Behind The Photo Scenes

'Doc McStuffins wants to be in a photo too, Mum.'

The realities of working with children. :)

My new About page photo, by Trudi Le Brese Photography

Working From Home

My work schedule has changed lately. As you may know, I work from home around my children. And while I used to work at the bench at least two days a week, now the baby is older it has gotten that much harder to keep my two little ones occupied in the workshop while I work. The days of them both sleeping at the same time seem to be behind me too. Instead, I find I am working on the business side of things during the day - placing orders, paying bills, answering emails, marketing and updating the shop - between the of building Lego, the making of snacks and the changing of nappies. My bench time now happens after all three children are in bed. Which is fine, until a week of teething leaves me crawling in to bed not long after the children, and my to-do list starts to get out of control.

I'm torn at times. I imagine how much jewellery I could make if I just had one or two days to myself. If I put my little two in childcare while my big boy is at school. Then I remind myself that the whole purpose of my working from home is that I get to be home with them. With that, I am content again. Content to make as much as I can, in the pockets of time that I have, and allow the business to grow as much as it can for now. I know there will be time. These years before school are so swift. In no time at all Emerson, and then Oscar, will be following Cohen to school and I will have more time to spend at the bench. In the meantime I want to enjoy this season. Make trips to the library. Walk to the park. Paint pictures. Read stories. Picnic on the grass. Drink pretend tea. Build up blocks. Knock them down. And answer pretend phones.

I'm so grateful that I get to follow my heart and express my creativity. I'm so thankful for all the support I get in doing just that - from each comment, each like, each purchase - thank you so much.

xx

Working from home with children

Playing with buttons while Mama works

I have found that working from home with children is the perfect way to develop your distraction and interruption management skills! It's also a great way to develop an understanding of your personal patience levels. I am quickly learning when I need to stop and take a break, and when lack of sleep, hunger, or unresolved issues are contributing to the frustration I am experiencing. It is my tendency to set a mental goal and work uninterrupted until I have reached that goal, whether that means missing lunch or staying up late. This is not an option with children! Interruption, distraction and having to walk away are all parts of the process. While working at the bench today I have been listening to Inspiration Bombs and thinking about ways to maintain the balance between mothering, self and working creatively. I decided to see what Google had to offer in terms of advice about working from home with children.

This is the first helpful article I found that wasn't written by a man working from home while his wife was taking care of the children. Rather, it deals with finding a balance between working for short periods of time while your children play independently, and then spending time engaging with your children. Exactly what I needed to read today. And on that note, we are off for a spot of scooting on our lunch break.

Any tips you'd like to add? Whether about working from home, or just getting things done around the house with little ones?