You are no good for your kids in this state. If you

is being an MT a good option only because you need to work from home? [2008-09-16]
if so, this is probably not the career for you..I believe most places offer a payment plan but maybe not as low as you are willing to pay...

Here's a good school I have found [2008-09-16]
I looked around for a school as well. When I enroll in an MT school it will be with career step. It is endorsed by the ADHI as well as several big MT companies. Those companies will even waive the 2 years experience if you attend Career Step. As soon as I save up the money I will be enrolling.

I believe it is all a state of mind [2008-08-31]
kind of thing. Some days I would love to stay in my pj I have 5 children that I homeschool every morning. I have a K, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th graders at home. They are the reason I do this job so that I can be home with them. I work 4 days per week, part-time and the kids have piano lessons, dance lessons, school work, etc.. We manage to get everything done in a day. They also know that when mom is working it is time for them to do something quietly and they cooperate very well. It can be done and it does not have to be hard.

No regrets however my kids are now older (sm) [2008-08-04]
so I I liked being available for them (still do) during school holidays, summer time, those days when they're sick, etc. and wouldn't have traded it for the world. I don What I like best about doing this from home is the flexibility I have to schedule doctor's appointments, manicures, etc. Good luck!

Good news and bad news [2008-06-22]
There are 2 on-line schools that are excellent and would prepare you for the real world: Andrews and M-Tec. The bad news is that from my reading, MDs have a goal of changing over to electronic check-off systems to control costs and take over control of quality. I read they wanted the change to happen within 2 years. I've changed careers already, and I really couldn't recommend anybody start down the path at this point. Just suspicions, of course.

My 8-month old got on a good schedule around 3 months... [2008-05-22]
Good luck with this!

?'s about balancing work and kids [2008-04-02]
I would love to hear what others do in the same situation... In the past few months I have picked up more work. I am now working a minimum of 5-6 hours a day although usually more. I figure if I have to I can most of the time get my work done in 5-6 hours. So... I have a 2 yo, 9 yo, and 10 yo. My job is flexible. I can work the hours as wish as long as I get my required work done. I have two dilemmas... Summer vacation: All kids home. Will be bringing older two to a summer camp from 9-12 daily. It involves getting them up and ready from about 8-9 and dropping them off. Will be back by about 9:15. I will still have the 2 yo. Of course, I would also love to have some free time to spend with my kids in the summer (is this asking too much?). So it would be ideal to get my hours in as early as possible and have some time in the afternoon free. I also don I am thinking maybe getting up super early, maybe getting a sitter in the morning? Anyone else in this situation? Then, return to school in the fall...The older two will be in school so that part of the dilemma is solved. My 2 yo will be attending preschool 2 mornings. I am thinking maybe getting someone to watch her in the afternoons. Maybe a nanny? Anyone have any experience with nannies? Where do I look? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. I am sure there are others who have been in these situations. I like hearing about what other MT Any hints, advice, tips, etc are great.

work and kids [2008-04-02]
Is working at night an option? I have a 12 yo, 9 yo, 6 yo, and 4 yo. In the summer I have to do most of my work at night because they are all home. You might try a splitting it up - working a few hours in the morning and then a few hours at night. It definitely can be challenging but it can be done! Good luck to you!

That is a good first step on his part though... [2008-04-01]
it shows he was paying attention and realized he needs to pay attention to your needs...keep going to church...that has always helpd me through hard times...

Some kids don't need a lot of sleep even at that age [2008-02-18]
You can't MAKE them sleep, no matter how much you wish you could sometimes.

I work at home for my kids [2008-01-18]
They are the whole reason I work from home. Also, I donchildren, not adults. When I prayed for them, decided to have them, I knew they would need constant care, love, dedication, etc. They are my responsibility and I desire to spend time with them and watch them grow. My problem is I have a client who, when they contracted with me, new my situation, new I was a mom working from home. My circumstances haven't changed. I am still the same person, doing more work than I did when I started, loyal to a fault, hard worker. The client's situation has changed. They are producing more work than 2 MT's can do in one day and they are the ones who don't want to do anything about it.

You are no good for your kids in this state. If you [2008-01-18]
x

Good Sam Hosp/ Puyallup [2008-01-16]
Have you tried Good Sam? When I worked there the benies were wonderful and so was the entire staff.

Often the 2nd, 3rd kids train earlier, easier than the 1st.sm [2008-01-06]
They see the other older kid(s) using the bathroom and they want to be like the big kids, so they take to training earlier and easier. My bro's kids, the first one was 2-1/2, the second one barely 2, and the third was only 1-1/2 and practically trained herself. There is hope!

Good luck training the 10-month old when [2007-12-24]
that time comes. My kids are 14 months apart and I just potty trained the first one when the second one started walking. The older one decided since the younger was walking and still in diapers, she could go back to diapers too. So I ended up potty training the first one all over again at the same time I was potty training the younger. Because the older reverted back to refusing to use the potty chair, I started potty training the younger one at a year old. Took about 1 month. Thank goodness too! The younger one was so much easier since she had already seen big sis using the potty chair and kinda knew what it was about.

It takes awhile to make good money in this career. [2007-12-05]
Iyears now, and I am just finally starting to pick up my speed substantially and make some more money. I am nowhere near $40,000 though, and I don It can be done, but don Does Career Step help you with job placement once you graduate? That is key to getting a good job, as many employers will not hire you without 2 years of experience unless your school hooks you up. Good luck if this is the career you choose. I'm glad I chose it, but it is a very challenging career imo.

making money with kids home [2007-11-21]
I guess I was lucky. I was the head transcriptions/supervisor at a imaging/hospital, after having two back to back prgancnies (two months after giving birth) high risk and on disability, I lost my position. I was asked to work from home. My boys are very good and well behaved. They just grew up knowing that when I was at the computer, I was working and they were to be quiet and only interrupt me when necessary. I would put them next to me on the floor in my room and they would play. The key is to work shifts two hours at a time, throughout the day, so they got used to it. I would work in the morning, stop to get them set up with breakfast (about 1/2 hour), then work til lunch, and so on and so on. I was lucky my hospital allowed me to do so. I made anywhere between 200/300 hundrend a week. It is possible, you just need to train you children to respect your work. My 5 year old started school and my 4 year old is home with me now. It gets easier. I do find it difficult to do evenings though, the boys except more from me between 4 and bedtime. You should try working the times that you know you kids need you the least, or while they are in school. 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!!

Kids [2007-10-26]
When my kids were younger I got frustrated ALOT!! What made me get through it is remembering THEY ARE ONLY YOUNG ONCE - THIS WILL PASS!!! Please oh please oh please remember this time in your children's lives can never be relived again - YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO DO IT THE WAY YOU WANT TO!! If you REALLY HAVE TO WORK then you must do what you have to do, that's understandable. If you can at all juggle the career around, get a sitter, work less hours, etc - please do it. I quit my full-time job, worked per-diem, almost went into the poor house and I have not once regreted it.

....Do your research and much good luck to you! nm [2007-10-24]
s

I don't have kids, but it [2007-10-21]
sounds like you are doing a great job, and shouldn't feel guilty at all. My mom always said she would leave my sister and I in our cribs in the morning while she stayed in bed. She could hear us in there just singing ...

Kids [2007-10-18]
It It seems like only yesterday I tried to work with my son in a baby carrier on my chest. Now he is 3! My kids are into educationalcomputer games. My 5-year-old daughter does great by herself (she started on a computer when she was about 2.) My son can run the games, but still needs help. He does fine if I am hovering over him, the minute I put my headphones on he needs help! Mama It helps when you can give them something educational to keep their attention for a while. As far as naps, my daughter does not nap. My son does in the afternoon for about 3 hours. I know that kids thrive on schedules, so if I were you I would go with a schedule that works best for you and doesn Oh, and remember, it is good to let them play by themselves a bit every day. It builds independence and confidence. My son is wonderful playing alone. My daughter was spoiled as the first born and she is very high maintenance! She requires our attention ALL THE TIME! So, if your kids are quite they are probably just enjoying some alone time! Good luck!

Working at home with kids [2007-10-12]
I have been an MT for about 20 years. I started when my youngest was about a year old. My husband used to work evenings, and basically was not much help because he worked a lot of OT. When I look back, I don nothing is perfect, but this has been very good to me. Hang in there, it will get better!

I didn't make that much when my kids were younger either. [2007-09-14]
I wound up getting up two hours earlier than they did, and hoping they didn't wake up early. I worked during naptime. I paid my oldest child (or you can find a neighbor girl) to entertain the young ones so I could work. And I worked again after they went down for the night. It was exhausting and it felt like I worked all day, every day. The kids just had to understand that this was the way things had to be for a while. We needed the money and I had to work at home because daycare was too expensive. Also, use a word Expander and try to find a company or client with good accounts. I didn't make diddly working for the nationals, always being moved to the hardest accounts, never doing the same doctors twice in a day, ESLs all day long because the cake work goes to newbies or VR. As for feeling guilty about not playing with your kids all day long, parents weren't put on this planet to entertain their children all day long. Even in pioneer days, the parents worked all day doing laundry, gardening, baking, canning, cooking, cleaning, etc. Make it quality time, not quantity time.

Working with kids [2007-09-10]
Thankfully my youngest daughter is in preschool for four hours in the morning every day and my oldest is 13 and gone all day. I still work crazy hours, though because of my second job. I work while she's gone in the a.m. and for a couple of hours in the afternoon even though she's home, but at four she's able to pretty much play in the vicinty by herself without causing too much of a commotion or she plays outside in the fenced backyard where I can see her from my work space. But I also work from 9:00 (or 10:00) p.m., until 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning. You really just have to try whatever schedule works for you. There may be a lot of trial and error. I admire those who have more than one very young child at home and can still work and be productive.

Chelle [2008-11-30]
I am a single Mom too and homeschooling my too boys. I thought I was the only one! Especially as a single mom. My boys are 15 and 10. My oldest I have homeschooled through an umbrella program (Christian Academy parachoial school locally). They provide all the curriculum, teaching plans and record keep. He can take classes on site for the ones we cannot do at home (chemistry etc). It's our first year. There were safety issues in public schools by me. He is doing very well. Mostly independent. I come up at lunch time and answer questions and help with any issues he might have and check his work every evening/corrections. My youngest has a developmental delays. We use Time 4 Learning I work IC right now so have a 24-hour window. He needs more one-on-one help. I need insurance so looking to possibly change from IC to employee stauts and not quite sure how we will handle it. Right now my IC job doesn't have much work in the early morning while they sleep and this when I need it. But often I work at night when they are bed. It's definteily not easy. But I do see it's a great value to the kids. I am happy to chat with others. I am in Michigan

Wow! All this time I thought I was the only one who worked full-time [2008-11-28]
transcription and homeschooled my kids!! I have to do a lot of juggling around with my work hours to make it work, but I For those of you who are making it work, approximately how many hours a day do you spend with school? I also wonder if your husbands are good about helping out. My husband seems to think his day is over at 5:00 sharp, when he comes through the door and puts his feet up in his Lazy Boy. My day ends at 2:00 in the morning! How do you all manage to juggle this life? If anyone out there would like to correspond, please do! This life can feel a bit lonely. I mean, it I'm becoming a bit like Howard Hughes - minus the long nails and the germ phobia...

Don't know how it's working, but it is [2008-11-28]
We just get schoolwork out of the way by 12 or 1 p.m. at the latest, and I am working from 6 a.m. to midnight oftentimes, very choppy hours. I thank God I am an IC cause this would NOT work with a set schedule. My husband is not much help, but when he can, he does. He is good about giving me a break when I need it, but mine is 14 and works pretty independently. Yes, it would be good if we would all correspond with each other! I'd enjoy that.

I've dealt with 3, but the best/worst of them... [2008-11-16]
...was my neighbor just about 2 years ago. She must have thought I enjoyed having that just rolled outta bed look every morning running my kids off to school and rushing back home for work, the lack of sleep from working 2 jobs and barely leaving the house; ya know, all the PERKS of working at home. Such a glamorous life of leisure I lead making 100K+ a year transcribing inside my mansion with maids and servants cooking and cleaning for me during the day, taking moonlit cruises on my 100 foot yacht every night. Oh yes, look out for me being featured on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and Better Homes & Gardens as I'm just rolling in dough here and have got it made with this life of leisure. NOT. After explaining what an MT is/does, she gave the standard OHHHH! response. She must have absorbed very little from our chat: Typing, paycheck, work at home. She was convinced this was an easy way to make money from home and if I could do it, then she certainly could excel at it. So, disregarding my advice, she took a $700 terminology course at the community college. She bought a Vera Pyle book, foot pedal and headset and was ready to work from home. She even had a job waiting for her after completing the terminology course. The job was being handed to her at 7.5 cpl from her friendthe largest MT company. It was also this same woman advising her she ONLY needed a terminology course. Shame on her! I tried to warn my neighbor, guide her, offer my help to get her started properly, help her through a file if needed, but she never took me up on any of it. My neighbor it really wasn't even a day, I would say it was more like 30 minutes. She heard 1 actual dictation and ran away from the computer. When I asked her how it was going with MT, she told me what happened and gave several excuses: She decided she couldn't sit here all day just typing. She couldn't understand anything the doctor was saying. She didn't have time for it any longer. Her excuses just went on and on. I really felt badly for her seeing as she chose to believe the wrong person's information regarding this field and also the fact that she gave up so easily after spending all that money. For weeks afterwards I would ask her if she was going to try it again or further her MT education to at least have a better chance of succeeding. She now had a better understanding that MT is an actual job and it involves a lot more than just owning a computer and simply typing. Her answer to this day remains no way. When I that too gets the OHHHH! response, but it also sends them a message my job is not easy without having to explain more.

I did it - it is possible! [2008-11-05]
I started working from home when my son was just almost 2-1/2. Before that, I worked at a hospital and he was shifted from babysitter to grandma to daddy four days a week. I know you said you canmommy sitter. That's where a child (they say ideal is 8-12 years old) comes to play and entertain the children while mommy has something else she needs to get done in the house (or take a bubble bath!). It wouldn't cost much to pay a child so young and the child's parent would be reassured by your presence. Plus, a child that age with no younger sibling might truly enjoy playing with a 1-year-old. That might work until your husband comes home. Keep working at it. Sometimes it just takes a while to adjust and kids go thru periods of straining at the confines of a schedule. Work at figuring out a schedule until you find one that works. You CAN do it! And it's worth it!!

How do you afford it at an MT? [2008-10-31]
I can I am lucky tomake $50 a day at 7 crappy cpl. Ineed abetter at home job so I can stay here with my kids. That is all that matters to me....AND being able to pay thebills too.

Yes...takes some strong will though!! sm [2008-10-28]
I have 5 childen at home of ages 2, 4, 13, 14, and 16. I have been doing transcription their entire lives. Your best bet, if you do not need the insurance, is to work on a part-time basis and go from there. Try the minimum number of hours and see how it works. Usually you can start adding hours. Being part time also relieves a lot of the stress and pressure we put on ourselves to achieve full-time status. It gives you the option to work 4 hours or more each day, but at least you know if you got your 4 hours in you will not lose your job! Most companies will gladly have you work extra hours if you ask. I always keep the little one contained close by. I gate off or close/lock doors to keep them contained nearby. I try to work facing whatever direction they are playing in. I try to find activities etc that keep them occupied. I cannot tell you how entertaining a roll of tape is for a child. They will go around taping up everything, including themselves, but provides a long period of entertainment and thus an uninterrupted time to work. If you want to do it, you can. Good luck! Email me at jerrilynoliver@yahoo.com if you want to talk more.

Working at home while caring for 1-year-old son. Can it really be done? [2008-10-21]
Seriously . . . Can it? I work second shift. Most the days I am starting once I lay my son down for his afternoon nap (around 12:30 p.m.) and then working until the end of my shift with a lunch in the middle. My husband doesn My son has recently decided he needs less sleep, which is understandable since he is getting older now. He has cut his naps down to about 1 hour a day. That means I have to try to work from about 1:30 p.m. until my husband gets home trying to take care of my son at the same time. He usually is pretty good about playing on his own or sitting on my lap watching me, but he is teething now and is very, very needy. He won I just switched jobs, so I can Any suggestions or help or tips would be greatly appreciated. I wish I didn I am just totally stressing about not making enough to pay the bills and trying to keep my son and husband happy all at the same time. Tips and suggestions would be very, very much appreciated. Thanks.

working and babysitting [2008-10-21]
My experience is that until they are in preschool, you will have to have some help watching them while you work or work when they are asleep. Working part-time can be more productive also. My husband prefers money to happiness, so is often miserable while I am at work and he is watching the kids. You can't have everything.

I did both too. sm [2008-09-21]
I homeschooled my oldest child for 2nd, 3rd, and 6th grade while working as a medical transcriptionist. For his 2nd and 3rd grade, I set him up a workspace right in my office, so that I could instruct, assign work, monitor, and support. We then would go once a week to the district and he would test. Needless to say, he did wonderfully. It became more difficult however for myself trying to take my youngest at the time to school and pick up, work, go to school myself, teach, and take care of home and family. I was going through some personal issues with my hubby at the time and the stress was just too much for me. I did it again when he was in 6th grade. If you have the will and the self discipline, it is great! Good luck!

Around 4 months [2008-09-16]
Both of my kids slept through the night at 4 months. They would sleep around 6 hours at 3 months. Since I bottle feed my kids your might take longer since mommy milk digests more quickly. Wow, congrats on getting back to work so soon. I will be taking a full 8 weeks should I decide to have another.

Financial Assistance??? [2008-09-15]
I am currently a full-time-college-student-but-otherwise-SAHM. Pretty soon we'll be needing more money, but I have neither time nor resources (day care around here is INSANELY expensive) to work outside the home. I've been doing the reasearch and have come to the conclusion that MT is a good job option for me. The problem is the training is sooo expensive! I mean,if we didn't need the money I wouldn't be looking for the training to begin with--so obviously I don't have $1600-4000 up front for the training. And most of the payment plans I see aren't looking much better--like $1000 up front, $350 every month after that. Right now that's just not feasable. Are there any MT schools that offer reasonable financial assistance? Or, I'd even be cool with a payment deferment plan or something! Anybody know of a school that's willing to help the financially strapped?

getting out [2008-09-11]
you certainly have gotten yourself into that gerbil cage and going no where. You did not say how long you have been on anti-depressants, but if longer than 6 weeks you need to try a different kind. Getting stated with making changes is the hardest thing to do but obviously you want a change otherwise you wouldn I think baby steps is the best approach and only you know where those baby steps can be. Someone said go get a haircut, but if you are not feeling good about yourself and can Baby steps would be like going for a walk outside. The trick about baby steps is not going backwards. One path has to lead to another. It does not make any difference how long you on that one path. You Maybe you can join weight watchers and that will be your outing or join WW on line and do something else that will take you down that path. I get caught up too in the in-the-house thing and it is not good. Is there any way you can change shifts? then you can join an adult ed class at night. Good luck. Diane

one-month-old-- have one too. [2008-09-08]
My daughter was born 08/08/08, and I also have a 15-year-old and a 3-year-old. I commend you for going back in one week!! I should be back already, but just can My normal shift is 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., and I have been laying back down with her after she gets up her once a night, until most days 8 a.m. at least. When we started giving my son cereal at night at 4 weeks, he slept longer. Put it in his bottle to start with a larger nipple, and then spoon fed also.Maybe try spoon feeding abit of cereal mixed with milk beforelaying her down for the night? Docs do not recommend it, but it sure helps them sleep longer/keeps their tummy fuller longer. It has worked for my first 2 sons!! I have never breast fed, so don Every baby is different, and you will probably have to adapt to her schedule, rather than she to yours. That is what is good about flexible schedules-- I go back to work this Wed. and have a VERY flexible schedule/boss. Good luck with this, I have it pretty easy, my daughter gets up only once a night, but it may be 2 a.m., it may be 4:30 a.m., than she goes back down and it is WAY too temptnig to lay back down with her, instead of getting into the groove of getting up by 5 a.m.!!! SHe also sleeps the largest part of the day, just waiting for that to change... Again, good luck!

I believe it is all a state of mind [2008-08-31]
kind of thing. Some days I would love to stay in my pj I have 5 children that I homeschool every morning. I have a K, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th graders at home. They are the reason I do this job so that I can be home with them. I work 4 days per week, part-time and the kids have piano lessons, dance lessons, school work, etc.. We manage to get everything done in a day. They also know that when mom is working it is time for them to do something quietly and they cooperate very well. It can be done and it does not have to be hard.

Chalkboard paint.... [2008-08-18]
I have used the chalkboard paint in my daughters room on her wall. What I did was put it on the portion of the wall behind her bedroom door where you cant really see it unless you go in and look so it would not be this big black spot on her bedroom wall. I thought it went better to spray the paint on a styrofoam plate (they only had spray cans) and then paint it on with one of those sponge brushes, was less of a mess. You have to put a couple of layers on and if they are rough with it you may have to touch it up later or fill in some chipped places (if they hit at it with the chalk). Overall though, I thought it was well worth it. She loves to play school with it and it has lasted a good while. HTH

Really possible? [2008-08-18]
I am not an MT (yet) but before I make the final step enrolling in M-Tec I wanted to ask a serious, point blank question. Can a new person, after completing M-Tecs course, make 20k a year at any point after getting a job (while working no more than 40 a week as well). Is this an at all reasonable expectation? I am looking long term career choice if I commit to the training but I have heard from working MT's in my state that they were working 80+ hours for about $500.00. If this is the reality then I will have to consider another option and that would be OK, just not optimal. I THANK you for any help you can give.

No regrets however my kids are now older (sm) [2008-08-04]
so I I liked being available for them (still do) during school holidays, summer time, those days when they're sick, etc. and wouldn't have traded it for the world. I don What I like best about doing this from home is the flexibility I have to schedule doctor's appointments, manicures, etc. Good luck!

Tax Free Shopping Weekend [2008-07-29]
Hey, I) But I know that all WAHM need to do what they can to save some money. This link shows when each state that is participating is having its sales tax free shopping weekend for back to school (and other items). http://singleparents.about.com/od/taxfreeholidays/2007_Sales_Tax_Free_Holidays.htm Enjoy (Yes the link says 2007, but it is 2008). Chris

That is a total bummer! [2008-07-28]
Good luck with your search!

Been there...done that [2008-07-24]
Please don't beat yourself up. I've been exactly where you are and it's not a hard place to end up. I could have written your post. I lived in my PJs and sometimes wore them for days, no make-up, and the same issues with even basic daily hygiene, i.e. showers. The best advice I can give you is what worked for me and that is to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! I had to put MTing on the back burner and actually took a job close to home as a waitress! Believe it or not, it did wonders for my self-esteem. Most people would consider serving the public a degrading position or demotion from what I had done before. I needed the structure, a time-clock, and just basic interaction with other human beings. After close to a year, I am back at home working once again as an MT. Public service can be difficult, but it was just the boost I needed to get my mojo back and appreciate the fact that I'm in a field that allows me to work at home. Believe it or not, I miss the people so much, I'm considering going back to waitressing a few nights a week. I actually even made more waitressing than being an MT! Give it a shot. Waitressing may not be your first choice, but I would definitely advise finding any type of job that will get you out of the house. It will give you a reason to fix yourself up and dig the make-up bag back out. Please feel free to email me if you'd like to talk. Good luck to you!

working at home [2008-07-23]
I work at home also, but one of the private accounts I work on requires me to go to the office twice a week to pick up tapes. Maybe that is a good thing. During the summer my husband and daughter go with me and then we grab lunch out together and do whatever errands we have to do. It really is a change and I love it.

Alright kiddo.....pull yourself up and outta [2008-07-22]
I know the feeling all to well BUT I just have to get up, get dressed (out of PJs) and let your mind know you are going to work. Considering your shift, sitting in PJs is fine but when you get up the next day, you really need to get a shower and GET DRESSED! It will do wonders to help how you feel AND go outside EVERYDAY. Your body really needs sunlight. This very well is leading to your depression, not to mention just lack of walking outside those four walls. Make an appointment NOW girl and go get that hair cut. That will make you instantly feel better, remind you of who you are and that the world does not completely revolve around your job. Your children really need to see this for themselves. It will and is affecting them to see you like this and not for the better either. Sending your teen to the grocery store is a great learning experience for him, teaches him responsibility BUT they would probably like to spend a little time with their mom, cleaned up and dressed. Go get a burger and fries with them or just walk the mall a little. Just changing your routine a little will make you feel better and make your children feel better as well. Your stress level will probably go away if you remove yourself from your home more not to mention the great benefit this will have on your children. Think of them......they tend to fall into a pattern of what they see a parent doing and they could privately be worrying about you as well, which is not good for their stress level either.

I totally agree... [2008-07-22]
This is what I would do: In the morning either before or after your sleep time, go ahead and get a shower and get dressed even if that is in sweats or comfortable clothes. Wear these same clothes to cook dinner and into your shift. I think the problem is that you're working 3rd shift and I think that is the cause of the PJ situation. I read a book that my 8-year-old wrote around Motherpajamas. I had not really looked at it that way, but I guess she does see me in lounge clothes moreso than everyday clothes. I also work full-time at home, but not third shift. You may also want to consider getting involved in something even if it is a painting class or something you like to do. I know this costs money, but your sanity will be saved in the long run. I am fortunate enough to have gotten involved with some of the parents from my kids Even though it is not over and beyond socializing, it is something, i.e., coffee for an hour on a weekday. It is very, very easy to get homebound in this profession. I cringe at the thought of going out on a Friday night with all of the traffic. I am only 37, this is not right. So, I am also letting you know that you are not alone. Hang in there, and like the other poster says get a haircut. Plan a dinner out if possible with your teens and make it a point to step outside a few times during the evening just to gulp some fresh air. I water the flowers. Is there something that needs done outside that you could do this? Hugs to you...

LET MYSELF GO [2008-07-22]
First, I I have 2 teenage kids. I And then, I sleep most of the day, in my PJs of course. By the time I get up, it's time to make dinner and I might go outside with my teenage kids, but most of the time, I clean the house - and, why should I get dressed for that? Well, most of you can guess what has happened....I All I do is wear PJs. I I haven I My hair has grown out and there is no shape to it. Sometimes, I can My checks are direct deposit, so no need to go to the bank. Really, the only thing I do is go to the grocery store - and sometimes I don I am on anti-depressants - and I do believe there is an element of depression/stress going on here. How do I start getting myself back from this?