Being a work from home mom, or for the more politically correct a WAHM, has long been a dream for me. It started when my youngest daughter, now 9, was just a baby. I wanted the freedom to stay at home all day and watch my children grow up, but I also wanted the money that comes with a full time job. Well, I can happily say that I have realized my dream of working from home. I can also tell you that sometimes the dream world is a bit altered from what we perceive. My work from home dream sometimes contains nightmarish qualities.
At least three times throughout my busy day, one of my children will come into my office and simply begin a conversation that I can't possibly keep up with. I have repeated my favorite phrase, "Mommy's working", until it sounds like my motto. Even worse is when they stand behind me with their little faces bursting to tell me the most important detail of their young lives, only to walk out suddenly and whisper to the others that "She's working right now, we'll wait". Helloooo, tell Daddy!! After all, that is exactly what he is for - to contain them when I am busy. The most comical thing that I hear is "Are you working now?". Honestly, you would think that after years of seeing me sitting at my desk and enthralled in the writing process that everyone in my home would realize when I am indeed working. Oh well. My dream is still a good dream, only with a few glitches thrown in.
I have, over the past several months, learned ways in which to stop the glitches. At least for a few moments. Here are my ways of dealing with interminable questions, remarks, and the ever popular interruptions that we, as work from home moms, will undoubtedly encounter. Lock the door! Really, I don't lock my office door.5B3 After all, I wanted to be here when my children need me. I do, however, make a grand statement that I will, in fact, be working on a very important project and would rather not be disturbed unless the house is on fire, someone is bleeding, or the dogs have eaten the cats. If it does not fall into one of these categories, then please leave me alone.
I do realize that children will starve if not fed every two hours. To thwart this tragedy, I simply lay out snacks such as fruit or even candy if I am really rushed, and tell them to "have at it". I will prepare lunch and dinner at the appropriate time and I highly doubt that anyone will perish from malnutrition until that time comes. If it comes to emergency status, daddy is perfectly capable of preparing peanut butter sandwiches.
I am not the only human in my home that is capable of answering the phone. I have trained my teenager to push the button and say "hello" when that insufferable ring interrupts the television and game playing. Honestly, two seconds away from the Playstation will not cause a traumatic experience. You will survive.
When the dog scratches at the door, let her out. That seems simple enough, right? You do not need my permission to let her go pee-pee. She knows what to do she just can't operate the handle. I have seriously considered teaching her to open the door herself just to save the time that it takes me to answer the "can Sugar go out" questions.5B5
For those outside my happy family who honestly think that I am a stay at home mom and not a work from home mom, I simply show them my earnings. Honestly you will have people who will look at you as if you have bumped your head when you tell them that you work from home. They all imagine you sitting in your Pjs all day long and not really doing anything. In all truthfulness, I work much harder now than I ever did while working outside my home. When someone gives me that disgusting "Smile" that means they understand that I am simply a housewife, let me just say that a housewife is a great thing to be. I get to cook wonderful dinners for my family, spend time with my children doing things that I never did when I was "working", and all while earning three times as much as many of you. I would take "housewife" over employee any day of the week.
The thing is that I truly love being a work from home mom. I wouldn't trade this profession for anything in the world. Since I get to do what I love to do and be at home to watch my children grow up, it's a dream come true. Although I get writer's block and sometimes think that my brain has turned to something that must resemble undercooked meatloaf, it is still the best decision that I ever made. Even with the constant interruptions - I have little ones peering over my shoulder even now wondering if they will, in fact, get served lunch today - this is my dream come true and I am happy and3BB honored to be presented the title of WAHM.
Vanessa Beaty is a Freelance Writer Freelance Moms
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