When the kids are home from school.

[not-the-momma]

I know a lot of you Moms work from home and have little ones who don't go to school yet.  I really don't know how you do it.  My skids are 8 and 12 and if they aren't in school juggling work and kids can be a real problem for me and my BF.

My work requires me host conference calls and be on the phone quite a bit.  This usually works out fine when the kids are in school, but when they are home I find it a real challenge.  My BF and I both WFH and he never wants to get a babysitter so we usually tag-team to make sure the kids are being taken care of and our work it getting done. 

My SS12 isn't an issue because when he's sick he can pretty much take care of himself and either sleeps or lays on the couch watching tv.  SD8 on the other hand is a real challenge.  The last few times we kept her home because she was running a temp.  We gave her Motrin and within about 45 minutes you'd think she was fine.  We try to tell her that even though she feels fine she still needs to rest, but she's constantly coming into my office or my BF's office complaining that she's bored.  She'll watch tv to a point, but the rest of the time she wants someone to play with her.  I just can't deal with that.  And it's not like we can just give her Motrin and send her to school because within a few hours her temps back and we go thru it all over again.  Any ideas?

 

 

[cmuessig]

That's tough. I don't have any school-agers but I do have a 2 yr old. I tried having her here working from home but it was just too much. It was interfering with work too much and my income showed it last year. I now have her at a sitter 4 days a week during work hours. I feel your pain. My job requires a lot of phone time too and it is hard to do with a two year old running around! With an 8 year old what about giving her some sort of project to do to keep her busy? Maybe a book to read? Some sort of puzzle book or (gasp) a nintendo DS as a desperate last measure? I guess there aren't any family members, gma, Aunt to help out?

[HTheriault]

 Right there with you... My DD is 8 as well and it is a huge challenge sometimes with her home from school.  I made a deal with her.  I tell her she MUST be out of the office when I'm on a phone call (not just the scheduled conf calls, but also when someone calls me directly).  I promise to take a 'real' lunch break (<gasp!> a FULL HOUR?!?! - yes!) and we eat downstairs together.  She just wants a little personal attention, but she understands that this is Mommy's JOB - just like school is HER job.  We still have difficult days, but they're not as much the norm anymore.