Is Working From Home Impacting your Life as a Parent? We Have some Ideas!

When I tell people I work from home, some might imagine I don’t have a “real job.” Or that I have a fantasy job where I can arrange my entire life exactly the way I want it. But for me and most freelancers, the reality isn’t like either of these. Here are four ways working from home impact your life as a parent.

If you’re already a work-from-home mom (or dad!), you might nod along to this list. But if you’re still dreaming of the freedom of an at-home business or career that fits around your family, considering these and other factors will help you be realistic in your expectations.

1.  You Save Time by Avoiding the Commute, But… 

The commute from my bedroom to my desk in the living room is only about 30 feet. I have plenty of time to stop “along the way” in the kitchen to get myself a cup of coffee that costs a lot less than a latte at my local coffee shop. Sounds perfect, right?

Reality is never perfect. In my case, I have two adult kids at home, and they both work 30 minutes away. We share one car. When their work schedules overlap, I might find myself making that trip up to four times a day. Why? Because I’m the one person in the family with no commute and time flexibility.

This is another of the unexpected ways working from home can impact your life as a parent. The fact that “being there” when someone you love needs you means that sooner or later you’re probably going to be called on to help when you planned on working.

If you have school-age kids, you may find yourself shouldering even more duties as an unpaid “mom taxi.” If other parents learn that you’re not bound by a typical 9-5 schedule, they might start asking you to do extra runs.

Friends or family might also ask you to:

• Babysit, housesit, or pet-sit
• Accept a package
• Run errands or do a volunteer activity
• Go to lunch or spend valuable time chatting at drop-off or pick-up

So, rather than sitting in sitting in traffic on your way to work, you might find yourself sitting in traffic with a carload of 6-year-olds, or coaching your 11’s baseball team.

Without commuting, you can spend your time on activities that actually matter. Before starting your workday, you can have a calm breakfast with your kids, squeeze in an early workout, or even tackle a household chore.  But only if you don’t load yourself up with other commitments.

Do you need help figuring out how to set and maintain boundaries that protect your time and energy? This video on saying no effectively can help!

2. You Can Spend More Time with Your Kids, But…  

When you work from home, you’re there for your kids. You don’t have to rush through the morning routine or get home too late to tuck them in.

If that seems like a dream come true, consider the other side of the coin. Especially if you have small children, are a single parent, or have a partner who works outside the home, you can find yourself totally overwhelmed trying to balance your work and your family responsibilities.

It’s easy to get stretched too thin, feeling like you can’t give your best to your career or your family. This article from Vox discusses how WFH parents, especially moms, can be overloaded.

So, what to do?

• Take on less work than you think you can handle
• Be realistic about your children’s needs
• Work when your children are napping, asleep, or in school or childcare
• Consider bringing in help if you need uninterrupted time to work
• For older kids, set boundaries around your work time
• For your job, set boundaries around your family time

3. You Get to Stay Home, But…

Yes, you’re home, which saves a lot of expenses related to working outside the home. No commute, lunches out, work wardrobe.

But there are hidden costs that go with being home all day, too.  You may not have thought of things like higher utility bills related to being at home and cooking more of your meals there. And you’ve probably never considered how working from home impacts your septic system. 

That’s right – when you’re home more often, your plumbing is bound to get more use than if you were out of the house all day. Increased usage can put a strain on your appliances and household systems. And that can lead to potential maintenance expenses sooner than you expected.  

To avoid surprise problems, try these tips:

• Schedule regular maintenance and inspections before there are problems
• Change filters on HVAC systems as recommended
• Stagger laundry and dishwasher loads through the week to be gentle on your appliances and your utility bills
• When buying a new appliance, opt for energy-efficient models that will save you money

4. You’ve Got More Daily Flexibility, But…  

Working from home means your schedule is no longer dictated by rigid office hours or the need to be physically present at a workplace.  This flexibility can free you up to work during your most productive hours. It might even mean you can fit in midday errands or do a yoga session during your breaks. By working on your own time, you’ll be able to adapt your workday to your life, not the other way around. 

But there’s a caveat here, too. When you’re home all day, so is everything in your home. And that means so is all the housework – the dirty dishes, the kids’ toys, the endless piles of paper, the laundry that needs folding, maybe (if you’re like me) dogs that need walking…

But you don’t need to do it all every day, and you don’t need to do it all yourself.

Here are a few tips:

• Consider what cleaning can fit comfortably into your schedule
• If you can afford to, hire someone to come in and handle some of the cleaning tasks while you tend to your work duties
• Enlist your family members to help
• Stagger the household chores so you’re not trying to do everything every day, or
• Set a dedicated time to move through a big chunk of housework so it’s off your plate and you can focus on your work

If you’re already overwhelmed by the state of your house, it’s not too late! This survival mode house cleaning video might help you regain your sanity.

Conclusion: Working From Home is Still Work

Working from home can be a dream come true for parents. But the reality is that it can also come with potential pitfalls. If you’re aware of these four ways working from home can impact your life as a parent, you can create a plan to address them. You’ll also be in a better position to deal with any other issues that crop up along the way. And that will make you more capable in your work – and your parenting, too!