Quite a few home-based professionals work from home so that they can care for their children. Balancing a home-based business (or two) with one or more children is certainly not an easy task. Many factors contribute to whether it is going to work or not on any given day, including what kind of work is on your plate, how many children are home with you, the ages of said children, and perhaps most importantly the temperament of the children.
If you have kids at home then what I’m about to say may seem quite obvious. If you do not have kids yet or you have a baby on the way, pay close attention. The temperament of your child or children will probably end up being the single most important factor that determines when and how often you will be able to work. I did not fully realize that until I became a mom and started working at home a few months after my son was born.
Even as a newborn, my son made his temperament known to everyone around him. You see, he is a rather intense little fellow. When he is happy, his smile lights up the room and positive energy seems to radiate from him. When he is upset his cry comes from the depths of his soul with amazing force. He is also persistent, which will serve him well later in life but can make for some interesting parenting predicaments. These traits, combined with sensitivity and a high energy level are enough to keep me fully occupied during his waking hours. He is, without a doubt, a very spirited child and I have designed my businesses in a way that enables me to meet his needs.
I am not sure exactly how other home-based professional parents make the combination of working and parenting work for them. For me, it was obvious what I needed to do – I realized that I could only truly expect to work during nap time and after my son goes to bed, or if my husband is home to take care of him. The hard part was coming to terms with the amount of time that I have available for work and accepting that my career is going to be low-key for a while.