[Mizelenius]

I found the perfect job a few days ago-- telecommuting and part-time, exactly in my field. I had a phone interview today and OH MY it did not go well (at least not at first).<br><br>
I was home alone with the kiddos (9 weeks, 2 years, 5 years) and though I'd tried to have everything set up for the phone call (snacks for them and something on TV), I did not anticipate the baby screaming the first few minutes while I got everyone settled. The interview was not set for a specific time (just "sometime after 2") so I could not be prepared for the exact moment.<br><br>
Thankfully, the interviewer was very understanding (and thank goodness for nursing, as that is how I settled DD down!) but it certainly was not ideal. Somehow I managed a 2nd interview (again, on the phone) so DH will be here, but if I get this job, I may have to be on phone for conference calls in the future . . .I can't have DH here for all of those.<br><br>
How do you handle phone calls with the children around? I tried to imagine DH going on HIS job interviews with all the children, and it was ridiculous. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:<br><br>
If there is already a thread on this, please link me!

 

[Kristine233]

Honestly, I couldn't do it when mine were really small. My youngest is 4 now and I can do phone calls. But she is able to self entertain for a bit. Before I set specific times that were ok for telephone calls so I could be prepared. I can't do the "call after such and such a time whenever" just doesn't work with little kids, lol. Although I do talk after 9pm all the way until midnight... kids are sleeping adn thats when I get the most work done, lmao.

 

[phathui5]

I'd think that you would need a babysitter or mother's helper that can come to the house for when you have to be on the phone without kids interrupting. Because otherwise, well, they interrupt.

 

[myhoneyswife]

I just have one, but when I take a phone call I ask if they can hold for a second (if they didn't give you an expected time that they'd call, then this should be okay), mute the phone, and set her up with something that will keep her quiet or latch her on. Before feeding her would keep her quiet, now I strip her diaper off and she has nakey time in her bed. The funky things us moms will do... But this is only good for about 10 minutes. Over 10 minutes and I'd have to schedule the appointment for a time when DH could take her, as it couldn't be when she was sleeping- she wakes up from the sound of my voice even if I"m talking waay at the other end of the house.

 

[octobersweethearts]

Yep, this is so hard! With my business, calls can come in anytime and I just try to manage as best as possible.<br><br>
Sometimes I feel so unprofessional when my kids are screaming in the background. Most people say they completely understand because they are parents too, but I still feel bad.<br><br>
One of my daughters actually sprayed my ENTIRE kitchen with water (and I mean from floor to ceiling...all over the cabinets, etc.) with the sink sprayer while I was on the phone with a customer in the next room. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> ...I laugh now

 

[Mizelenius]

Yeah-- this is what I am afraid of! I don't want to keep asking DH to come home (it looks like the rest of the calls will be scheduled conference calls). He does it on his lunch hour as he works close to home, but the conference calls might be long. I have no idea. No family to help. Looks like a mother's helper might be needed, though hard to find for such sporadic work.<br><br>
octobersweethearts, I hope you got a pic! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[bethwl]

Hey Elena! Congrats on the new baby, I didn't know you were pregnant. I had a boy in January myself, so I know what you feel right now. I detest having to make phone calls for work and try so hard to do everything via email. Especially because I have to deal with nonWAHMs a lot (most of the people I have to talk to at fabric companies/notions suppliers/sewing houses are all men, who even if they have kids, just do not have the same sympathy for a mom trying to work at home as a woman generally seems to). Annika will be 4 in August and I try to explain gently but firmly to her before I make a call that it's important and I try to set up a toy or game or put on a dvd. But the baby is so unpredictable. And for that matter, Annika can suddenly decide she has to tell me something and just start shouting. I have little advice, sadly! When I am invariably interrupted, I just try to calmly ask for a minute, put the phone down and explain to Annika I need to finish talking on the phone and that I will be happy to help her in a moment. With the baby, I shove a boob in his face as fast as I can. If he keeps crying, what can you do? I just say to the caller, "I'm home with my son today, sorry" in an ambiguous way that makes it seem like maybe it's an unusual thing. I kind of hate that, because I don't want to feel like I am not a professional because I have to do much of my work with kids around. But it's hard when the other people you deal with are not also moms, at least, and ideally, other WAHMs. That's why I love delivering orders to Be By Baby; I am technically at work, yet they have a recliner where I can breastfeed the baby if I need to, while handing over products and an invoice!

 

[Blu Razzberri]

<span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span>I don't worry about keeping my son busy while I'm on the phone. My business is based on personal relationships as well as the business side. I get interrupted by my little guy here and there, but so do my customers. We're a network of largely parents who work from home and customers who often become customers based on their kids. It works. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/loveeyes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Loveeyes">:<br><br>
Advice: Hire a local grade 8 student as a mother's helper (or two of them, since you have a little baby). You'll be there, so you're not leaving your kids alone with the person; they're just there to entertain and keep the kiddo's busy.</span></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="color:#4169E1;">.</span></span></span>

 

[MPJJJ]

Well? Did you get the job? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[Mizelenius]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>MPJJJ</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8098769"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Well? Did you get the job? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"></div>
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I DID!!! Thank you for asking! The pay is about 3Xs what I expected, too!

 

[MPJJJ]

Can you tell me who you work for and what the requirements are? I am looking for a job like that. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[mamarhu]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Blu Razzberri</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7955112"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span><br><br>
Advice: Hire a local grade 8 student as a mother's helper (or two of them, since you have a little baby). You'll be there, so you're not leaving your kids alone with the person; they're just there to entertain and keep the kiddo's busy.</span></span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="color:#4169E1;">.</span></span></span></div>
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check with local homeschooling groups for a teen/preteen who would be available during the day. This can be done!!!!<br><br>
PS - Where are you - my DD would love a job like this!