Hanna is a pretty irregular kid as far as temperament goes, but I’ve found creating a work at home schedule has helped me maximize my work and my time with her.

In the beginning I was just winging it. She never really did well with a “schedule”. Being a [tag-tec]spirited child[/tag-tec] she never did anything at the same time from day to day and it made scheduling the day really difficult. (much to my dismay, as I prefer a schedule)

I never knew what I was going to get done that day or when. I tended to be like the body on a diet and just held on to all the time I could get. Whether I actually had work to do or not, I would stay at the computer ~ because I didn’t know when I was going to get time again.

She grew increasingly difficult, and more easily frustrated. We started experiencing a huge amount of tantrums, and bored behavior ~ like teasing the animals. I decided it was time to try [tag-tec]creating a work at home schedule [/tag-tec]again.

I sat down and decided which times of the day I felt were the most important for the two of us to spend together. I decided meals were important for us to do together ~ even though she can eat on her own and she would actually be occupied for me to get something done during that time.

Our schedule isn’t really strict, as she still never does anything at the same time twice. But we get up usually around 7. I make us a hot breakfast and we eat together and snuggle and then say bye to Daddy who’s usually leaving around then.

I get to work from 8 to 10. With the hours of interaction she’s usually pretty good about playing for the next couple hours. My office is right in the living room so I am frequently interrupted, but she is pretty good about playing by herself, listening to music.

From 10 to 12 is Hanna time. We have a snack and do a creative project together. It might be painting, scooping noodles, playing fill it up-dump it out, or some water play. It’s freezing cold here so unfortunately we don’t get outside as much as I’d like. Then we make lunch together and eat together. We then read books. By noon she’s ready for her nap (which thankfully has been rather consistent for a month or so now ~ and I know now that I said that it will probably change )

She’s been napping for a couple hours which gives me time to work. She gets up and we have a snack together.

If I still have work to do in the afternoon I work off an on between hanging out with her. I also like to go out in the afternoons either to the park, or if it’s nice to the zoo, or the botanical gardens.

That’s pretty much how our days go. I have found her tantrums have lessened immensely since I started implementing this schedule. She seems much happier and she has even been more consistent in going down for and staying asleep for naps.

I guess as much as we fought the whole schedule thing it was imperative for us to begin creating a work at home schedule. I know this schedule is definitely flexible depending on how the day goes, and then as the months go on it may have to be modified to fit our new needs.

When creating a work at home schedule take a look at what you feel are the most important times for you to spend with your kids. Also take into account when you and your kids are at your best. If you are all are at your best in the evening you may not want to schedule all you work in the morning.

Be flexible and easy on yourself. Mothering is hard enough, but adding work to it is even more difficult. You can do it, and creating a work at home schedule will probably help.

[tags]creating a work at home schedule, spirited child, scheduling a spirited child, work from home, work from home mom, work at home mom [/tags]

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