I just told my boss on Friday that I want to be a SAHM. I felt real guilty since I knew that I was going to resign even after I came back. I came back mainly because it was bonus time at my firm, and since I worked all year for it, I wanted to make sure I got it.
I don't need to work (although it would help - especially if I could keep the benefits). My boss was stunned and wants to try to work something out where I decide which parts of my job I want to keep for myself and which jobs I want to delegate. Then we would try to come up with some arrangement where I work from home and maybe make an appearance in the office on an as-needed basis. My compensation would be adjusted, but that's to be expected...
It sounds like a dream deal for me, but I'm starting to wonder how (and if) I can make it work with an infant...does anyone else do this?
jenny11.9
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Re: Does anyone work from home?
I am going to be giving this a shot! Who knows....there is so much 'unknown' to us mommies to be about the infant time....it's hard to know what will work and what won't.
One thing I can say Lee...a second paycheck doesn't hurt anybody!!!
michele31
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Re: Does anyone work from home?
I am going to be on a part-time return to work schedule for a min. of 12 weeks after my 12 weeks of maternity leave are up. I will be in the office one day a week and working from home 2 days a week. In my opinion you cannot care for an infant at the same time you are doing work. the baby has to come first. i will have the baby in daycare for the 3 days that I am working. i suggest getting someone to either come in during your work hours to help you or bringing the baby to a daycare for those hours.i guess it also depends on your job. for me, i cannot be on a conference call and have a screaming baby that needs me both at the same time. but you might have a job that you can do at night after your husband gets home. if you want to continue some type of work, this might be a great idea.
Misha
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Re: Does anyone work from home?
I spent the month of June working from home after my leave and I wil tell you it is not easy. It really will depend on the type of work you do but if you have to be on the telephone at all, you might want to find someone (an au pair or similar) to help out. I thought that once my baby came it would be easy to do both, just work when he sleeps, etc. but it isn't like that at all. Sometimes he would be out for an hour and sometimes 10 minutes. When he is awake you have to spend time talking and playing with him or even just holding him. Then add that to the feedings, the changings, the laundry, and more and it doesn't leave you with much time on your hands. Now if your work is more like something you can do at any hour (reports, spreadsheets, etc.) it might be more manageable. But from my experience, if you have to talk on the phone to clients, you will need help.
Misha
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Re: Does anyone work from home?
One more thing to add: As far as the emotional feelings involved, prepare to feel torn. I felt like I couldn't give my baby 100% and I couldn't give my work 100% and therefore no one was benefitting. It was very draining.
michele31
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Re: Does anyone work from home?
that is why i am praying that this p/t schedule will work out. I cannot quit my job completely so i am hoping this will give me time for both- but who knows.
Kathi
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Re: Does anyone work from home?
Lee -
That does sound like a sweet deal!! I would love to be able to find a job that allows me to work from home, but, I know Sean would suffer if I did. They definitely require so much of our attention!! Even if I was able to do my work when Steve got home, we wouldn't have any 'family time'!!
Sad to say, but I'm going to have to work out of the home. Hopefully, I can get something 4 days a week w/ a not so huge commute. Ahhh, dare to dream!!
Meanwhile, I had a dream last night that I was dropping Sean off at daycare when he was 3 months old and I was SOBBING!!! I couldn't/wouldn't let him go. I'm so not looking forward to that day...
Good luck in whatever you decide!!
phyl
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Re: Does anyone work from home?
went back to work in aoril..from april until july i worked from home 2 days in office the other 3. it was VERY Hard working from home those 2 days cuz I did not have anyone else around to help me with J. m sometimes she slept for and hour and a 1/2..sometimes 10 min and t hen crying...and bfing, play a bit, try the bouncer try the swing and manange conference calls, email, and negoitate media schedules. i tell u I was STRESSED and felt very guilty. now I am on 1 day home 4 days in office and j goes to daycare 5 days. Yes I get work done, but I get to take her to daycare, h ang a little bit, go home work, run an errand or 2 sometimes, and I pcik her up. WE tgry to h ave an early dinner on fri (530ish) and then clean up/check email/regular mail/stc...and then we go to temple for services from 8-915ish. so oure fridays have fallen into a pretty good pattern...depending on whether or not she is teething...
oh yeah- she LOVES to go to daycare ( u ladies were right!)...and momma still tears up in the parking lot every time!
Victoria
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Re: Does anyone work from home?
I was working from home often until a few weeks ago. I had to start going into the office to train a new hire. I have been working 2.5 days in the office. I get so much more done in a shorter period of time. I have to leave dd with my mil, but she only lives 10 mins from the office. The days I am home, it takes me up to 8 hours to get four hours of work done. I am only saving gas money by working at home, not time. When Annalise was 3 months old, she took a few naps and sat in her bouncer while I worked. I felt like I got 4-7 hours of work completed in a day. By five months old, she was starting to get moblie and could not sit on my lap while I typed because she had to touch the keyboard. I also used to BF her while reading email, documents, etc. I can no longer do that as she pulls off to see and touch everything. She only takes two naps now, and sometime they are only 20 mins. long. I hired a mothers helper to watch her when I have a chance to work at home. Today is the first day she will be coming. I only need to work four hours. I will let you know if it works out. I feel more comfortable having a neighbor watch her while I am here. I hope you find a way to make it work, but you will probably need in or out of home care for the baby while you work (by 4 months old).
michele31
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Re: Does anyone work from home?
While finding daycare is a bit overwhelming for me I am really trying to see the bigger picture and be grateful that I have the baby home with me 2 full days plus weekends. And while I am very tempted to keep the baby home with me when I work from home, I know I will not do any work. It is good to hear from other mom's that are also balancing this. It helps me feel less alone out there trying to figure it all out.
