Does Working At Home Work?

Seems like moms are discussing the challenges of working at home lately:

• I shared my own little secret - instead of a sleek office I work at my dining room table with a laptop or on my living room sofa with a laptop desk (that I am using now).... Some are going to their local cafe (or even better Crayons & Cubes). My BlackBerry is my mobile email and my briefcase holds my files. So while I am functioning, a real office would allow me to be more productive.
• Self-Made Mom blogs at a coffee shop with a view
• Stephanie tries to multi-task
• Beth F. struggles with procrastination
• Kim get's creative when looking for a space to have a conference call
• Amy is hooked on her BlackBerry and on Google Reader
• CityMama just blogs from her BlackBerry
• Victoria is having trouble with her wireless
• Ursula from the New York City Moms Blog feels like working at home is not all it is cracked up to be..
• Socal Mom works it - using her tech savvy to build programs for the PTA...
• Foodmomiac has a flexible job to work at home when needed..
• Mir just wonders how normal people do it...

Please share your work at home challenges....

Comments

[Caitlin]

The biggest problem I have is that certain acquaintances don't see it as a "real" job, and get upset when I won't watch their sick kids on no notice. They wouldn't take a day off to watch my son if he was sick, why should I take a day off to watch their sick kids, and risk my son getting sick too? I occasionally watch kids if they belong to a sick SAHM or WAHM, because they have no problems reciprocating when I am sick.

[Amy M.]

Well, I blog from my couch or my kitchen table. I focus most often between the hours of 1:30pm and 4:30 pm, when the toddler is napping. Soon, I'll be assisting my father-in-law with some dictation at home and that will most likely take place in my basement (family room) where my workstation is set up.

I've tried blogging from Panera during a lunch hour once and they only allow you 30 minutes online. I lost an entire blog post at the very last minute. Doubt I'll try that again.

[Donna]

Aw, thanks for the mention!

I'm all over the place -- I'm set up at the dining room table, but have been known to move the laptop to the TV. And when writer's block sets in, I'll give myself a change of scenery at Starbucks. I've also been known to work at the gym where my daughter trains (if I can focus - or get a connection)... and have even posted from my Blackberry, like Stefania.

[xiaolinmama]

Aargh working from home is WAY more work than I thought it would be. I work from Starbucks, the library sometimes and usually from my the dining room table too. My favorite spot is looking out my front window, but I think that I am becoming the woman who "Looks out the window all day".

[whitetrashmom]

Ditto on all of the suggestions from other moms. The biggest hassle working at home is when I have conference calls and need to participate in the call----it is during these calls that my pugs, my lab go crazy barking. I have to hide away in my basement during calls like these in order to not have the "sound effects". It's VERY professional to have barking dogs.