| Life's hard when you're a work-at-home mom - we | | | | make it much happier, and it will help your children's |
| know. You have to run the household, manage work, | | | | overall well-being too. Go for walks when you're free, |
| oversee your kids' homework, run all the chores, | | | | cook dinner together, and spend time together when |
| manage the household help if there's any, and | | | | the kids have gone to bed. |
| generally look after the little nitty-gritty things that make | | | | Ensure that family travel is done - it's a must - the |
| up our daily lives. We understand that it might get too | | | | family that travels together, stays together. You see, |
| much, and that sooner or later, you'll find yourself | | | | it's not necessary to travel to Paris or Switzerland, or |
| screaming silently and pounding walls, when your | | | | other such exotic locales- sometimes you could just |
| family's not happy with your efforts. However, there | | | | take a weekend off, head to some place on the |
| are ways to reach compromise, and to ensure that | | | | outskirts, a simple location can work wonders too. |
| everyone's satisfied. | | | | What counts is that your family is together, and doing |
| Make good use of your parenting resources. If there's | | | | things together. Keep your work at arm's length during |
| a friend in the neighbourhood with a child of the similar | | | | that holiday, ensure that work-related calls and emails |
| age, try for baby-sitting, for a few hours. You can take | | | | do not interrupt you. We'd recommend that you finish |
| her kid one day of the week, both kids can play with | | | | all pending work before heading out, upon the |
| each other, and she does the same, for another day | | | | vacation- that way, you won't be worrying about that |
| of the week. This leaves you free for some time, to | | | | document you didn't finish, or the deadline you didn't |
| deal with pending chores and other kinds of work. You | | | | meet. |
| must give your children quality time. It's all very well that | | | | Shop together - take your children along - they can |
| your work-at-home job supplements the family income, | | | | help in the selection of girls' clothing and boys' clothing. If |
| but you shouldn't let it interfere with your children's | | | | you have an older child, and have a baby as well, your |
| needs. Spend time with your kids - read to them, play | | | | older kid can help you with buying the baby products. |
| games with them, and talk to them about their day. It's | | | | Appreciate his/her suggestions, this is also a good way |
| not important what you do, or how much time you | | | | you can teach him about basic parenting. When |
| spend - what counts is being with them, when they | | | | money permits, buy something nice for the family. That |
| need you, and even when they don't need you. You | | | | PlayStation might be just a tad expensive, but haven't |
| need to demonstrate your love and affection. | | | | your children been really supportive all throughout, |
| Set aside time for your husband- give him priority. Do | | | | helping with chores and doing their own homework? |
| couple- things - a happy marriage can light up a home, | | | | Give occasional rewards, to keep everyone happy. |