Work @ Home Dad Trying to Work with Rest of the Family Home.

My husband works from home too. He is here all day. We have a closed door policy. If his office door is closed, my 2 year old knows Daddy is working. She is not allowed in his office unless he leaves the door open. If she throws a fit, she gets time out. This has worked and she knows when we tell her Daddy is working she does not disturb him. You have to be really strict with work time and not waver or it confuses them.

Also, I do not restrict my husband's work schedule. He has to work when he has to work. I do not expect him to be out of the office at a certain time. That is his job and he works hard to allow me to be home with my daughter. There are times work has to come first. It is not all the time, but it is one less stress on him if I'm not pushing time constraint. He does take time during the day for lunch and afternoon snacks so my DD gets her time with him too.

GL!

A., it sounds like you are doing everything you can think of and it sounds like it's just not enough. My husband works from home, but my kids are older and understand "work time". Maybe you can ask your husband for some suggestions. Let him know that you're trying very hard to support him in this, but can see that you haven't quite figured it all out. See if he can offer some ideas on just what is distracting for him and times, etc... and see if he can think of something that hasn't come to you yet. Good Luck, it will all come together.

We have the same situation and I am all too familiar with solo mama. My hubby travels a lot but when it comes to office time, that is at home.

When my daughter was younger, people thought I was a single mom...dad was always at school functions and very supportive but on a daily basis...it was me. My daughter is 14 now and understands. We no longer have the problem. It does take a lot of patience on both parts but you can do it!!!

My problem when he is home now is finishing my work ( I manage the travel, quickbooks for our business, invoicing etc) as well as keeping dogs quiet, especially if he is on a phone call. I can't afford to make a mistake on our paperwork, just like he can't afford to misquote pricing, etc.

It does take teamwork. Closed door works as well as going to a nearby hotel lobby or starbucks to get some work done on the laptops.

It sounds like you are very considerate and doing all you can to support him. Keep up the good work.

sounds like you are doing a good job in trying to set limits. Other mom's have mentioned the "closed door policy." That is what worked for us, and my husband had a second telephone line. Our house is only 3 bedroom, so I did sacrifice a corner of our bedroom for his office, and then told the kids when the door is closed Daddy is working. My husband and I worked out a rhythm over time and he would let me know by opening the door if it was okay to disturb him. Then I could run an errand and leave the kids home, etc... We also had a set time for dinner so that he knew that was time to break.....didn't always happen, but we did the best we could. Keep communicating and both of you be as flexible as possible.
Nice things come from having Dad home. He may be able to break for 15 minutes to pick up kids from school, or is available to attend a performance during the day, etc... He will work out his rhythm over time too.
Best of Luck,
P.

I work part-time from home myself and my 2 year old is here with me the majority of the time. I try to only work when she is at Mother's Day Out, napping, or when Daddy gets home but there are times that just isn't possible. This summer, while I have both my girls home all day (oldest is in school) I have started using the same "closed door" policy that the previous poster mentioned. I keep my door open unless I am in the middle of something (like on the phone with a client) where i can't be disturbed. Then I shut the door. My 2 year old still comes in some but she tends to just look in on me and then shut the door. Sometimes if I'm working with the door open she'll even come in and close the door. They seem to learn quickly.

Working from home seems like such a great thing, but it really makes separation of work and family difficult sometimes. I will tell you that I get about 4 times as much done in a quiet house than when the kids are coming in and out. It sounds like you really try hard to give your husband his space, but the more you give him the faster he will finish and have time for the family! Also, I don't know if his work allows a delay but maybe you guys could work something out where he spends 30 minutes with the kids when he gets home before getting to work? Or maybe he puts some of it off until after the kids go to bed? Just don't give up, if you keep trying you'll find something that works for everyone. Good luck!

Try having a set routine in the afternoon hours when your hubby really needs to be productive and either get out of the house or keep the kids busy with new things that will catch thier attention? Like the 3-5 hour? Community Spray parks, mall playgrounds, Playgroups, ect. Things that get the kids excited and keep thier mind of Dad in the next room. Also maybe day a week for your older ones they get any hour of "daddy time" to thierselves that they don't have to share. That will help them to know that is their set special time and they have Dad all to themseselves that hour or two. Maybe too if your husband sees how hard you are wotking to make things work he will be more productive in his alone time :o)

Hi A.,
In this economy, he needs to work as much as he can to keep things going and sales often demands so much of a person's time but...

he must have a balance or he will get burned out of something and we don't want it to be you and the kids.

If you can, make a night after kids are in bed and set up a calendar. Some nights are work late nights and some are not. Dinner is at 6 and story time is at 7. If he had to, he could go back and work after they all went to bed.

The other thing, after the kids go to bed, is there anything you can help him with? Clean his desk? File? Organize weekly schedule for his appointments? Lots of wives help their husbands in this way. Maybe he could use a hand in getting organized so he has more off time.

And a word to the wise, always dbl check his computer. See if his history is up to date and his temp files are cleaned out. Run a virus scan so his computer can work faster. All those things you have more time for than he does.

You sound wonderfully patient but don't forget you need a hubby and father for the kids too. (I think I saw this on The Nanny" once).

God bless your family.

You have some great suggestions already and there isn't a magic solution and it is a challenge. I am SAHM of 2 kids now age 4 and age 5. I get to work at home and I take calls on the phone and it has to be quiet. I only work either early mornings or later nights. However there are times the kids aren't in bed yet. MY husband works away from home and then comes home and he is in charge of bedtime.

I tell them I am going to work now and Yes we have to shut the door and they Kiss me Good Night. They know it has to be quiet when I am working. If I get a 15 min break I tell them Mommy only has a few minutes and then check on them and Daddy and get a drink and I tell them I going back to work. They say ok Mommy bye. The Big thing is talking to them, Shutting the door and making sure I Greet them and Kiss them b4 I go to work.

My daughter if she wakes up she has come into my office bedroom and laid on the bed and not said 1 word because she knows I am working. They learn, but its what we have to do so I can be a SAHM and be here with them. Just make sure them have that Special daddy time and they will know when is work time and when is there time with daddy.

Best of Luck !