10/ 15/ 2002
As you stretch to answer the phone with a fussy baby balanced on your hip, you may wonder why working from home sounded glorious at first. But you're not the only working parent who doesn't leave home in the mornings.
It's estimated that 12.6 million American households with dependent children included at least one parent who worked from home in 2001, and many are home-based business owners.
Raising kids and running a business require similar skills. Multi-tasking is the key to success for both, according to Nancy Price and Betsy Gartrell-Judd, editors-in-chief of ePregnancy magazine. Here are some of their tips on working from home with kids:
- Have a wide variety of toys and games available to fight boredom.
- Child-proof your office. Hide wires, cords and outlets. Secure heavy office equipment.
- Teach older kids to help with business tasks they can manage.
- Get out of the house with the kids at least once a day.
- Reach out for support--online, in person or both.
- De-stress with your kids.
- Don't forget why you're at home in the first place!
This article originally appeared in the October/November 2002 issue of MyBusiness magazine.
