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Moms At Work

The Work-at-Home Option -- Is It for You?

By Mary Dixon Weidler

"My daughter goes to preschool for five hours a day. I also do work during the evenings when my husband is home," says Duksta. "During school breaks, I try to hire a sitter to watch her and play with her while I work. If not, then I try to negotiate a deal with my daughter: 'I'll play with you for an hour; then I get an hour to work.'"

-- If you think that working at home will give your more time for housework and cooking, guess again. The most successful WAHMs know that the work is a top priority -- even if that means working surrounded by this morning's breakfast dishes, or realizing that you didn't make your bed until after dinner.

So how do you keep some peace of mind while combining a business and a family under the same roof? Delegate! Don't be afraid to ask your family for help if you need it. "My husband and children are extremely supportive of my work, and they all help out as necessary," says Jennifer Galvin, a columnist for The Boston Herald who works out of her Mountain View, Calif. home. "Thank goodness my husband can cook, or we'd probably all get real tired of frozen food!"

-- You may have established a workday, and you even have your little one's cooperation, but that doesn't mean the rest of the world understands. "It's hard to make family and friends understand that just because you're home doesn't mean that you can socialize," says Duksta.

Others may think that because you're not "at work" you're free to run errands, gossip over coffee or babysit their children while they work. Make it clear that you're working -- even harder than you did when you punched a time clock -- and you're unavailable for socializing or other activities that aren't work-related.

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