I’ve mentioned it on the blog quite a few times before about how I freelance from home while also watching my 2 1/2 year old and 1 year old daughters. I know I’m not the only work-from-home parent out there, either, so I like to share tips here and there that make my life a tad bit more manageable.
For starters, we just enrolled them in daycare last week which has immensely reduced my amount of stress. They only go 10 hours per week, but that’s 10 whole hours that I can strictly devote towards work, completely free of distractions. Usually, they take a long afternoon nap which also helps! We only pay $85 each week and I usually make at least that in one day of them being gone (they are gone a total of three hours, three times per week).
Today, I’m over on The Penny Hoarder sharing 7 Smart ways to be more productive as a freelancing stay-at-home parent. I would love it if you checked it out! And if you have any other strategies for working from home when watching little ones, please let me know!
photo credit: flickr via Erik Eckel
Emily @ Simple Cheap Mom says
atMy 2.5 year old stopped naps. I miss naps!
Sarah Brooks says
atReally?! Oh man I’m scared for when that day comes!! My 2.5 year old sometimes doesn’t nap, but it’s veryyy rare. I got lucky with her naps – they range from 2-4 hours!! She doesn’t sleep well at night though (the naps are probably why, haha).
Jayleen @ How Do The Jones Do It says
atI like #3! It makes a difference. I don’t so much like #2 purely for selfish reasons;0) I do need to learn to use my time more wisely.
Sarah Brooks says
atGetting up earlier is HARD! It’s not something I’m always good at…but if I have a lot on my plate I always do. My struggle lately has been my youngest has been ending up in our bed in the middle of the night and I can’t get out of bed without waking her!!
dojo says
atOuch .. 2 kids 🙂
I have one only and so far my mantra is ‘work for 3-4 hours at night, after she’s asleep 😀