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Work-at-Home Balance
Moms Can Be Productive and Keep Baby Amused
By Gina Roberts-Grey, LCSW
Kim Scherrer, a piano and voice coach from Lake Geneva, Wis., is just one of countless work-at-home moms who have found that creating some "working baby" spaces in her home studio and office space helped her 3-year-old and 18-month-old sons learn how to be self-sufficient while still being in the same room with her. Dedicating space in her office to house a small table and chairs, a play phone, pencils and paper, Scherrer's sons can "work" while she works. "They like to mimic when I'm on the phone or working on music," she says.
In an effort to stay focused and efficient, Scherrer also finds scheduling meetings, calls and appointments around her children's schedule helpful. "Because my students block off time in half an hour increments, I make sure to allot enough time to check or change diapers, fill sippy cups or read naptime books before starting a task or lesson," she says. Making the conscious effort of blocking off time for her children, Scherrer finds that everyone is more content. "The boys understand when I'm working and when it's time to play."
Because children often emulate and respond to our emotions, implementing options that reduce your on the job stress and guilt will be beneficial for both you and your baby. Many mothers like Scherrer have found that dividing a break or lunch hour into 10-minute intervals to spend time with their child helps infuse much needed spontaneity and energy into everyone's day. "I look at y schedule for the day and decide where I can allot time to read a book or build a train track," says Scherrer. "Going into the day knowing how much time I need to work and how much time I can devote to the kids helps me eliminate a lot of stress and guilt."
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