This guest post was submitted by the most excellent and patient eMoms reader, Joe Staples.

It’s true: working at home has a number of benefits. I telecommute 2 days per week, saving about $30 weekly on gas, or $7.50 on bus and train fare, depending on my mode of transportation that week. I don’t have to fight with traffic, which does wonders for my mood, and there’s a well-stocked refrigerator just steps away (one of those double-edged benefits).

There are also challenges, as anyone who’s tried it can tell you, and as Wendy has documented so well here. Distractions are a constant threat, and only very proactive distraction blockers will save you. In fact, sometimes I think it would be cool to be able to turn off my hearing altogether. Then these things that float from the household into my home workspace wouldn’t be such a problem.

My main challenges come from the TV and in packages of varying size, from 15 yrs to 18 months, and there are five of them. Count them! Five. My gorgeous wife is with them all day now that it’s summer. I don’t know how she does it. Maybe she’s read Wendy’s 94 sanity-retaining tips, or maybe stay-at-home moms simply have superpowers that I’ll never understand. All I know is that if I were working at home 5 days a week like many of you, I’d have a much longer list than the one below and I’d buy my meds in bulk. Not all the challenges are kid-related, so the “overheard” principle applies even if you don’t share your home or workspace with cubs.  ”Come on down!” There’s nothing worse than being fully focused on a post or on servicing a client and getting distrac.. Did you hear Drew Carey is replacing Bob Barker as the new host of The Price is Right? I find that Drew is a much better choice than Rosie O’Donnell. He’s a lot more charismatic and I feel he has the necessary experience. Wait, hold on. What was the question again?

“Dad! The lawn mower’s on fire!” Jackson (12) was mowing the lawn and had stopped to put gas in the tank. He left the cap off, and when he restarted it, gasoline splashed all over the hot motor and ignited. By the time I left my desk and dashed outside, he had already put it out (with the garden hose!). The plastic housing over the motor was a bit melted, but otherwise no damage done. It still runs today.

“We don’t smear peanut butter on our sister.” Kim calmly explained to Luke (3) as she wiped peanut butter off of Maya’s head (18 months) that peanut butter is for bread, and sisters are for loving, not finger painting. I could tell what Luke was thinking: “If you say so, Mom. But the peanut butter went on pretty smooth. I think I’ll try ketchup next time.” My solution would have been faster, louder, and probably less effective.

“It won’t hurt, I promise.” Jackson regularly makes such promises to Eric (7), and Eric regularly falls for them. The only thing that gets me out of my seat faster than that line is this one, which I’ve also heard: “Just put it in and see if it flushes.” It was a Shrek gingerbread man toy from a McDonald’s happy meal (”Not the gumdrop buttons!”), and we never got to see if it would go down. I move pretty fast when highly motivated.

And then there are things I haven’t yet heard, but for which I am fully braced and expect at any moment: -”I don’t know how the cat got shaved.” -”How much do new windshields cost?” -”Paris Hilton pledges voluntary community service teaching kindergarten”

Sometimes I look back on the day and think it’s a wonder I got anything done at all. But I wouldn’t trade my at-home days for anything, not even the most sterile, distraction-free office anywhere. What fun would that be?

Joe Staples is a technical and marketing writer from Utah, and is a father of five and a husband of one with varying rates of success. He blogs at I’ve Tried That and Fathered Five.

 

If you liked this article, please...
	Subscribe Via Email		Subscribe Via RSS		Add to Technorati

Or read these related articles...