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You are here: Home / MOTHERHOOD / Working from home with a baby

Working from home with a baby

November 23, 2015 by Molly 9 Comments

A couple of weeks ago I started a little impromptu video series on my Facebook page. I wanted to capture how hard it is to do some of the most mundane, regular things you take for granted pre-babies. Things like drinking a cup of tea when it’s still hot, hanging the washing up, and unstacking the dishwasher. When you take into account how hard it can be to do these little things, you can imagine some of the challenges that come from doing actual, proper paid work from home, with a baby.

I’ve been registered as self-employed for five years now. During that time my work life has been pretty varied. When I was starting out I combined setting myself up as a writer (including starting this blog) along with freelance radio work. Later I juggled working as a full time freelance radio presenter alongside writing features, copywriting and blogging. And now, five years on, all my work is done from my office at home.

How I earn a living

These days I earn my living in various ways, and this living can fluctuate from month to month. That’s the thing about being self-employed in my line of work – things can change in an instant. My income now comes from this blog, alongside writing for magazines, copywriting for brands and agencies and blogging for other people (I write a weekly blog post for the BabyCentre blog, for example). I hesitate to call myself a “pro blogger”, because a large proportion of my income is from my journalism work, writing interiors features (mainly) for magazines. However, this blog definitely does play a huge role in my being able to work from home, as not only does it bring in an income, but it also acts as an online portfolio leading to commissions for work elsewhere.

Anyway, I digress. The thing I’m trying to make clear here is that working from home with a baby – no matter what line of work you’re in – is chaotic, often unpredictable and involves a huge amount of juggling.

The juggle

Five years ago, when I was first starting out as a freelancer, I had this vision of what it would be like to be a “work at home mum”. I pictured a compliant baby, conveniently snoozing any time I needed to meet a deadline. In my head, I saw a nice healthy bank balance as I didn’t have to shell out for childcare. I imagined all the baking and crafting and toddler groups I’d be able to get involved in, as I found the best of both worlds – working mum and stay at home mum.

Of course the reality is never that simple, is it? While I wouldn’t change my current work set-up for anything, I’m also one for honesty. Despite what some people (I’m looking at you, Instagram) would have you believe, working from home is not all about sitting around in your pyjamas amongst scented candles, eating avocado on toast for lunch while a peaceful baby sleeps next to you.

Working from home with a baby is sometimes impossible. And requires not only a huge amount of self-disclipine (like when you’ve been up all night with a poorly baby but still have to stay up until 1am to get a feature finished), a supportive network of people, and a healthy dose of reality check.

The myth vs the reality

There have been lots of inspirational posts doing the rounds on the internet recently, mainly written by other bloggers who are now earning a healthy living from their blogs. I think it’s great to show what can be done, and to encourage others to take a leap of faith into what can be scary waters, as they try to carve out a freelance career for themselves. But on the flip side, I want to tell you that it isn’t easy. As with any job, there are wonderful highs and very tricky lows.

Aside from those bad days when you really need to vent to someone else in the office but you’re the only adult in the house, the main challenge of working from home with a baby is the sheer unpredictability of work patterns. Babies don’t care if you have a deadline, or need to answer emails, or take a quick work phone call. It can be intensely stressful when you know you have a pressing work thing to do, but your baby won’t sleep, for example. And all the time you’re aware that these days are short and you should be enjoying your little one before they get big. Sometimes that juggle can leave you feeling like you’re not doing anything particularly well – either in your mum life OR your work life.

Making it work

Looking around at my freelance friends, the ones who’ve made it work have a hugely supportive network of people around them. It may be that they have husbands who also work from home and can be flexible to help with school runs etc, it may be that they have parents who offer regular childcare, or it may be that they have arrangements in place with friends to do shared childcare, school runs, dog walks etc. Whatever it is, the theme is a common one: we’re not alone.

I’m the first to admit that, while I’ve worked really hard to be in the position I’m now in, I wouldn’t be able to do it without the help of those around me. My mum comes across every fortnight and helps with the kids, my (teacher) husband is home from work by 5pm most days, has every weekend off and regular long school holidays, and my local friends are supportive and kind, totally “getting” the often manic juggle of working from home with a baby.

If you’re currently thinking of giving up the day job to take on a new role that will see you working from home, know that it isn’t easy, but it can be intensely rewarding. This post isn’t about complaining or not being thankful for my lot, but it is about sharing some thoughts on the reality behind being a work from home mum.

 

As always, I love to hear about other people’s experiences. Do you work from home? Maybe you’re thinking about giving up your day job for an alternative path? Share your thoughts, experiences and tips here.

 

Filed Under: MOTHERHOOD Tagged With: childcare, pro blogger, work from home mum, working from home, working mum, working with a baby

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Comments

  1. Charlene says

    November 25, 2015 at 11:00 am

    I did a bit of work from home when my little man was small and I thought it was tough until I tried working from home with a toddler that no longer naps! A friend of mine had the great idea to start a sort of home work club with a couple of other mums. One day a week they could take it in turns to watch the kids/get their heads down for an hour and of course have a good catch up.

    Reply
    • Molly says

      November 25, 2015 at 7:36 pm

      That sounds like a great idea. Wish I had that option where I live!

      Reply
  2. Kate says

    November 23, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    Molly, I work from home but I could NOT have done it with a baby. Hats off to you! It’s easier with kids at school but then that leads to mummy guilt during school holidays and I am constantly fighting that I am NOT available at 3.30 for meetings. No matter how many times I have explained it, people just don’t seem to get it (and I am not even close to full time). I do have to switch my email off although I do also work some weekends out of the house.

    I’m lucky in that I have 3 colleagues who work for the same charity within an hour of each other, 2 of whom are only 20 mins away and I knew both of those before I worked for them. We’re actually meeting up for coffee on Wednesday. We work in different roles in different departments and that is quite good – we are all independent of each other.

    Reply
    • Molly says

      November 23, 2015 at 8:56 pm

      I think if you work for one organisation it might be easier at that at least minimises the juggle of working for lots of different people. For me, I really enjoy the variety but have to constantly tell myself that I shouldn’t compare myself to those not juggling work with a baby in the house!

      Reply
  3. Ruth Walters says

    November 23, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    This has been the biggest shock to me as a new Mum. So I heard the stuff about never drinking a hot drink hot again but literally, not being able to do ANYTHING?! That’s blown my mind. Even a phone call to British Gas felt like dicing with death. Now we’re putting Ffion down to bed around 7.30pm I find my “jobs” start around then. I don’t feel in a position to accept any work at the moment through fear of not being able to do a proper job. We don’t have family support on the doorstep so then we need to weigh up cost of childcare with the possible income. This post does a brilliant job of highlighting just what a juggling act it really is. Well done for all you continue to work so hard to achieve Molly and drawing attention to the fact it’s far from the easy, blogging life so many may think it is. Rxxx

    Reply
    • Molly says

      November 23, 2015 at 8:58 pm

      You’re doing a fantastic job – and Ffion is still so little! I think the part I found the hardest was when E got bigger but still needed me just as much as ever and it made working super hard. There is a way and if I can do it then it can be done, but it’s far from easy! xx

      Reply
  4. Notmyyearoff says

    November 23, 2015 at 3:22 pm

    I used to work from home a lot in my job and i found I never ever switch off. I end up doing crazy hours and starting really really early. Throw in children, home and school runs and it’s absolutely mental. I am on Mat leave right now and already trying to think about how I’ll manage it all when I go back. Argh!

    Reply
    • Molly says

      November 23, 2015 at 8:59 pm

      It is scary – I’m sure you’ll find a solution though. I think as parents we’re good at finding the best way that works for us. It’s not always easy though!

      Reply
  5. Claire says

    November 23, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    Great post Molly. It’s good to see the different ways you make money and the realistic side of working from home with a baby. Loved the videos too! x

    Reply

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Hello and welcome! I'm Molly Forbes - podcaster, presenter and blogger with a passion for positivity, confidence and body image chat. Regularly writing and vlogging about empowering female issues from a motherhood angle, I also cover lifestyle and fashion topics for like-minded mums who want to rediscover themselves after having children. Thanks for stopping by! Read More…

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Tonight should be our first night on holiday in Sp Tonight should be our first night on holiday in Spain. Made up for it with a meal outside at the village pub and a “late” bedtime (any evening out past 8pm is late for us!). Devon is heaven ❤️ #mumlife
ALL children have the right to feel good about the ALL children have the right to feel good about themselves and their body - not just the ones who “look healthy”. Children are being taught at a younger and younger age that their body is a problem that needs to be fixed. 
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The current climate of intense body shaming disguised as health concern is creating policies which actively damage the relationship children have with their bodies. There is a huge amount of evidence showing that the better kids feel about their body, the more likely they are to make choices that make their body feel good - like taking part in movement or eating in a happy, intuitive way. 
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Making health all about weight not only damages kids’ body image, making them either feel like their body is “wrong” or fear it becoming “wrong”, it also gives a free pass to the diet industry to aggressively market their products at children, under the guise of health. Ironically, encouraging kids to engage in dieting and habits which are actively bad for their health. This culture affects ALL children.
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And of course this version of health, and this focus on making kids’ bodies the problem, lets the politicians off the hook. Easier to put the nation on a diet instead of investing in policies which will reduce inequality and give everyone access to the things needed to live a full and healthy life.
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There is a silver lining though, because we can choose to be part of the solution. We can say no to diet culture at home and challenge it when it pops up in the spaces kids should be safest.
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If you’re a teacher our Body Happy Kids workshop is an intro to this subject with tools for creating body happy spaces for the children in your care. Find out more and sign up via my bio. ❤️ #BodyHappyKids
To lift the mood after the last week, here’s a t To lift the mood after the last week, here’s a throwback to this time last year when I roped my husband into filming me for an alternative Love Island title sequence. Out of shot: a packed beach full of people confused why a woman is doing multiple bikini changes under a towel and instructing her husband on different camera angles while her bemused children look on 😂. The video was an alternative title sequence for if Love Island was filmed in Devon and featured a mum the “wrong” side of 35 and the “wrong” side of a size 10. 🔥 HAPPY BLOODY FRIDAY you lovely lot 🥂🥂🥂 #BodyHappyMum #MumsGoneWild
[Stat from @themilitantbaker’s brilliant TED Tal [Stat from @themilitantbaker’s brilliant TED Talk] 
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Poor body image and weight stigma are serious public health issues. These are complex, far reaching issues that impact us on an individual and societal level in many ways. This thread isn’t to say that each of these things alone accounts for the fact kids as young as three are feeling bad about their body, but combined, they create an environment that makes it really tough for children (and adults) to like their body just as it is, regardless of what it looks like.
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If you care about health you need to be aware that weight stigma kills and poor body image has serious health implications. Want kids to eat more nutrient dense food and move their body? Stop shaming them and teaching them their body is wrong, because research shows body hate is NOT a long term motivator for treating a body with care or respect. 
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And then realise that even when kids ARE eating more nutrient dense food and moving more this will not guarantee their body will shrink. And this doesn’t mean they are unhealthy, despite what the headlines might tell you.
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Kids’ bodies don’t need “fixing”. Society needs fixing. Give every child access to good food and safe spaces to move and play. Eradicate inequality and discrimination, challenge stigmatising language. Raise awareness in the mainstream media of what many health professionals already know: health is complex, multi-faceted and is hugely impacted by socio-economic conditions. Saying it’s all down to “personal responsibility” lets the politicians off the hook. 
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Maybe then, as a nation, we can have a fair crack at good health. Until then I’d argue it’s not about health at all, it’s about money. 
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#bodyimage #BodyHappyKids
In an alternate universe I’d be packing for a ho In an alternate universe I’d be packing for a holiday to Cantabria in Spain right now. Yet here we are. This summer is brought to us by Argos (paddling pool) and Monki (cozzie). FYI I’m still bikini all the way, but prefer a cozzie for when I get serious doing lengths at the pool 🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️ #bodyhappymum
Did you know that many of the health outcomes blam Did you know that many of the health outcomes blamed on being in a bigger body can be attributed to weight stigma and weight cycling rather than the weight itself? But despite a huge amount of evidence showing this to be the case it’s rarely reported in the mainstream media and doesn’t form the basis of health policy. 
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You know what’s also bad for health? Inequality. Again, not something informing policies that conveniently apportion blame and simplify weight as all being down to personal responsibility and “lifestyle choices”. 
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If this government really cared about the health of the nation they’d look at the impact of weight stigma and inequality and create health drives based on these things, instead of saying that putting calorie counts on food labels or telling people to go for a bike ride would make everything better. 
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I am all for people living in a healthy way, if they wish to and if they can. Eat nutrient dense food, sure! Move your body, sure! Just don’t assume this will automatically lead to weight loss, or that anyone in a bigger body isn’t already doing these things. 
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The latest focus on the weight of the nation makes me scared for how this will impact children. Will kids get put on diets and begin a lifetime of harmful weight cycling? Will it give yet another green light for bigots to go on national TV and say hugely discriminatory, offensive and uneducated things about people in bigger bodies, thereby perpetuating the weight stigma that we know is so bad for health? Probably. But who cares as long as £££ is being made and the weight loss industry is booming. 
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It’ll keep us all distracted from issues like the inexcusable number of children living in poverty and the many families in the UK struggling to access nutrient dense food.
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Look beyond the headlines and the health rhetoric, know that the shape of your body does not signify your worth as a person. And challenge any person or article telling you different.
#bodyimage
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