When Did I Become a Working Mom?

When things change very gradually, it can feel like no change at all. Then, one day, you see where you are verses where you were and think, "when did this happen?"

It occurred to me the other day when I accepted a part-time writing job for Monticello Live that I am, indeed, a working mom! Wow! What's really cool about this is, I now have two paying jobs, and I usually still feel like a stay-at-home-mom. That's really awesome! 

and yes I look just like this for those that have never seen me...

With my own business, Canine Corrections, I work from home. With this new job, I mostly work from home, also. Other than attending a few meetings a month (City Council, School Boards, etc) I do my writing from home! This sounds like a great gig, right? Yeah.. if I didn't have three kids I'm sure it would be bliss!

I've had to learn over the past couple of years how to work from home with three lunatics running around. Well, my girl child is calm and quiet, so I really only have two lunatics I suppose. This is no easy task! I can blog, email, and even outline my next article with noise in the background and 20 breaks to fix a sippy cup, clean up pee from the bathroom floor, and send kids to their own corners during a fight. I cannot, however, carry on a phone interview, write a complete article that's worth reading, or think worth a flip during these events.

Enter: strategy.

If you want time from your kids, you have to pour time out to your kids first. Simple as that.

If I spend a good solid hour doing nothing but playing with them, talking with them, going out to play.. you know the routine... then I can expect a good 30 minutes to an hour to work in peace. I only need about an hour or two to do my writing, so this works out great for us! Give me a little time and then the REST of the day.. I'm totally yours! Thankfully, I don't have to write every day, hence the "part-time" I mentioned above. This is my ideal work scenario... I cannot believe how this has all panned out! God is good!

My strategy will likely have to change dramatically in the coming months, depending upon what foster children are in our home. Obviously having an infant will require much different planning than having a 4 year old. A 4 year old much different than a 7 year old. Time will tell! I just keep telling God that he's given me ALL of this, at his perfect time, and I'm basically demanding that he work it all out for me as well. So far, he's holding up to his end of the deal. Nice how that works out.

 Are you a working mom?  What has your experience with working away from home or in the home been like since having children? Positive? Negative? You're too tired to comprehend this question? Here... this will help you frazzled moms: