Try as you might to plan and schedule your work day during nap time and when the kids are in school, sometimes work life and family life collide and you find yourself fielding an important call while the kids are around.
It’s just another ordinary day in the life of a work-at-home mom entrepreneur…
We asked: How do you keep your kids occupied when you have to work? You answered…
Tara Geissinger (www.onlineprnews.com)
“I usually try to structure my day so that the bulk of the work is done when the kids are in school or in bed.
If I DO have to handle something that cannot wait, however, I have a wonderful table I bought from a school supply store that sits right next to my desk for play dough, stickers/paper/stencils, shaving cream & Hot Wheels cars, markers/crayons/pencils, foam craft and cutting up brochures we have collected and pasting their own art.”
Danna Bowes Treadwell (www.babyart.ca)
“Cupcake decorating was the best (and most yummy) distraction yet!”
Nika Stewart (www.LaptopMom.com)
“If I need to work on a project, my daughter comes into my office and goes crazy on my giant whiteboard. She gets creative with color and sketching, and I get some work done. The extra benefit for me is that the picture she draws is usually of us holding hands, and it often includes a love note.”
Amy Mahon (www.PlanetHydration.com & www.LoveMoonAmy.com)
“I try to arrange my time so I maximize being both a mom and an entrepreneur!
I get up early and enjoy quiet time responding to emails and getting caught up on paperwork. While the kids have their morning snacks or watch a show, I work on things like labeling brochures, working on marketing materials, writing down ideas and “to do” lists, sort through filing, etc. I try to find anything productive to do while interacting with the kids. I combine going to the post office with a good walk, and a trip to Staples as a ‘trip for an ice cream’.”
Meaghan Kerton-Moir (www.petalbabies.com)
“My son loves crafting with my scraps, strings, fabric, cardboard and a handful of crayons, he also loves painting with water!”
Alisha Brignall (www.room-to-grow.ca)
“Working from home is definitely a balancing act. I choose different days to do different types of work.
Mondays are my call back day so I make little ‘loot bags’ for my kids to play with while I answer calls and emails and do not want to be interrupted. I will put little sticker books, play dough, crayons, magnets as well as other fine motor things, beads and string.
I will also make a themed ‘loot bag’ and tell the kids that I have ‘lost’ something and give them a little bag with a magnifying glass and a note book, and they can play detective while I make those important phone calls.”
