DING! It’s a challenge to figure out which notification just chimed on my phone, drowned out by the sounds of “Monster Math Squad” and the rhythmic tapping of my fingers against the keyboard. What I do know is that I have a seemingly endless list of tasks for today, yet only a slim window of time to tackle a few before the evening bus arrives, bringing home my 12 and 13-year-olds. Then it’s straight into homework, dinner prep, bath time, bedtime, and the inevitable refereeing of sibling disputes. If I’m fortunate and focused, I might even manage a warm meal and a quick hug or kiss from my husband when he finally gets home from his “real” job.
“Mommy, do you need to check your emails?” my bright-eyed four-year-old sings, and bless him, he’s probably more aware of iPhone notifications than anyone else I know. If only he could answer them too!
When I initially made the decision to work from home, I genuinely believed it was the best idea ever. “What could possibly go wrong?” I thought to myself three years ago. I could pursue a career I adore, earn a paycheck, stay close to my little ones, set my own hours, be available when they need me, and keep my resume active without missing out on these precious years with my kids. It seemed like the ideal situation!
Let me be crystal clear: working from home is indeed wonderful, and I wouldn’t trade a second of it for anything. I recognize how fortunate I am to have this opportunity. I cherish my children, my job, and our life together.
But Let’s Talk About the Challenges
But let’s talk about why it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
I work from home with a four-year-old in tow. If you’ve ever tried to handle any adult task while managing a toddler, you understand my predicament.
In the early days, I attempted to create a home office in the spare bedroom. “This is it!” I thought. “A space away from the TV and kids, where I can find peace and truly get work done.” That plan lasted about a month. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t carve out more than 30 minutes without something demanding my attention, and let’s be honest—30 minutes isn’t enough time to accomplish anything significant. I couldn’t leave my toddler unsupervised for ten minutes, let alone an hour! So, I decided I’d work during his nap times or while he watched TV. Spoiler alert: naps don’t last forever, and neither does independent play. Plus, there’s only so much screen time I can ethically allow.
Eventually, I resolved to work intermittently throughout the day, balancing time with my little one, household chores, and then family time in the evenings, with the bulk of my real work happening late at night after everyone else was asleep.
And here we are. I haven’t had a date with my pillow before 2 or 3 a.m. in over a year, often pushing it closer to 4 a.m. I survive on caffeine and a bit of nicotine, fueled by Google Drive. I can hardly remember when I last had quality rest, as I juggle everything while my husband prepares for his early morning “real” job. We arrange for sitters and have date nights, but I genuinely miss the simple comfort of going to bed as a couple, instead of waking up alone while everyone else starts their day.
Let’s not even get into the well-meaning friends, family, and neighbors who equate working from home with having endless free time. Comments like, “What do you do all day?” or “Why are you up so late?” are all too common. I often hear, “If I stayed home all day, my house would be spotless!” or “Must be nice to work in your pajamas!” Okay, I’ll admit, working in my pajamas is a definite perk. My kids sometimes ask why I’m putting on nice clothes and makeup, and I have to explain that Mom has a video call and doesn’t want her boss to see her looking like the ‘before’ picture in a makeover.
Working from home isn’t a euphemism for lounging around with my kids while collecting a paycheck. It requires real effort and dedication, just like any traditional job. I accomplish genuine work and earn real money, which demands real time and energy. Just because I don’t commute to an office and clock in doesn’t mean I’m not contributing to the workforce. My unconventional sleeping hours don’t diminish my productivity either (Do people criticize night shift workers? I just don’t understand that).
While it may appear that I’m living the best of all worlds, I often feel like I’m falling short somewhere, trying to juggle too much at once. I can’t give my full attention to my child because work is calling, and I can’t focus entirely on my tasks because my child needs me. Plus, chores need to be done before the laundry becomes an avalanche! I’m perpetually on the clock. Despite the chaos, I wouldn’t have it any other way; I thrive in this whirlwind and wouldn’t know what to do with real downtime.
Oh, wait. Yes, I would. Sleep. It’s that elusive thing that rhymes with “heaven” and tastes like cotton candy. I’ll get around to it someday, but for now, it’s almost dawn—time to wake everyone for work and school, whip up breakfast, and toss in a load of laundry before I call it a night. Err, morning. Same difference.