It’s frustrating when your plans get thrown for a loop! I’ve had to learn to be flexible as a work-at-home mom and embrace the unexpected.
I can be pretty flexible in many areas of my life.
But what really used to frustrate me? When my well-laid plans were interrupted.
You see, a large portion of our family’s income comes from this blog, and I’m very protective of my carefully-planned work time!
It’s tempting to whine and wallow when my plans get thrown for a loop because childcare falls through. Or because I have to tend to a sick child. Or because I’m needed at a school event.
I am having to put my Type-A personality aside and be okay with change and the unexpected.
The attitude I choose in those moments makes all the difference.
I have to realize–and remind myself–that part of the reason I work at home is so that I do have a flexible schedule. I want to be there for my kids! Sometimes a frustrating interruption from work might be God’s way of reminding me to embrace that moment to spend time with my daughters.
I recently had one of those interrupted work days, except this time it was my idea!
We part-time homeschool our oldest daughter. She’s home on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the other days she attends a university model school. I typically do the homeschooling on Wednesdays and my husband does the homeschooling on Fridays.
This means that I don’t work much on Wednesdays, but I get a big block of time on Fridays to go to a local coffee shop and write.
One week my husband and I were looking over the schedule and knew it would be better for me to supervise our daughter on that particular Friday, even though that’s when I normally work.
We decided that she and mommy would have a work day together! I brought my laptop, she brought her backpack, and we headed to the coffee shop.
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Now, last year this may not have worked for us because she was in kindergarten and we were brand new to part-time homeschooling. But this year there’s enough independent work with handwriting and math that she can do after I get her started.
Did I get as much done that day as I would have if I were by myself? Definitely not.
But I’m thrilled that she and I can work together, and I love that my work-at-home job gives me the flexibility to do that. If I was always “too busy” to help her with her school or to spend time with my daughters, it would defeat the point (for me) of being a work-at-home mom!
If you’re a fellow work-at-home-mom, will you join me in seeing our flexibility as a gift, not as a nuisance?
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There’s a quote I love by A. A. Milne that goes like this:
“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
I love this quote because sometimes as moms (whether working mom, stay-at-home mom, or anything else!) we don’t have a lot of confidence. We don’t feel like we are strong.
But we are.
We can embrace change and derailed plans and every unexpected twist in our days, and do it with grace and a positive spin to boot.
Monica C. Webster
I’m that way, too. Sometimes, I have to consciously change my outlook/ attitude when something comes up or even when an opportunity presents itself (that is outside of what I’d originally planned). I work both in and out of the home (teacher/ artist/ writer) and since I am also quite an avid homemaker, this often makes for some precarious balancing; but with Heavenly Father’s help and some attitude tweaks, it’s doable! 😉 Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth
This is a great post for me. I work at home and homeschool so I literally never get a break and that’s quite frustrating. On the other hand it’s the life that is best for me and my family.
Erin
I feel you, Elizabeth! I’m glad you were able to relate! But I agree with you: It’s the best for our family too! Thanks for stopping by!