Challenges of Working from Home

by Sarah Smiley

It is Monday morning. Both my children, Ford (age 6) and Owen (age 4) are at school for the next four hours. I have the whole house to myself, and what's more, it's quiet. So why can't I get anything done? And why does the pantry seem like a better place to be than my desk?

My husband and I made a decision not to home school our children and to fork over preschool tuition for one simple reason: I work from home. But the truth is, I spend my daytime hours doing everything but work. Sometimes I go shopping (because picking out a new bra is much easier without two little boys crawling out from under the dressing room with the old one), sometimes I make phone calls (never worrying that a toddler will pick up the other line and say, "Mommy, I need to potty") and sometimes, well, I sleep (because I stayed up late the night before doing all the work I didn't get done during the day). Rarely do I get much accomplished before my children are finished with school.

Then, once Ford and Owen are back at home, I feel guilty if I go to my computer and immerse myself in work. So we play, and go for walks and read books. Then, I make dinner and do baths. Before I know it, it's nine o'clock at night and I have four hours of work ahead of me.

Such is the plight of many sleep-deprived, overworked stay-at-home working moms.

But self-inflicted obstacles aren't the only challenges we face. Sometimes it is hard for friends, neighbors and family to understand that you really are working despite being at home. "Family seems to assume you are home to run all of the errands they cannot make time for," says Santella, a new military wife with a work-at-home career. "But you still have responsibilities and deadlines to make."

Over the years, I've lost friends due to their frustration that I'm "at home" but not available to participate in play groups and weekly lunches. As such, work-at-home moms might seem aloof to other moms, but the feeling is often mutual. We aren't always able to participate in daytime get-togethers, but that doesn't mean we don't crave adult interaction and friendship. In fact, our work-at-home careers make such companionship all the more important, albeit difficult to maintain.

Amy, an Army wife and stay-at-home medical transcriptionist, admits to feeling isolated by her career. "I worked with the public for ten years before [staying at home]," Amy said. "Occasionally, I do miss the real working world. I miss getting dressed and putting on makeup, but I also love the fact that I can work in my PJs."

Jennifer observed that the feelings of isolation from being at home ultimately are outweighed by being available to her family. "I am fortunate because I’m on the phone with adults most of the day," Jennifer said. "I do miss the day-to-day interaction of my tête-à-tête meetings with clients and associates, but the positives of being home and available to my children outweigh the negative aspects."