Archive for March, 2010
Balancing Homeschooling and Working at Home
Posted by: | CommentsA common reason for moms to homeschool their children and work from home is that the at-home lifestyle appeals to them. It sounds like an ideal situation – you’re home, the kids are at home, and everyone’s happy.
But juggling a home business with homeschooling usually doesn’t look as peaceful as it might sound. In fact, this is a more likely scenario:
You’ve planned to do a math lesson with your children at 9 am. Since you have a few minutes of peace while the kids are finishing breakfast, you decide to fit in a quick email check.
There’s an email from a prospective client, who wants a proposal from you right away, for a juicy contract. There’s still 20 minutes before you had planned to start your school day, so you start to reply.
Well, one thing leads to another… the computer is slower than usual, someone spills a bowl of cereal in the kitchen, the cat decides to throw up on the couch, and by the time your email is sent, it’s an hour later.
Still, not bad, you tell yourself, and you settle down with the kids to begin their lesson.
Halfway through the first page of math problems, you hear a new email coming in. Thinking it might be about the email you just sent, you tell the kids, “I’ll be right back.”
Now he wants to talk to you over the phone. Can you call him as soon as you get this email? You pick up the phone and start dialing.
In the next room, the kids are frustrated with the math problems and starting to throw pencils and erasers at each other. While the phone’s ringing, you call out to them to quiet down and just read a book instead.
Your call is answered, but it’s a little hard to hear the reply over the fighting that has ensued. Your children have suddenly decided they have to read the very same book, at the same time. Their arguing has gotten the dog riled up, and now he’s barking too.
You mumble something about needing to call back later, apologize, and hang up the phone. By the time you get the dog outside, the kids calmed down enough to focus on their lesson, it’s time for lunch and you need a nap.
There are a few steps you can do to be sure your days don’t end up looking like this.
Schedule time for work and time for school. When it’s time for school, give your kids 100% of your attention. Then when it’s time for you to work, give 100% of your attention to your business. Problems arise when you try to multi-task because you’re won’t be able to give proper attention to either your kids or your business.
Teach your children how to work independently. There will be times when you won’t be available for your kids because of your business. So, it’s important to give your kids opportunities to learn to work independently. If you have a phone call that goes long, or if you are busy with an important project, the school day won’t automatically fall apart. Even young children can work independently for a short time.
Enlist the help of other homeschooling parents. See if you can work out a childcare exchange, for times when you need the kids out of the house. Then you can return the favor when they need help.
Be flexible. No matter how well you plan your day, always expect the unexpected. Organize your day as best as you can, but be willing to change your schedule at a moment’s notice.
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
Work at home mom extraordinaire Michelle Shaeffer publishes The Muses Brainstorm, a weekly ezine with tips to help you balance, manage, and market your home based business. If you’re ready for inspirational guidance and bright ideas sign up free at www.thesmallbusinessmuse.com
What Real Work at Home Moms Do with the Kids
Posted by: | CommentsAt first glance, the lifestyle of a work at home mom seems idyllic – earning money from home doing something you love while, magically, the kids play quietly in the corner or take their naps when they’re supposed to.
Ha! Any real work at home mom will tell you that just isn’t so. In fact, keeping the kids out from underfoot while you work, and still making time to spend with them every day, is usually an ongoing challenge.
Here are some of the strategies that I’ve used, and that other moms have shared with me over the years, to manage the kids when you work from home.
Send the kids to a daycare or dayhome. I know, you want to work from home so you don’t have to send your kids to someone else for the day. But if having them home is keeping you from getting your work done, this can be a lifesaver. The good news is, because you won’t be commuting, and because you have control over the hours you work, they may not have to go to daycare as often or as long as if you held a job outside the home.
Hire a mother’s helper. Is there a teenager in your neighborhood who would like to earn some extra cash by playing with your kids for a few hours each day? They don’t cost as much as a dayhome provider, and there is the added benefit of your children staying in your own home.
Work around your children’s schedules. Some moms find it most practical to work whenever they’re able to… during nap times and late at night.
Switch with your spouse. If you have a supportive spouse, a popular approach is to switch roles with him when he comes home from work. Have him take care of the kids while you do your work for the day.
Movies and TV. I hate to recommend using movies and television as babysitters, but if used carefully, these can be a great help!
Teach children to work independently. I was homeschooling my children when I began to work from home. I would give them work to focus on for several minutes at a time, while I did my own work. They learned to work independently, and I was able to work at home while homeschooling my children.
Most importantly, yield to reality. For some work at home moms, your business may not take off the way you want it to while your children are still young. If being available for them is a priority for you – as it is for me and many others – there will probably be times when your business will be shortchanged so you can fulfill your children’s needs. The good news is that as your children grow, they will need you less and less, giving you more time to focus on your business.
And when that time comes, you will miss the days when young children vied for your attention.
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
Denise Willms is a Publicity and Marketing Virtual Assistant and work at home mom of two teenagers. Do you want to know more about how you can work at home too? Visit www.wahm-articles.com and search for work at home articles on the topics you’re most interested in. While you’re there, go ahead and subscribe to the weekly WAHM Tips newsletter. You’ll get new WAHM expert articles delivered to your inbox each week!
Easy to Make Easter Treats for Kids
Posted by: | CommentsEaster is such an exciting time if you have small children. They eagerly anticipate the Easter Bunny’s visit and all the treats he will bring them. Even my two teenagers look forward to his arrival each spring!
I also like to make my own special treats for my family. Here are three of my favorite Easter treats to make for kids… no matter how old they are. These treats all have two things in common: they’re easy to make and they’re all made with jello.
Enjoy!
Easter Flowers
2 pkgs of jello in your kids’ favorite flavor
1 1/4 cups boiling water
4 small paper cups
4 large marshmallows
To create the flower pots, make the jello by dissolving the powder into the bowling water. When it’s completely dissolved, pour it into the paper cups. Refrigerate the cuts until the jello is firm, probably about 3 hours.
To make the flowers, cut each marshmallow into five pieces to make flower petals. Put the petals together in a flower shape. You will have to squeeze them together tightly so they stay. For decoration, you can press sprinkles onto the petals and put a candy in the center of the flower.
To assemble your flower, put a toothpick into the center of the marshmallow flower. Then place the toothpick into a straw. Now you have a pretty Easter flower on a stem.
Peel away the paper cups from the jello pots. Place the pot on a serving plate and plant your flower in the center of your pot.
Jiggly Easter Eggs
2 large packages of jello, or 4 small packages
2 1/2 cups boiling water or juice
Mix the jello powder with the boiling water or juice. Pour the mixture into a 13×9 inch pan. Chill until firm, usually around 3 hours.
When the jello is set, dip the pan in warm warm for about 15 seconds. Then use your favorite Easter cookie cutters to cut into shapes. Lift them out of the pan. Make sure you keep your jiggly Easter eggs in the fridge until you’re ready to serve them.
Popcorn Bunnies
1/4 cup butter
6 cups miniature marshmallows
1 pkg (85 g) jello powder
12 cups popped popcorn
Microwave the butter and marshmallows until marshmallows are puffy. Then add the jelly powder and mix well. The marshmallows will melt while you stire.
Pour the marshmallow mixture over your popcorn. Stir quickly and coat all the popcorn.
To shape your popcorn into bunny shapes, make one popcorn ball for the bunny’s body. Then make a smaller one for the head. Finally, finish off the bunny by adding two ears. You can add candy or raisins to make a bunny face.
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
Denise Willms is a freelance writer and virtual assistant, and a work at home mom to two teenagers. Do you want to know how you can be a successful work at home mom too? Denise publishes free work at home articles at www.WAHM-Articles.com While you’re there, be sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter, WAHM Tips. It’s the weekly email that helps moms earn more from home!
Finding balance between working at home, family and life
Posted by: | CommentsMany times people will give up on working from home as family and life get in the way and take over. They will make excuses and act like they do not have the time to fit in a work-at-home business or job. What many should understand is that if they really, deep down want to be working from home successfully, then it should be a priority just like everything else in their life. It should be on the top of their list just like their children, family, job, etc. We tend to procrastinate and make excuses to things that should be very important in our lives by doing the things that are not so important. Like watching that TV show each day that we know is not benefiting us in anyway or cleaning the house until we are blue in the face. Even for those who are currently working outside the home can and will make the time for their work-at-home business or job if they wanted it that much and were willing.
That ultimately is what it comes down to. How bad do you want success working from home? What are you willing to put into it to make it happen? Are you willing to never give up? These are all important questions you need to answer before becoming successful working from home. So, what you honestly need to do is sit yourself down and ask yourself: What am I willing to sacrifice to achieve success working from home?
When you finally decide that you are ready to make that commitment, that is where you will need to find the balance between working at home, your family, your life, your job, etc. This is where many get stuck, frustrated and give up. This is the ultimate test and obstacle to achieving success working from home. What are you going to do when the times get tough? Are you ready to knock that wall down?
You can find the balance. It is there if you put forth the effort to creating it and allowing it to be active in your life. That is why the below tips will help you if you really commit to them and to working at home.
Here are the top 5 tips to achieving balance:
1. Create a schedule. There is always the right time for certain things. Write down, type up or buy a planner. Stay consistent 3 to 5 days a week working your work-at-home business or job. Work it around your family and life but also make it a priority. It must come first just like many other things in your life. Write the to do list at what time each day you need to do work-at-home tasks, family time, etc. so you can achieve a successful schedule.
2. Stick to what you plan. With a job outside the home many tend to think they do not have a choice in making their job a priority. You need to have this same mentality with your work-at-home business or job. It must be a large part of your life but not take over your life. That is simple when you stick with what you plan, schedule and stay focused on the tasks at hand. After setting up your daily schedules for the week, stick to them and that way you still allow the important things like family and life to come first while achieving the tasks you need to get done to make working at home a success.
3. Learn how to sacrifice. I know it is exciting to know that your favorite show will be on, that the new movie in the theaters is coming out, that much needed nap is calling your name and so many other things we do to utilize our time and money. Think about all the things we purchase on a monthly basis from pizza to that cute purse we want to the couple extra things at Walmart we didn’t need get. Sacrificing is a concept that many should understand when working at home or even not working at home. No matter what we will have to sacrifice something, sometime. That is life. Do you want to sacrifice that little bit now to not have to sacrifice all that time and money later? Or do you want to sacrifice the rest of your life as you keep procrastinating the important things that need to be done now to achieve success? It is your choice to decide what is important in your life and follow through with it.
4. Allow the small things to fall away. Don’t focus on the things you cannot control. Do not allow things that are not so important in your life determine how you feel, what you achieve each day and how you approach life’s situations. We seem to focus so much on what we cannot control or change, that we do not realize that there are so many things we can focus on that will allow us to change or control our future, our purpose, or life. Let the past go, let the hardships go… move forward, stay focused, stay positive and just do whatever it takes to making your goals and dreams possible.
5. Work on personal growth and development. Staying inspired, encouraged and happy allows you to balance life and work-at-home. It teaches you what is important in life, your purpose and how to achieve your goals without stress or worry. Learning who you are, what you want, how you can help others and all around what your purpose is will allow freedom and happiness into your life. Which in return achieves balance.
In result of doing all of the above you will come to realize how much simpler it can be working from home if you just allow it to be simple.
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
Jennifer May is a proud work-at-home Mom with Ameriplan® and also is the Founder/Owner of www.TheWAHMGuide.com. She has experienced years of searching for work from home and is now successful from this experience. She has made it her goal and purpose to help as many as she can find and grow work-at-home successfully. She also shares true work-at-home jobs, home based businesses, research, tips, advice, personal experience and more. She has a passion for helping others and changing lives! She shares extensive resources, listings, knowledge, advice and tips in her Work from Home Mom Website www.TheWAHMGuide.com.
If You Know A Little Boy ~ Squeeze Him
Posted by: | CommentsHave you ever watched the boys at the park run and jump without worry?
Have you envisioned all of the not so good things that could happen in a moment?
I believe I lived that moment yesterday.
Here is my take on it…
As I was making dinner last night, Bubba and Tootsie were outside playing. This is not so unusual, they like being outside, even if the temperature was close to freezing….
All of a sudden my Tootsie comes running up the front stairs and throws open the front door and hollers through her tears, “Mama!! Hurry, Bubba’s bleeding!!” The look of fear on her face said it all. I ran down the stairs and out the front door in an instant. In my stocking feet I ran across the wet, squishy grass to my boy, that was sitting on the ground, holding his right knee and crying.
As I reached him, he looked at me with the biggest eyes and said, “I hurt my knee!” He moved his hands and I knew that a butterfly bandage would simply not work this time. I turned around and hollered to my husband, “We gotta go!” and he knew immediately what I meant….ER….again.
I will not go into detail, but this is not Bubba’s first time to the ER, twice before he was even 2 he had 7 stitches…again, that will be for another time.
In a moment of record breaking strength, I scooped up my 70 pound, 8.5 year old boy and ran back to the house, up the front stairs, into the house, up the stairs and into my bathroom, without even breaking a sweat! You have so got to love adrenaline….
As I set him down on the side of the bathtub, I knew then that the 20 minute drive to the ER was not going to be a good time. After the briefest of moments, it was finally decided that I would go with Bubba and my hubby would stay home with Tootsie and Bubbaloo. Dinner was almost ready, and everyone knows how long it can take in the ER.
As we drove to the ER, I tried to keep up the small talk. I prayed over him and asked the Lord for peace for Bubba and that this all goes smoothly once we arrive. I even bet Bubba a dollar that I would be the closest guess on how many stitches he was going to have to get.
We finally go to the ER and luckily, there wasn’t single person waiting at the time…the Lord surely knows my heart. I would not have been a very patient mama if I would have had to wait long….
Within a few short minutes we were ushered in to see the triage nurse and then quickly settled into a room. The nurse came in, set up some stuff and within 5 minutes the PA (physician’s assistant) was in the room with us. He took a look at Bubba’s knee and declared, “I am going to need to put staples in your leg.” I didn’t know what to say…staples, as in the ones you use to keep papers together? In my sons leg?!?!?
The PA went on to explain that since we like to bend our knees (for shame on us!) that it would be a better bet to use the staples because they are stronger and are less likely to get ripped out (OUCH!!!).
It was little rough for Bubba, he was really unsure about how all of the local anesthesia worked, even though the PA explained it, worry and stress took over. After Bubba took a deep breath of two, the PA started giving him the local anesthesia…the first few pin pricks were not so good, but once it started to take effect, Bubba was fine. I’m glad, because the PA ended up using 2 bottles of Lidocaine (between 25-30 shots worth!!).
It was nasty work having to be strong for Bubba and watch the PA take care of cleaning this wound….yeah, not a scratch, a real laceration…After the cleaning was done the stapling began. I will not go into detail, but…whoa, it was interesting, I do have to say.
Remember that dollar I bet Bubba in the truck on the way to the ER? Well, it now comes back into play. I bet he would have to get at least 15 stitches, he said, no, 13….well he was about to get a dollar. Because my boy was now sporting 13 staples in his leg right under his knee. Okay, so it wasn’t stitches, but I have to tell ya, that kiddo was a trooper and a half. Not once did he cry at the ER…he thought about it, but not one tear was actually shed…a real trooper…well worth a dollar in my book!!!
Once we were released with paperwork, how to’s and a prescription we walked (he hobbled) in the house almost exactly 3 hours from the time of the incident.
So here is the low down, remember that Spring baseball just started, Bubba has to wear an immobilizer for 24-48 hours, his staples can come out in 7-10 days. Once that is done, we will have to see if baseball is even an option for now. I feel horrible that his first year of kid pitch baseball is turning out a whole lot less fun than expected.
But for reasons unknown to me, the Lord has decided to give my Bubba a treat, okay, not the best treat you could ask for, but a treat as in, more attention that he is getting. A well deserved break for his chores, at least for a short time!
He is resting well, daddy even moved his mattress to the floor form the top bunk. I guess it would be kinda hard to access the top bunk with an immobilizer on your leg. 
Tootsie, bless her heart, she was so worried about her brother. The tears poured before I left for the ER…the Lord has truly blessed her with a loving and pure heart. Never mind the fact she can scuffle with her brothers in a heart beat, she loves them more than anything.
All of that being said….I only wish I could say that my 70 pound carry could be done more often, just next time, not with the emergency attached….
Talk soon….
It’s Spring, It May be Snowing, But It’s Spring!
Posted by: | CommentsWhen I say Spring around my house the first thing everyone thinks is….Baseball. Yep, that is what spring means around here, baseball.
Bubba started his baseball practices about 2 weeks ago. I know! The second week of February, geez….
I just recently got home from baseball practice with Bubba and it took most of the way home for me to thaw out! Seriously, it was like 40 degrees outside with a biting windchill of 32 degrees! Yikes!! That doesn’t say Spring to me, does it say Spring to you?
So now that we are all warm and toasty back at home, I just realized that there is a chance of snow tonight. Are you kidding me? Freezing cold with a biting wind is bad enough, but snow too? Come on….
Anyway, enough of my rambling….
This is the first year Bubba is going to play pitch baseball. For those of you that might not know what I mean by that, let me explain.
When you are small your coordination isn’t the best (as moms we already know this!), so instead of having the boys pitch to each other, they use a batting tee up until about 4-5 years. After the batting tee, the boys get to play “coach pitch” baseball, until they are about 8 years old. It’s great to watch, the coach stands on the mound and throws the pitch, then moves so the play can happen like normal! This is a lot closer to a real game if I ever saw one.
Once they have mastered the basic rules and techniques of the game, at 9-10 years old they finally get to pitch from the pitchers mound to the batters. Whew boy! I’m telling ya, now we are going to play some real baseball this year! Pitching, stealing bases (YeeHaw!), and scoring, that is what the game is ALL ABOUT!!
This was Bubba’s reply to me after I asked how he felt the first time he stood on the receiving end of a pitch from his teammate, “Ummmm, a little anxious and a little scared.” Bravo for being honest!
I don’t know if I could stand in the batters box and wait on a pitch from a 9 or 10 year old either!
So, as the season progresses, I will share as much about this season as I can. I love baseball, especially when my boy is on the team, hopefully the winning team this year.
Talk soon……
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