My First 2 Weeks Working From Home

With my employment of the past 9 years ending December 31, 2017,  I find myself with the challenge of trying to work from home with two active, loving children who want my undivided attention.  .My focus these first two weeks has been on getting some marketing material and ideas together for promoting the Princess Jelisa Stories for Children.   Actually, I have accomplished a fair amount given the circumstances.  I am sure I could develop more focus, but for a beginning, I feel I am doing well.  I can generally get most of what I decide to do for the day completed.  Part of my focus has been to post thoughts to my 3 existing blogs. I hope to be able to find a schedule where I can post at least weekly to each blog.  

Part of the challenge is getting the four (4) year-old to understand that even though I am home, it does not mean I am free to spend all day with her or go shopping everyday.  The first week was the hardest but it is getting better. After the first few days, I had her put stickers on some signs to slip over the knob of my office door.  Both signs tell her when I am working, but one says she can come in if she can be quiet or do something that doesn't bother grandma and the other tells her not to open the door. The first time I put the do-not disturb sign on, she didn't open the door but sat on the other side crying because she doesn't like that sign.   . I am learning if I can take about ten minutes after I get back from dropping her sister off at school, the four-year old will then play alone, watch a movie (or school shows) until about lunch time.  If I can take a break and spend a few minutes with her for lunch then she will generally willingly lay down for a rest afterward. 

The five  (5) year old is having a similar adjustment challenge in learning that grandma being home does not mean we are going to do something "fun" everyday, especially since our definition of fun is often a wide gulf between us.   It doesn't help that since I have been home I am the one who picks her up from school and she wants alone time everyday.  It does help when I can put off errands until after school ends because then she gets to have her alone time, even if it is not exactly what she would prefer.  She is gradually finding that if she lets me get back to work, I actually have more free time in the evening, before bedtime, to spend with her reading, watching a movie or just sitting next to her while she plays a game on her tablet.  
  
The challenge with the 18 year old is finding a balance between when I want to work and rides due to her social or work schedule.  The key here is flexibility, on both sides  Sometimes she gets to wait for me to finish what I am doing, and sometimes I get to take a break to get her to work  or an interview on time.  This may become more interesting as she starts a second job this week but I know we can work it out.  

I have found for our family there are a few things which have helped.  As I noted above, I made signs for the door to let them know when I really can't be disturbed.  I try to keep those periods short, as their patience and ability to wait for something they want or ask for attention is limited. We  designated a quiet zone on my office.  They can come in while I am working, sit on the blanket and do something quiet (coloring, reading, cutting, pasting, playing on their tablets).  Because of a problem with my laptop screen, I invested in a small television I use as a second monitor.   Sometimes, if I am typing or browsing the Internet, I can often use my laptop monitor for my work and allow the children to sit beside me to watch a video on the second monitor.  This gives them time with me, even if my attention is not focused on them.   The most important element is my ability to be flexible and willingness to change what I feel has to be accomplished on a particular day.  

I would be interested in hearing from other parents with young children at home about how they manage to work from home while meeting the needs and wishes of their family.  
Location: Salt Lake City, UT 84119, USA

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