Like many today (okay, maybe not like many nurses), I work from home on occasion. Sometimes my children are home and other times they are not. Since I do not routinely work from home and there is no real workspace other than my kitchen table, I find telecommuting while my children are home, quite frankly, exhausting. Drink refills, incessant searching through the refrigerator, squabbles over toys, tugging to sit in my lap, a constant “Mooom!” penetrating the air – it all happens. Don’t get me wrong. There are moments of silence, toy collaborations, and squeals of laughter that also ring through the air.
As I have worked from home, I have found myself creating some workarounds. Like the time I joined a conference call from the quietest place in my house – the bedroom closet – which was inside a locked bathroom that my daughter would not stop trying to get into. That was fun.
Other times I have found myself snapping out of work-mode only to realize my parenting-mode was overridden. Like the time my daughter asked if she could eat an entire block of cheese while I waved her on saying, “Sure. Sure.” until a voice in the back of my head said, “Whaaaa?!” and I was able to rectify the situation.
Ah, yes. Interesting times. How do other telecommuters with small kids do it?
Sean
February 26, 2011 9:25 amAaahhhhhh now that would be an interesting work environment… heh heh.
nursetopia
February 26, 2011 2:04 pmIt makes me appreciate the office much more, for sure!
Jody Schoger
February 26, 2011 1:14 pmWorking from home is hard enough when you have a dog — not to mention little ones scarfing up the cheese!
My favorite? I’m on a conference call when UPS arrives. In dog speak this equates to: BAR BAKR, KRKR BARK RK BKRKE BKEKR GRR -or, Dear God they’re here to kill us all!
It definitely takes adjustment, even when you don’t have babies. There are so many advantages to working from home, yet, there’s something to be said for leaving a “real” office at the end of the day. When you work from home, it never ends!
Happy weekend:)
jms
nursetopia
February 26, 2011 2:06 pmHaahaaa! I can see that, too! Yes, I felt like I was working from sun up to sun down. At least I can walk away from the office and have colleagues that remind me that getting up from the desk is a good thing. You’re right there are so many benefits, too. Maybe someday I’ll get the chance to actually try to get used to it.
Happy weekend to you, too, Friend!