In the same boat

In the same boat [2008-02-01]
My 18mo daughter has a problem with waking up at 3 in the morning to play, too. Not sure what is going on. Most days she is a super sleeper, even still taking three or four hour naps in the day, while still sleeping all through the night. But about once a week, she wakes up in the middle of the night, playing with her dollie in her crib. We just let her go and she usually falls back to sleep.

In the same boat working from home. [2007-10-14]
I feel guilty if I work and guilty if I attend the baseball game. My kids are 13 and 8, and they are involved in things, but I wouldn You only get one chance at it, and then they grow older. I My kids have adjusted. It is so funny because if I Or theyno work MOM? Ia break too ya know.... It takes a lot of strength to be a work at home Mom, and hang in there OP, it

Everyone starts out in that boat. [2006-08-25]
Test with and send your resume to every company you can. Eventually, someone will give you a chance. It's likely you'll have to take crap pay like the rest of us newbies. After getting some experience under your belt, you can start the search over to try for a little better pay.

In the same boat. [2006-07-14]
I have a 4-year-old daughter who would not allow me to type a single report without getting out of my seat during one report at least 4-5 times! What i did was switch my hours (Ughhh!) from 8-5 to 4-8 AM and then have a 6-hour break until i got back on and worked from 2-6. I have to make sure I am either in bed by 9 PM or have a lot of coffe on hand. These hours are tough on me sleep-wise, but it really is helping my line count tremendously. I get 3-4 hour s of uninterrupted work time and then get to spend 6 hours with her. So, I am splitting myself between work and her without anybody suffering. I just need to keep her occupied in the afternoon. For this, i put her playdough on the kitchen table with coloring books, crayons, etc. or she may watch a movie and have a snack. I am not sure if you can or want to follow suit, but I thought I would let you know how i resolved my issue. Good luck.

I don't make much with my kids around... [2007-11-08]
Lately I I get paid 8 cents per line for clinic work (as an IC). For awhile I was making about $300 per week, but I was staying up until 4 a.m. and later a lot to do it! I only have 2 kids, one in school until 3 p.m. and one at home all day, but I just find it really hard to be productive with them around!!! I I do save money not having to pay daycare, buy work clothes, and use a ton of gas, but I really need to make some more money! I feel for you, and I know many women are able to make a good living in this profession. I I Good luck, and feel free to email me if you ever want to - even though I obviously don't have any great advice as I'm In the same boat as you!!

Yes, I do that now and then. [2007-10-24]
Makes me feel like such a dope. My sister got preggers at 38 and I think again at 40, but lost that one. She has a friend who was accidentally pregnant at the same time, I think at age 42 (though she looks very young). She was sensitive about it, per my sister, and had been so happy that my sister was In the same boat (my sister had been excited about it, but miscarried). Women tend to like to have things in common with other women, so it is hard to be alone in something like that. In the future I'm sure you will be much more sensitive and supportive, and maybe that will make all the difference for the next one you meet. Trouble is there are so many ways our mouths get us in trouble. I remember asking a family member (a nurse) one time why people became alcoholics - didn't they understand it was no solution and would harm their bodies?? You guessed it - the person had been drinking since she was 12. Found out a decade later.

working from home is hard but I wouldn't change it for the world... [2007-10-12]
my daugther is 14 months old and in a few months I am going to put her in daycare 2-3 days a week, just to interact with other kids, but it sure will give me a break from time to time...I work now when the baby naps or before the kids get up in the morning but some days no one is quiet and I have no idea how I do it either...but you take the good with the bad right??? and I love being here for my children...it is nice knowing that there are other moms out there In the same boat!!!

That's far off for me [2007-08-31]
There's 9-1/2 years between my two daughters. I didn't have my our year old until I was 21. My neighbor and I are In the same boat. We joke that we'll be waiting at the school bus stop until we're almost 60. LOL! But I can't complain, she keeps me young.

schedule with 2-1/2 yo twins [2007-02-19]
I was reading some of these postings trying to get schedule ideas. My day changes daily. That is the only thing I can say. I am grateful that they do entertain each other, but that only goes so far. As my GYN said to me, the only thing predictable about children is that they are unpredictable. It is just refreshing to know that I My hubby does all he can to help me before he goes to work every day and does breakfast and the morning routine, so that does help.

To Dawn - help with toddlers [2006-07-17]
I homeschool my children and do MT work and believe me it can get quite hectic!! Here is an idea that definitely works! Get an activity box (or tote), one for each day. In that particular box put things in that he can only play with while you are doing your transcription work. BE VERY FIRM WITH THIS -- ONLY WHILE DOING YOUR TRANSCRIPTION WORK! For instance, in Monday's box - you could have an assortment of construction trucks, one coloring book with crayons, several picture books, with other assorted toys. I only gave a few little ideas here because you'll need more in the box than this of course, but you'll see the pattern as I continue to explain. In Tuesday's box - micro machines (make sure there are no construction vehicles because you used them Monday), markers with a different coloring book or activity book, different picture books from Monday. In Wednesday's box - airplanes (no cars), army men, no coloring book today find something different - some of the slimy squishing things they have in the stores to mold and make things with! Lincoln logs one day, legos the next, tinker toys another day. Do you get the idea?? Use your imagination but keep that box changed every day and don't tell him what you are going to put in it. Toys can be very expensive but you can find all kinds of stuff at yard sales or even the Goodwill (just clean with Mr. Bubble or Lysol to get rid of dirt/disease). If you have the space, I know there used to be a little airport set up (my son had one years ago) and the day he gets airplanes, he gets to use the airport. The same for cars - the little garage setups that they have now to go with hot wheels. One day you could do farm items, animals, tractors, barn etc. Tell him how to use the small Lincoln logs for bales of hay to feed his animals and show him how to make a fence with his Lincoln logs. This consumes a lot of time just setting up his farm. Find something that you feel safe in letting him have that he can haul with his construction trucks,i.e. buttons, decorative stones like you put in a vase to hold flowers, use your imagination. My son played by the hour with little moveable men in my shoe (his boat) until I actully bought the big Fisher-Price pirate boat. I have even taken the cookie trays that some cookies come in and they make great boats! The little decorative stones could be used for him to make designs with different colors one day. He can make a item and then you can guess what it is. Remember, as soon as you are done with your transcription work --the activity box is put away and does not come out again until you go back to work. Always make this box as interesting and exciting as you possibly can. Reward play time. You play quietly while mommy works until the timer rings (timers are great!) and then we will have cookies and milk. You play while mommy works and when the timer goes off, we'll go outside and play for a short time (15 minutes, but play hard and wear him out, play tag, running and catching a ball, anything with lots of activity so that he gets the energy out of himself and he is ready to come back in for another quiet time! If your not big on giving lots of sweets or candy, eat lunch but don't have dessert, save the dessert for a reward time. We can have ice cream after another quiet time. Boy, this turned out long but I hope that it will help all of the brave mothers with little ones! I know that it can get hectic but hang in there, you all can do it. Mine are 16 and 13 and I have homeschooled them since Kindergarten. Would never want to send them away from me for a day of school!