Comments on: WAHM Has Cabin Fever

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 02:52:51 +0000

I worked from home after the birth of my second daughter until she was 11 months old. I did a LOT of work while she was napping and at night. Now I “escape” to my office 16 hours a week, but I am contemplating becoming a full time freelance writer/editor when she starts kindergarten in two years.

That’s the tough thing about having really little ones…unless you get a sitter or put them in part-time preschool or daycare it’s hard to split work and play time. It’s all the same to them!

I’m doing some freelance work right now and I do it before the girls get home.

Good luck! Winters are the hardest.

By: Kristine

Kristine — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:32:51 +0000

LOL!!! “At this exact moment, for example, she is moving the presents from under the tree to the couch, helpfully reciting to whom she thinks each present should be presented. (I’m not on her list, by the way. But the dog is.) Once she’s done, I’m going to ask her to put them somewhere else, eventually leading back to the tree.”

Now WHY didn’t I think of that when my 4-year-old was younger???

This is a great post by the way…I too get up at least 2 hours before the rest of the household just to catch some uninterrupted time which is working great right now…however, I hadn’t thought about dashing off to a wi-fi hotspot by myself. I’ll need to give that one a try.

It’s definitely a delicate balance to be a work-at-home Mom. I often feel a pang of guilt when I need to work; but I do have certain times of the day set aside specifically for Mommy and son time.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 02:27:47 +0000

Well, this is my first full year as a WAHM and get this … I have almost 2-year-old twins. We’re now in our second week of being stuck at home thanks to our one-car family, snow, rain, cold air and just plain no where to go.

I love your post, and your ideas. I wanted to add that it’s super important for me to utilize the entire house throughout the day. I actually treat the day like preschool by planning out what we’re going to do every 15 minutes or so.

Sure enough, after 15 minutes of one activity — playing on their own, for example — is always enough. That’s when we move rooms to do something else.

I also use this as great time to clean. They love cleaning. I’ve grown to love it just because it keeps us very busy.

I agree and have always tried to minimize work and play intersecting. I work in the mornings, when they’re napping and at night. If I read less blogs, though, I’d be more productive. Very glad to meet you and to have found this site. I’m a freelance writer after spending nearly 10 years in newsrooms. I’ll take diapers, tantrums and crazy days over cubicles any day!

We can do this!

By: renee

renee — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:25:59 +0000

I’m so glad I found your blog! I have a 4 month old. This is also my first year as a WAHM. While I can’t complain about the COLD winter here in South Florida, we had our a/c out for 3 weeks. DD is teething. AND I was up against a big deadline! argghhh! I’m an avid babywearer. But I couldn’t put my little Twilli thru the sweaty trouble. So from the other end of the thermometer, I FEEL YA!

By: Tamara Berry

Tamara Berry — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:55:13 +0000

Just imagine if we could all bottle up the energy of our kids pinging around our homes this winter–we could sell that stuff and be millionaires!

By: Kate B.

Kate B. — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:29:31 +0000

With a very active 18 month old and a tiny, tiny house in the woods, I can certainly relate to this. The past 14 days have brought ice storms, snow, rain, and dangerous winds, so we are going NUTS around here. When BF gets home with the car tonight, we’re headed to the mall simply to let Ella run off some steam.

It’s going to be a long winter, but I’ve gotten some good entertainment ideas from reading your blog. (I especially loved reading in a different post that you put your daughter in the tub to play more than once a day! Brilliant!)

By: Angela (Cottage Magpie)

Angela (Cottage Magpie) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:56:58 +0000

Man, those oil heaters! We had them all over our last house, a charming but “cozy” (read, small and cramped) 1930’s cottage. However, if you have the same kind I had, the completely sealed radiant oil heaters, they don’t get hot enough to make anything combust, including walls. In fact, I always put my bath towel on it to have a nice warm bath towel after my shower, because I noticed a lady at the local spa doing the same thing in her massage space. For what it’s worth. (Of course, you should check with someone locally to make sure your heaters are the same!)
~Angela

By: Dana

Dana — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:45:17 +0000

I can totally relate to this e-mail! I have a three year old who has been tormenting me all week. I’ve tried negotiating breaks (I’ll play a game & then read two stories but then you watch a movie so mommy can work, ok?) but he would rather stand on my rebounder beside me and talk/bounce while I try to work. I put the rebounder there for my own fitness/sanity when pages are taking a long time to load but it’s turned into a bouncing distraction. LOL.
Where are you, summer??

By: Naomi Dunford

Naomi Dunford — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:18:13 +0000

Darlin’, I feel your pain! I have a 2-bedroom apartment and no car. I totally understand.

By: Michele

Michele — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:27:41 +0000

You are very creative, that’s for sure! I wish you a smooth and productive 2008 You’ve earned it!

By: Ally

Ally — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:16:15 +0000

Ugh I’m not supposed to be commenting on blogs gggrr but yours comes right to my inbox and I must say that I have NEVER bought into this “multitasking” thing– that just makes you do two things halfway. Family time is family time and work time is work time. So I’m with ya there.

I get you. There’s many of us holding on by our fingernails- see my entry yesterday at writersunbound for a play by play taste.

By: Sandi Valentine

Sandi Valentine — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:38:24 +0000

I’m considering gifting my baby to my father for Christmas, as well. I don’t think he’ll be appreciative, though.

I feel your pain. I’m right there with you with my drafty old house and active toddler.

By: Deaf Mom

Deaf Mom — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:29:13 +0000

Winter is indeed tough to get through when working from home.

Let me give you some old, tired advice– cherish this time when you have a little one at home. All too soon you’ll be looking back and longing for the days when you had a little one at home!

By: Lis Garrett ~ a writer's woolgatherings

Lis Garrett ~ a writer's woolgatherings — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:13:00 +0000

LOL! I have to applaud your creativity! Winter is a tough time, for sure! I am a complete wuss when it comes to being cold, and I really don’t like going outside (I’m talking about in temps lower than 30). In January, Bridget will be going to preschool twice a week, which will give me six hours of unhindered work time. Woo hoo!! She’ll get to play. I’ll get to work. Now when summer rolls around, I’m not sure what I will do with THREE kids home?!