I’ve been back at work now for two weeks and I am bursting with joy. After having been at home for the past 2.5 years, I can’t tell you how great it is to be engaged in something outside of my home. I’ve done some freelance writing over the past couple of years, which provided some intellectual stimulation. However, it failed to give me what I missed the most: contact with the outside world.
I’ve recently joined a consulting company on a part-time basis where I work partly from home and partly all over the place, meeting clients and supervising workshops. The human interaction is invigorating and I feel my old self slowly returning back to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed being at home with my kids and I treasure the luxurious days I’ve spent with them lolling at the park, doing crafts and cuddling for hours. I look forward to doing lots more of those things. But, as well, I’ve missed the energy I derive from stimulating conversations over a puzzling work issue, interacting with adults on a regular basis, and the self-esteem gained from solving a problem or making a great connection.
Working part-time from home has its own challenges. Often, I’ll set the kids up with some toys and head to the basement to respond to some emails and do some writing. The last time I did that I returned to find my daughter had written all over coffee table with a red crayon. On another similar occasion, I took a business call from the basement and resurfaced to find both of my kids naked and jumping on my bed. My way of coping is to ignore alot of things I previously would have freaked out about. So there’s now red crayon on my coffee table – so what? Naked kids jumping on the bed – I remind them to be careful and close the door for five minutes to finish my call (it’s a low bed).
Making things work is an ongoing challenge, but one that I relish. Sometimes I feel overextended, but it’s a great feeling. There’s a heightened sense of spirit which comes from feeding my brain while trying to nurture my family. I’ve just got to learn to hide the crayons.
congrats on your new gig! half at home and half away from the home sounds downright ideal to me! i can’t wait to see how it works out for you!
Hey, Amreen…a friend of mine once said “you make your own work”. And it’s so true! What she meant was, fine, go and take a 30 minute call, or a long shower, or read a book in your room, or spend time on the computer with the office door closed, but don’t complain about what you find when you emerge! I hear you about not sweating the small stuff – my life is a constant balancing act of deciding what is worth making a fuss over and what is not. With the kids and elsewhere, too!
Great post, Amreen, and great points! I have to ignore so much working from home and balancing bizarre and sometimes unpredictable childcare arrangements but it is well worth it. I get way more time with my kids and am available when and if they need me, I know their pals and their pals parents, I know their teachers and I still get to do something challenging and tap into that other side of myself…the career oriented professional I was before! There are many compomises and challenges but the rewards are huge. My biggest challenge running my own business from home is making sure that my evenings (and often nights!) aren’t always sucked up by work so that I get some time with my wonderful husband!