by Starla Ross

Created on: July 22, 2008   Last Updated: January 24, 2009

The benefits of working from home can best be described by a day in the life of an at-home working parent.

Set the alarm before sunrise. Start coffee. Stay in pajamas. Brush teeth. Head down the hall to the home office, tip-toeing, carefully avoiding any squeaky spots in the floor so that all in the house remain sleeping. Drink first cup of coffee.

Land with a sigh in the office chair. Drink second cup of coffee. Start and actually complete two hours worth of work without interruption.

Head back to the kitchen. Drink third cup of coffee. Start dinner in crock pot. No chicken for recipe. Oh well. Throw in beef and hope no one will notice.

Wake up the rest of the house. Get breakfast. Do dishes. Pack lunches. Start first load of laundry for the day. Drink fourth cup of coffee. Get husband off to work and older children off to school.

Manage to find clothes to wear. Opt for the oversize t-shirt and blue jeans. Leave on fuzzy slippers. Look for lipstick. Can't find it. Choose deodorant instead.

Settle down at desk again, two toddlers underfoot, occupying themselves with paper from paper shredder. Who CAN build the tallest tower from the paper shreds before it falls down? Work for two hours. Actually accomplish only 30 minutes worth of work.

Break for lunch time. Feed hungry toddlers. Mop up Spaghettios thrown in lovely mural on the wall. Appreciate creativity. Eat lunch at the counter, wiping cookie crumbs from shirt. Are coffee and chocolate chip cookies included in any of the major food groups? Make mental note to start diet tomorrow.

Take walk with kids. Can't find tennis shoes. Oh well. Fuzzy slippers are more comfortable anyway. Stop at park on way home.

Finally. Nap time.

Speed down hall to home office again, avoiding squeaky spots in the floor. Work for two hours. Start and complete two hours worth of work without interruption.

Try to avoid sound of chattering toddlers in bedroom. Work for another 15 minutes.

Finish dinner. Spill spaghetti sauce on fuzzy slippers. Darn. Will have to remember to wash those tomorrow. Oh yeah, laundry. Throw clothes in dryer and turn on high.

Spend time with kids. Read book and tuck in bed.

Quietly sneak down hallway to home office, trying to avoid squeaky spots in the floor. Finish up two more hours of work. Drink last cup of coffee from the pot, in attempt to stay awake.

Notice spaghetti stain on fuzzy slippers. Oh yeah, laundry. Forgot load in dryer. Make mental note to finish in the morning.

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