[SJG]

How do you manage to work with young kids at home?
Do you set a schedule? Are you able to stick to it?

[SJG]

How much time do you really get to spend with your kids? Quality is important, but is quantity also? Is there a special number out there that says are kids will be happy if they have X amount of time with us?

[SJG]

How do you keep your space yours--and not everyone elses?

[Alejandros Mommy]

I have merged your threads together as it may be easier to answer all your questions in one thread.

[alijahsmom06]

I actually don't work on a schedule. My day kind of flows together. lol

[etali]

I think it depends on the age of the children. The whole 'mommy's working' thing is probably easier to enforce with slightly older children.

I work from home, and I try to keep the 'office' for work related stuff only - no toys in the office, for example. I try to keep the working day fairly normal hours too, but do work as well late at night after DD is in bed.

[altland]

When I decided to work at home, I did so to be around the kids more often. It didn't make sense to me to work at home but still be seperated from them in another room. So they usually play wherever I am working. They have 2 shelves of books and puzzles in my office. My eight year old will bring a book or pad of paper in and sit down next to me and "work" on something. My two year old brings his trucks to me and plays at me feet. If he is playing near me, I know he isn't getting into trouble somewhere else. I usually have to stop what I am doing to play or read a story occasionally, but thats ok. I figure I can always catch up when they go to bed. They will only be little once so I have been trying to enjoy as much of it as I can.
Plus, I guess I should add, I have really good kids. They are able to play in their rooms or in the living room and usually not get into trouble. Some kids do need constant supervision. It just depends on the personality of the child. Who knows what will happen when the new one arrives? That's a whole new personality to throw into the mix.
You need to decide what you are comfortable with and what you need to work. I would probably get more done in an office away from home, but I would be away from the kids. SO it just depends on what you, your family, and your job need. Good Luck!!

[livegreeneasy]

Anything is better then daycare...you learn to manage with the kids.
When my child turned one I thought she could attend daycare two days a week. I was wrong. My child ended up really sick and in the hospital. Not to mention, the job I took to put her there I was not able to go to so that resulted in lost wages. On top of that the daycare charged me for the days we were not there. So go figure...I'm paying a daycare for a child that is not there and I am not getting paid. Was it worth it NO. Just something to consider before deciding on a daycare.

[pattiewrites]

Mommy's working is definitely something older kids understand that little ones really can't. I put my son in the toddler program at my daughter's preschool a few months ago. He goes two mornings each week for three hours. It really helped me and the cost is relatively low since he is only going for a total of 6 hours. The rest of my work time is done at nap time, a few evenings a week after dh is home, after bedtime and about half the weekend. This allows me to maximize my work time while minimizing the expense of daycare. He really loves his toddler teacher and has a great time while he is there.

[mcmama]

Originally Posted by livegreeneasy

Anything is better then daycare...you learn to manage with the kids.
When my child turned one I thought she could attend daycare two days a week. I was wrong. My child ended up really sick and in the hospital. Not to mention, the job I took to put her there I was not able to go to so that resulted in lost wages. On top of that the daycare charged me for the days we were not there. So go figure...I'm paying a daycare for a child that is not there and I am not getting paid. Was it worth it NO. Just something to consider before deciding on a daycare.

See my response about quality daycare choice here

Many of the families that came to my family child care home also worked from home. They ran desktop publishing operations, pr firms, one was an artist, several were musicians or tutors. There is a limit to what you can accomplish even working at home when children are present. You need to build adult time into your home based business. So they had their children come to me on a part time basis, subject to rules, contract, space available, etc.

You pay for quality, whether or not your child is there. If it isn't quality, or they don't have proper procedures regarding illness, then look elsewhere.