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When my first daughter was born, I brought her to work with me for three weeks. I worked for a small, relaxed company, my coworkers were eager to chip in and help, and my employer was grateful she didn't have to lose her Office Manager. The situation was a dream come true. I could maintain my income, avoid the expense of daycare, and spend every minute with my new baby!

Unfortunately, some things seem too good to actually work, and bringing your children to the office is one of those things.

Not only did my newborn demand all of my attention (as newborns are wont to do), the novelty of having a cute baby at work quickly wore off as my boss and coworkers gradually became irritated with my constant unavailability. The simplest tasks, like answering the phone or typing an e-mail, were impossible to do while holding a crying baby. Assignments that required a large chunk of uninterrupted time were out of the question for me, so a lot of my work had to be delegated elsewhere. I spent staff meetings feeding, bouncing, and circling the meeting table with my crying infant.

An older child would probably be more manageable than a baby; however, you might be faced with a slew of other problems such as boredom and mischief (likely resulting from the boredom).

When you bring your child to work, you are doubling your responsibilities and, in effect, doubling your stress. I would go home so exhausted that the thought of doing any housework nauseated me. I had no energy at home because it was all spent trying to be a mother and employee simultaneously.

If both parents have to work and day care is a financial impossibility, consider hiring someone (a young family member or college student perhaps) to come with you to work. This would be a less expensive option than daycare. If you can't find anyone who is available all day, perhaps even a few hours of help would afford you enough relief to get some work done.

Another option - discuss with your employer your concerns. Maybe she would be willing to adjust your work schedule. Finding a friend or family member to care for your child may be easier if you work in the evenings. Even better? Your employer may be willing to pay for an "at work nanny," or increase your salary so you can afford daycare.

Stay-at-home moms have it hard enough, trying to care for children and a household at the same time. Working moms work all day and then care for children all night. Moms who try to combine the two are asking for an early heart-attack. I strongly recommend exploring other options before multiplying upon all your responsibilities and towing your children to work.

Learn more about this author, Jennie Kelley.
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