School Holidays & Working from Home
The kids are back at school, hooray!!!
Working from home for 2 years now, it took me about 6 months to get used to being my own boss, and working when I wanted to work. But when it comes to schools holidays, all the rules change.
I have 3 beautiful children Sapna (13), Milan (11) & Suraj (6) 
as you see on the right.
When they are at school its great, I set them off in the morning, (well my wife does, same thing yeah!) and I then fully focus on the task at hand.
Last week was half term and, well lets just say, it was different, no different to other holidays, just that I felt different. My wife works 4 days a week, so I took one day ‘off’ to be with the kids, the other daysI was working talkingsome time to be with them and the kids we either doing some homework, or playing on the Wii.
By Thursday there had been numerous occasions when I was either on the phone or working and they were either shouting, playing loudly or just generally being happy.
Now the sound of children playing and being happy is fantasitic, but when you are in that moment looking to focus it can be quite frustrating.
It all came to a head on Friday, they were having a difference of opinion about playing on the Wii, it was about 3ish and I came downstairs, to find out what was going on and then in a moment of complete lack of awareness I said the most stupid of statements.
“Don’t you know I work from home?”
The look on their faces, well I wish I had a camera, their expressions were one of, ‘and your point is’. It was in that moment that it was my issue to deal with that fact it was holidays, not there’s to be quiet and how to behave when I am working at home.
During the holidays it is up to me to adjust my week, not the children. The reason I do what I do is for more choice and so my family get the best of me.
Do you adjust your day when its schools holidays? Do your children act differently.
Love to hear your stories
February 25th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I love your comments and utterly agree.
I turn my day on its head. Coaching in the evenings and on the phone or away from home altogether, thanks to a fab sister.
I do appreicate that I start work earlier in the holidays too so that by midday when the children have had enough WII and indoor play we can get out and be together having fun before dad gets home in the evening and I can work undisturbed!
Kids just don’t get “I just need to do this and then….”
Great to see you recently.
Best Wishes
Mandie
March 4th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Great article Baiju.
I don’t have children to worry about. (Well, that’s not quite true. They are grown up and don’t live at home – but you never stop worrying about them!)
But it made me think about other times when I should maybe be a bit more flexible. You know, someone calls and ask if they can pop round and you say “yeah, that will be great” all the time thinking “don’t they understand I work from home!”
Yes, we do of course need to be disciplined and make sure other people understand our commitments but, as you suggest, we also need to be able to reap the rewards of working from home. It’s a difficult balance sometimes!