Working from Home?

Kris&KC

Does anyone work from home?  Do you still put DC in daycare at all?  Do you find it difficult to get work done?  I'm thinking about changing to a job that would let me stay at home....but I just have so many questions!

bithy75

I am wondering the same thing. I have two jobs right now (full-time outside the home and part-time at home). I'm due in February and have a contract until the end of July for my full-time job. I'm very seriously considering staying home and doing the part-time job only once my contract is up. I'd definitely like to know how others handle working at home with small children.

aggielady

I would think you could swing working p/t with a kiddo until they are 1 at the longest.  As long as they nap a good portion of the day.  Once they are older than 1, and only taking 1 nap, I would think they would need to have some other type of care.  This, of course depends on the type of job, how many hours, etc.  Good luck!  Working p/t at home is almost every mom's dream, yay for you!!!

2bearichards

I work from home one day a week and can honestly say, I don't get a lot of work done.  When DS was a newborn, it was easy because he slept so much.  Now that he is a toddler, me sitting at a computer all day doesn't work.

shouldbeworkin

I WAH 1x a week and my kids are in daycare that day.  I WAH sometimes if they're home sick and that works out ok with my older DC, but would not work with my 18 m/o at all.  It really depends on the job, I think.  Some are flexible and you can get your work done on off hours.  But, then I think you need to take a look at how you'd really rather spend those off hours.  Others need you to be available when they're open for business and I think that can be hard to do with kids at home. 

RedBrideNC

I haven't gone back to work yet but, I have the option to WAH when I do. I would still put DC in daycare.

I would suggest this depending on the nature of your job and whether you would be required to complete your work b/t a specified amount of time.

Geb

I have WAH for almost 5 years, and have had childcare,either a nanny or daycare, and I have a designated office in my home. I have clients and phone calls/conference calls, in depth e-mails and some on site appointments. Even when I had less on site appointments several years ago I had care. Most employers require that, they're not paying you to watch your child and do work around that.

Feb3

I worked at home with a nanny the first year and it was great.  I kept my career but saw DD constantly.  I was able to work, but knew she was being well cared for.  We switched to daycare after her birthday and I prefer to go into the office since she's not at home and my commute is short.  In any case, I would say if you can work at home DO IT, but you have to have child care.  It's just not possible without it.

nictel

I WAH now, FT, and my DS is 4 and 1/2 months old.  I absolutely have to have childcare.  I currently have a nanny that comes into my home 9-4 everyday (DH gets home around 4).  I worked for about a week before my nanny started without any help, and it was a diaster.  It wasn't fair to DS, my job, or me.  I love working from home, but couldn't do it without childcare.

 GL!

flyer23

I WAH, with full-time child care. I did have a period when DD was younger where I watched her while working on Fridays, and it was miserable only, for both of us. It's much better when I'm able to focus on my work and she's with someone who will pay full attention to her and do fun things with her.

That said, I still love being able to WAH! It's great having flexibility in hours and being able to take care of little things around the house during the day.

barb1226

I work from home one day a week, DS goes to daycare.  I know I wouldn't be able to give my all to work or to my son if he was at home when I was working.

Mini_Mariah

I WAH full time and it would be impossible to do without child care.  DH takes DD into daycare on his way to work.  I'm on conference calls and working on detailed work all day - I could not do it with DD at home.

Also, not all LOs sleep all day when they're infants.  DD takes a few catnaps but she hasn't been much of a sleeper during the day since she was a month old.

jlw2505

I work from home once a week although sometimes its more (3 times this week).  I still have my girls in daycare and company policy is that if you work from home you need to have a daycare arrangment for your kids.  I don't think you can really work while your young kids are at home with you.

aclearyusa

I work from home full time.  Some days she goes to a babysitter and others a sitter comes here and watches her.  It is sometimes hard to stay focused when she is here.  I try to keep myself out of the room she is in except for lunch and a couple breaks.

DallasHorn

I've been working from home for nearly 2 years.  Unless you have a job that requires no phone calls, no "quiet time" no concentration, then you absolutely need childcare. This is especially true once they become mobile.

 With #1, we used a day care.  However, our first nanny will start in December.