We hear about the stay-at-home moms and the working moms, but it’s rare we get a glimpse into the realities of a work-from-home mom.
I get asked on a weekly basis how I manage to be a mom and work from home. Through these conversations, I have come to the conclusion that most think two things:
- Either I’m some kind of a super mom and have it all together with perfectly well-behaved kids who allow me to quietly work in my office or
- These people think my kids are totally neglected — I sit with my nose in a computer and toss a couple cheerios on the floor next to a bowl of water.
I’m pleased to tell you that neither is true.
Here’s the reality:
Work from home mamas are often typing with one hand and wiping noses or problem solving with the other.
They bounce their children on their laps as they work (like I’m doing as I type this).
Remembering to eat is hard because mealtime is about the only consistent time to get work done uninterrupted.
In some ways, working from home is the best of both worlds and the worst of both worlds at the same time. The best is you get to watch your children grow and have flexibility. The worst is that you are literally NEVER off the clock and your attention is rarely 100% on either motherhood or work — it’s split 50-50.
Work-from-home moms are constantly in a place of guilt due to what I just said above. We aren’t able to be fully present 100 percent of the day and feel as if we come up short because we have this crazy hard balance to manage and rarely are we able to do it perfectly.
Here is a little glimpse of what my life looks like working from home…
But here’s the good parts:
We get to rock our babies when they need us.
We can attend the school parties.
We are able to financially contribute and save money on childcare.
Husbands learn to pull their weight because they don’t have a choice. We can’t do it all!
And the list goes on.
You see, stay-at-home moms, work-from-home moms, and working moms all have parts they love and ones they wish they could change. We are all doing our best with whatever situation we choose!
Tell us about your favorite part of being a work-from-home mom!