Saturday, January 10, 2015

Attempt Working from Home with a Toddler

A quick word to the wise. If you are searching for real, actual tips on how to get some paying work done at home, while simultaneously raising a toddler, this article is not for you. Whether they are 2 days old, or 2 years old, there is always a new challenge presenting itself that makes you want to throw in the towel.

Mothers aren't allowed to nap. They aren't allowed to use the bathroom alone, and forget about ever showering alone again. If you were a co-sleeper you have shared a bed with two other people. Or, maybe you climbed in baby's crib to comfort their cries to no avail. Maybe these don't make you a bad mother, maybe they show an amount of patience many of us wish for.

The sad fact of my day is I wasn't even trying to earn money by working from home, but by simply applying for freelance work. We had Netflix playing a variety of videos, my daughter had been given lunch, milk, and a clean diaper. I found it humorous how every time my husband would text me, or I'd take a break on Facebook, she would be totally enthralled in her movie.

Then a key would strike within an application form. Then all hell would break loose. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, come the repetitive "mine" and grabbing at throw pillows, fit pitching and top of the lungs screaming matches. Races would begin around the house and then all of a sudden everything would fall quiet.

Do you have a toddler? Toddlers are these unusual creatures who are learning to bend you to their will while tripping over themselves and drooling at the same time. Like awkward teenagers, but much shorter, with a more narrow vocabulary. Anyway, when silence falls upon a household with a toddler, it is reason to worry. It is reason for an all out search, reason to bring out the blood hounds.

And then, almost like it had never happened, it was as if I had flashed back to reality through a black hole into the screaming realm of my toddler once again. Husband would text, and the TV would suddenly become interesting again. Job application, "mine". Text, look at the aquarium! LinkedIn update, "My life depends on you, Mother"! And then it finally occurred to me. Then I finally realized how I could make all things right this day. My laptop battery died.

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