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Any Moms with Babies Out There?

by akaelo
22 replies
I just posted on Tiffany Dow's recent thread about time management, and I noticed several moms made comments. Having just had my first baby 5 months ago, I wonder if any other recent moms might have tips for juggling work at home with a new baby.

Tips? Frustrations? A Miracle for the balancing act that is motherhood?

Thanks in advance,
Elona
#babies #moms
  • Profile picture of the author ShayB
    My baby is four. I also have a 15, 12, and 10 year old. I homeschool, too.

    Best advice?
    • Snuggle when the babies want to. They grow up so fast.
    • If the baby is fussy, don't stress. Work when baby sleeps.
    • Get plenty of rest.
    • Be flexible in your schedule - babies don't work on a timeclock.
    Hope that helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author Rachel Incoll
      Originally Posted by Shay60654 View Post

      My baby is four. I also have a 15, 12, and 10 year old. I homeschool, too.

      Best advice?
      • Snuggle when the babies want to. They grow up so fast.
      • If the baby is fussy, don't stress. Work when baby sleeps.
      • Get plenty of rest.
      • Be flexible in your schedule - babies don't work on a timeclock.
      Hope that helps.
      Wow...how do you go managing the homeschooling side of things with your work too? I know the homeschooling only takes an couple of hours a day (not so much time wasted as in school) but how much time do you find yourself left with to work on the net after helping them with their schooling?

      I'm just wondering as myself & my husband want to homeschool our 2, but have put it off until my husband quits his job (which will be in the next 12 months) - I just didn't think I'd have the time to homeschool the kids as well as do the websites.

      Cheers

      Rachel
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      • Profile picture of the author ShayB
        Originally Posted by Rachel Incoll View Post

        Wow...how do you go managing the homeschooling side of things with your work too? I know the homeschooling only takes an couple of hours a day (not so much time wasted as in school) but how much time do you find yourself left with to work on the net after helping them with their schooling?

        I'm just wondering as myself & my husband want to homeschool our 2, but have put it off until my husband quits his job (which will be in the next 12 months) - I just didn't think I'd have the time to homeschool the kids as well as do the websites.

        Cheers

        Rachel
        My whole family consists of night owls. This has allowed us to develop a schedule that works well for us.

        Homeschooling is done in the mornings. Not too early. The kids are done by 1 pm.

        I usually have an hour or 2 in the mornings where I can get some work done or just surf the 'Net.

        The majority of my work is done from 10 pm to 2 am.
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  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    I run my home business with 3 boys at home. ages 4, 2 and 9 months..

    I just let them play in my home office while I work, when they get hungry I feed them, play with them when they need attention.

    I have to stop working from time to time, but it just depends on how fast you can get back to work after a distraction.
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  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    also plan out your work activities, the night before, and only give yourself as much work as you can handle in one day, keeping in mind that you have kids who rely on you.

    But just remember your doing it for them.
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  • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
    I would just suggest work after the baby goes nighty night or before he/she wakes up. The baby may have grandparents, aunts, cousins, or friends who can watch him/her for you to get in some work while they are gone. Nothing ground breaking there, just simple tips.
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  • Profile picture of the author TiffanyLambert
    Well I worked from home with two of mine from birth on (one with RSV so I was watching to make sure he was breathing like a hawk). I did what another person above said - hold the babies and enjoy. Work less. Work when you CAN.

    Enjoy being a Mom
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    • Profile picture of the author akaelo
      Originally Posted by TiffanyDow View Post

      Well I worked from home with two of mine from birth on (one with RSV so I was watching to make sure he was breathing like a hawk). I did what another person above said - hold the babies and enjoy. Work less. Work when you CAN.

      Enjoy being a Mom
      The thing is, it's imperative that I bring in my part of our income - if I don't, there are bills that won't be paid. I know that there is nothing more important than my daughter, and I do my absolute best to give her my undivided attention, but we need electricity and heat!

      I'm doing my best to balance things out until we can get a little more stable, but my biggest challenge is being as productive as I possibly can in the work hours that I have available.

      I really appreciate the advice and encouragement!
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      • Profile picture of the author ShayB
        Originally Posted by akaelo View Post

        The thing is, it's imperative that I bring in my part of our income - if I don't, there are bills that won't be paid. I know that there is nothing more important than my daughter, and I do my absolute best to give her my undivided attention, but we need electricity and heat!

        I'm doing my best to balance things out until we can get a little more stable, but my biggest challenge is being as productive as I possibly can in the work hours that I have available.

        I really appreciate the advice and encouragement!
        I completely understand.

        What I meant is that there are times you will be stressed if you try to work when the baby is wanting attention.

        By taking 5 or 10 minutes to snuggle, you can make Baby happy and be more productive in the long run.

        If you are a night owl, you might want to try to work later at night.

        If you are an early bird, you might want to rise early.

        Work in blocks of time - 15 or 30 minutes several times a day is just as productive as 2 hours at a time - and it is less stressful.
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        • Profile picture of the author adamv
          I'm not a mom with a baby but I am a dad with a toddler (who doesn't really nap very often anymore.)

          When my daughter is asleep is pretty much the only time I can get anything done. I try to get stuff done on the weekends too when my wife is home to watch her but things always seem to come up that get in the way of me working. For me 10:00pm until about 12:00 or 1:00am is prime time and I can get more done in two hours with my wife and daughter asleep than I can all day long.
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        • Profile picture of the author akaelo
          Originally Posted by Shay60654 View Post

          I completely understand.

          What I meant is that there are times you will be stressed if you try to work when the baby is wanting attention.

          By taking 5 or 10 minutes to snuggle, you can make Baby happy and be more productive in the long run.

          If you are a night owl, you might want to try to work later at night.

          If you are an early bird, you might want to rise early.

          Work in blocks of time - 15 or 30 minutes several times a day is just as productive as 2 hours at a time - and it is less stressful.
          You're totally right. I am constantly reminding myself to meet her need, then get back to what I need to do. A child with an unmet need causes way more stress than just stopping,taking a deep breath and doing what needs to be done.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sylvia Meier
    Enjoy them and love em. I have 5, 2 special needs (both of my youngest boys have varying levels of autism). Mine are 10, 5,4,2,1 and you just have to get the work done when you can and understand you cant do it all the time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alice Seba
    I've worked at home through all the babies and #3 is 4 mo.

    Perfect advice here and even though it might be tough to follow, it's what works:

    -plan your schedule the night before
    - work in blocks of time
    - get family to watch baby
    - work early is you're a morning person, nights if you're a night person
    - enjoy baby and take breaks whenever needed...you'll have less stress and be more productive.

    Also, regularly evaluate your activities and cut out the time wasters.

    As you start earning money, invest in help for your business, so you can concentrate on the most profitable activities and your baby.

    Alice
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  • Profile picture of the author Sylvia Meier
    Another suggestion for smaller babies is the baby snugglies, they keep the babies close to you and content and you can get some hands free work done. All 5 of mine lived in the snugglies for the first3-4 months of their lives. The youngest just recently got out of his at around a year because he was so preemie and has so many health issues.

    Do you have a baby swing or exersaucer or anything like that, which you can place close to the computer so they can play and still be content because you are still within sight and close enough for their comfort.

    Like others have said take advantage of naptimes (which is my most productive time) and either an hour before they wake up or an hour after they go to sleep.

    You would be amazed after a while how well you can multitask with kids.
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  • Profile picture of the author Iamnotherenow
    Wow, this topic really hits home. I am a dad of a 10 month old son. He requires a lot of attention. His mom is here during the day, she wanted to be a stay at home mom but I find myself having to always stop my work to help tend to my son.

    The problem isn't with my son. The problem is with my fiancee' who requires just as much time as my son. I take lots of 5-10 minute breaks to hold and cuddle my son...I try to work when he's asleep but now my fiancee' is basically requesting that I spend time with her when my son is sleeping. It's becoming more difficult to get things done.

    We are relying on my source of income only. There are days when I need to put forth maximum effort but I can't.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sylvia Meier
      Originally Posted by Iamnotherenow View Post

      Wow, this topic really hits home. I am a dad of a 10 month old son. He requires a lot of attention. His mom is here during the day, she wanted to be a stay at home mom but I find myself having to always stop my work to help tend to my son.

      The problem isn't with my son. The problem is with my fiancee' who requires just as much time as my son. I take lots of 5-10 minute breaks to hold and cuddle my son...I try to work when he's asleep but now my fiancee' is basically requesting that I spend time with her when my son is sleeping. It's becoming more difficult to get things done.

      We are relying on my source of income only. There are days when I need to put forth maximum effort but I can't.
      You have to set boundries then, even office hours so to speak that she will have to learn to adjust to. Or go somewhere like a cafe or even the public library to work until she understands that you NEED time to work if she wants to remain a sahm. I had the same issues, but we have 5 and at times my help is needed no matter what I am doing. She needs to understand that your lifestyle depends on your ability to concentrate and work and with both of you at home and only one young child it should be easy enough, if you both fully commit to you "working" and her taking care of the baby during work hours.
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    • Profile picture of the author keyaziz
      Originally Posted by Iamnotherenow View Post

      Wow, this topic really hits home. I am a dad of a 10 month old son. He requires a lot of attention. His mom is here during the day, she wanted to be a stay at home mom but I find myself having to always stop my work to help tend to my son.

      The problem isn't with my son. The problem is with my fiancee' who requires just as much time as my son. I take lots of 5-10 minute breaks to hold and cuddle my son...I try to work when he's asleep but now my fiancee' is basically requesting that I spend time with her when my son is sleeping. It's becoming more difficult to get things done.

      We are relying on my source of income only. There are days when I need to put forth maximum effort but I can't.
      OMG!!!

      You sound JUST like my boyfriend...lol.

      I think 10 months was the big tester for us. We both are at home working online and his work always came before mine...as I cared for my son. But around 10 months my son became very needy. I was nursing every five mins and he just wanted constant attention so I wanted my boyfriend to help. Which he did, with patience...but we both got no work done (his being more important).

      This is over now though and my son who is now 1 is in bed early and gives us time we need. I also dont need my boyfriends help during the day like I did so he gets on with his stuff now really easily. We are both much more relaxed and get time together as well if you can believe it.

      It does get better - just remember though that your kid will grow up fast..you get to see him everyday - most parents dont...so even though you are struggling think how lucky you are on that I would never change both me and my boyfriend being at home....I love how my son gets to be with us both all day.
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    • Profile picture of the author akaelo
      Originally Posted by Iamnotherenow View Post

      Wow, this topic really hits home. I am a dad of a 10 month old son. He requires a lot of attention. His mom is here during the day, she wanted to be a stay at home mom but I find myself having to always stop my work to help tend to my son.

      The problem isn't with my son. The problem is with my fiancee' who requires just as much time as my son. I take lots of 5-10 minute breaks to hold and cuddle my son...I try to work when he's asleep but now my fiancee' is basically requesting that I spend time with her when my son is sleeping. It's becoming more difficult to get things done.

      We are relying on my source of income only. There are days when I need to put forth maximum effort but I can't.
      I can totally relate! My husband is sometimes home a lot during the day since he's a singer, and I know he feels neglected sometimes. It drives me nuts when he's in charge of looking after her for a half hour or so and he'll call out every ten minutes "you're missing cuteness!" I'm like, I know, but I gotta get this project finished!

      Believe me, I bask in my daughters cuteness a ton, but when dad's in charge I need them both to completely ignore me
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  • Profile picture of the author Alice Seba
    I here you, Iamtherenow. I am the only one working right now and DH cares for the baby....but I'm nursing, so there's some stuff he can't do. ;-) It can be exhausting.

    Would she be up to helping you with certain biz tasks and hour or two a day, so you can be done a bit sooner each day?

    Realistically, if she's going to be SAHM, she needs to find something to fill her day. Outings w/ baby, join mommy and me groups to connect with other stay at home moms. If she's relying on you for adult interaction, that's putting a lot of pressure on you.

    Have you talked to her about it?
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  • Profile picture of the author valerieSONORA
    I really don't know how Sylvia and Shay do it. Wow the noise! I can just imagine how loud 4 or 5 kids are especially toddlers. Yikes I have a headache just thinking about it. I nominate them for super moms.
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    • Profile picture of the author keyaziz
      Well I sling carried my son for the first 6 months...mainly...so it wasnt too hard to get on with something - mainly because he was sleeping all the time on my lap..so I got on. Or sometimes if he was ok I could put him down..but I got on quite well then.

      But as hes gotten older he has gotten more demanding. I would try to get as much work as you can do now! My son went through a needy patch around 10 months which made it almost impossible to do any work - again I used the sling when he was asleep but it could be really awkward so ultimately got very little done for a while unless I did it in the evenings but then as I cosleep my son wasnt used to going to bed on his own (we had just moved too which didnt help matters).

      Now he is 1...and I get done very well in the evenings. He goes to bed in our bed on his own now and I get the evening to work. I sometimes do some during the day but my priority is making sure I spend time with my son...even though we need the money.

      I am working on a massive project right now which is going to be a big hit..I have so much confidence in it...and I have worked hard...

      But the only advice I can give is to try and do it when he sleeps or in the evening. If you stay up late, take a nap during the day with your baby that way you can catch up on sleep.

      Also try to be patient too..I had moments when I was bursting with inspiration and needed to write right then but ultimately couldnt because my son needed me. That can be frustrating but then I put things in focus and realize he is more important.
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    • Profile picture of the author ShayB
      Originally Posted by annoyedgirl View Post

      I really don't know how Sylvia and Shay do it. Wow the noise! I can just imagine how loud 4 or 5 kids are especially toddlers. Yikes I have a headache just thinking about it. I nominate them for super moms.
      LOL No, not a Supermom, by any means.

      I have just found that I usually work better when the kids are asleep or at least occupied.

      The noise level of my house ranges. It can be very quiet.....or completely crazy.
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