WAHMs how do you do it?

[mambera]

I've seen some MDC posters say they WAH full-time while also caring for their children.

How do you manage that at all? I WOH 2 days a week and am home with my 9-month-old the other 3. I would like to get a little writing done on the days that I am home but it seems totally impossible. I can do chores fine (a little slow is all) bc DD loves to come to the store, watch me cook, and 'help' with laundry but there is no way I can work on my computer in front of her without her wanting to climb all over it and bang on the keys.

Tips and tricks WAHMamas?

[Peony]

I WAHM part time, it is a combo of studying for an exam this summer, volunteer work with one organization, and a small "real" job but they all add up to what feels I am doing something constantly. I have 3 DC, 7, 3, and 10m. The 7 year old is in school, and the 3y is going to do a Mom's Morning Out program one morning a week after spring break ends so that I can get more done. The 10m old is a challenge. Up until he was pulling himself up, he could sit and play for 20-30 minutes at a time while I quickly did something, but not right now. It is more like me typing away for 3 minutes while observing him out of one eye and then chasing him down before he bashes his head on the floor.

-I use every second of nap time, I have what ever I need to do all set out before he goes down so as soon I come back down I can get started right away.

-I save really "fun" things for when I need to be on the phone so he hopefully isn't on my hip whining. Fun things are like a box of kleenex that he pulls out and then I put back in and repeat!

-I am known to put him on my back, my laptop on the kitchen counter and stand there bouncing while working on a project.

-Instead of hoping to get 30 minutes of work done, I set my goals very small, one call, one page of a book, etc... then I do something else with the kids, and then set another goal.

[akind1]

DS is only 3 months old, so right now it is pretty easy for me to WAH. He will lay on his playmat, or in his bouncy seat for a while (then likes to switch places) or he will even sort of "sit" by me while I type on the couch. Once he is mobile, we will have to get a barrier gate of somesort to contain him while let him roam a bit.

Have you tried a "play" computer, a toy version, or maybe an old keyboard you have lying around the house (if you do, I know DH being the computer geek that he is, we have several) and letting her "work" next to you, or near you? It may not occupy her for hours, but perhaps long enough for you to get somethings done. Especially since she is used to you having her "help" you with chores. Just a thought. Or having some sort of special distraction (a toy, or if you do that sort of thing, a dvd) that she only gets to play with or watch while you work, that way she looks forward to it and is more likely to keep her attention while you work.

HTH - I will have to put it into practice myself here before long!

[mambera]

I like the 'small goals' tip. I was always one of those people who needed a conducive environment to get stuff done - eg I always had to go to the library bc at home I would just procrastinate. I can see I am going to have to get over that luxury.

Regarding the distractions - the keyboard thing was a great idea (your DH sounds a lot like mine!), it worked for about a week when she was 7 months old and now it isn't any more or less exciting than any of her other toys. She knows which one is attached to the screen and is so very interesting to mommy, and which one is just a dummy. Sigh.

The DVD thing might work. DH does that more than I'd like (unfortunately he uses it to give him time to just veg on the web or whatever) so I've been trying to avoid it; but perhaps it's a necessary evil.

[GuildJenn]

Honestly? I got a nanny for half the hours.

I think if you are a person who can work late into the night consistently (if your baby sleeps then) or are pretty zen about when nap is (finally) coming or your job is not super intense or it's well suited to whatever your personal rhythm at home is, it can work - I mean people do make it work. Sometimes people just have to.

For me, it didn't. My work wasn't that conducive to it and I was on weekly deadlines and I nearly worked myself really sick trying to do it all nights & weekends. I also would cry if my son didn't nap. It wasn't working for me.

Just tossing that out there because...when I thought about it, imagine if I were to hire a caregiver and that person had a full time job at the same time? I'd think they were nuts. Well - hello!

[slvsquared]

I split shifts with DH the same way I did when I worked outside the home - he works 7-3, I work 5pm to 1am or so. He makes dinner and keeps up with the girls while I work. It's hard, but do-able for us. My main issue is motivating myself to let the housework go, let him parent his way, and just WORK during that time...it's easy to let myself get sucked in to household chores or fights over the dollhouse when I'm home all the time.