- good Christmas idea!

Sancta, the work disappears because the report gets reassigned to another transcriptionist. All the reports I type are stat reports, so I guess if you're idle for any amount of time, it figures you're too slow and reassigns it to someone else?

[ians_mommy]

Can you baby-gate off your work area so you are still visable, but he is not tempted to interrupt?

I think it is awsome that you are working from home to stay with your kiddos and you are not asking for much work-time while there. I know many would not agree with my suggestion, but your son s over 2y.o. and it is okay to ask him to respect your space for such brief periods.

[Polliwog]

Who is watching your son while you are working? It would be unreasonable to expect a toddler to self-supervise for three hours a day, so I'm assuming that you have a mother's helper or someone else there. He's still basically a baby.

[ians_mommy]

Originally Posted by Polliwog

Who is watching your son while you are working? It would be unreasonable to expect a toddler to self-supervise for three hours a day, so I'm assuming that you have a mother's helper or someone else there. He's still basically a baby.

Was this meant to be helpful? I am having a hard time finding the useful sugestion in it, but am finding much underlying criticism.
The OP did not say she wasnt supervising her chidlren. The OP does a job that involves typing on a computer- that can easily be done while she is supervising her children. Are your children always asleep or supervised by another adult when you post on MDC? How about when you cook, make beds or do laundry?

It is not unreasonable to expect a 2.5 year old to engage in some independant play. She does not have to be in his face every waking hour.

[Polliwog]

I wasn't trying to be snarky. But yes, I feel it's unreasonable for a two-year-old to be unsupervised for two hours at a time. I may be doing other things when my two-year-old is awake, but I'm able to respond to her immediately. It doesn't sound like that's what the OP is able to do and she might need to find another solution.

[The4OfUs]

The child isn't unsupervised, the mom is right there; if there was an emergency, if he was injured or something else urgent she'd be able to go to him immediately, she'd lose a report but in an emergent situation that's not a big deal IMO cause there's bigger things to worry about....but - asking a 2.5 yo to wait a few minutes for other types of non-urgent requests (come play with me, I need a drink, I'm hungry, etc.) because mommy is finishing a report is not unreasonable IMO. I'm in this line of work as well, and I had 2 kiddos home with me while I worked, and I worked 8 hours every day while they were awake for a while, and didn't have a mother's helper or anything - it was challenging sometimes balancing their needs and my work needs, but it all worked out and nobody was ever neglected or in danger.

[bscal]

I admire you OP for working from home. It sounds quite challenging to balance mothering your LO and getting your work accomplished! While I do not work from home I do have some volunteer responsibilities that require some time working on my computer, often during the day while the children are awake. Here are a few things that I've found to be helpful in entertaining/distracting my LOs so I can finish typing.

1) I have a Snack Box on the lowest shelf in my pantry. I stock it each morning with appropriate healthy snacks for my kids (I have 2 at home during the day) - raisins, granola bars, little containers portioned out with "trail mix" (a couple different cereals, cheddar bunnies, chocolate bunnies and dried cranberries) and a cookie for each. They can reach it and everything in there is in containers they can both open (my younger one is 2 1/2).

2) I keep filled sippy cups on the shelf in the fridge. My younger one can open the fridge.

3) I keep a stack of crayons and coloring books right next to my desk. Because of some 'artistic creations' on the walls the kids can't color unless they are sitting where I can keep an eye on them. So they'll come and sit at the coffee table and color where I can see them.

4) A small basket of 'busy' toys under your desk also helps. (A carryover from nursing days!) Musical instruments are awesome for this!

Hope that helps!
Beth

[becoming]

Originally Posted by Polliwog

Who is watching your son while you are working? It would be unreasonable to expect a toddler to self-supervise for three hours a day, so I'm assuming that you have a mother's helper or someone else there. He's still basically a baby.

No, it's not unreasonable. We live in a 1,200 square feet house, and I type in our living room. All of his toys are in here while I am working, and unless he's leaving the room briefly to go get something else to play with, he's right here under me the entire time.

Thanks to everyone for the HELPFUL suggestions