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In this issue:
Working From Home - With Small Children
"Working at Home with an Infant - Can it Work"?
Romance In A Black Chiffon Dress
Should Your Business Be Online?

Working From Home With Small Children

Working from home is always a challenge. It is even more so when there are small children at home. While the main reason many Parents want to work from home is because of the children, it can create an additional challenge. Following are some things that I have done to help make working from home with children a little easier. If you have any other suggestions, please enter them here and I will post them for all to read. Thank you for your participation and support!

I have had two children since I first started my work at home ventures. The first thing that I did was to child-proof my work area. I learned right away that papers will not stay where you put them and can become decorated with crayon, juice and other sticky stuff!

Well, here's a short checklist of things to look for and to do in preparing to work from home with children. Keep in mind that this list is not all inclusive and may not work for everyone, but hopefully, it will get you moving in the right direction!

• Check for safety (as you do throughout the rest of the house)
  
• Cover all open electrical plugs
• Watch for small items like paper clips, staples, tacks, pencils etc.
• Make sure that office equipment is stable and the stands cannot be pulled over if a child tried to pull themselves up on it.
  

• Keep your work safe
• Put child safety locks on all desk drawers and file cabinets
• Keep all important papers & projects out of reach and be sure to put them away if you are leaving the room for any length of time.
• Do not have a business phone in the house where children can access it - they may accidentally pick it up while you are talking with a client.
  

• Create work/play space for your child
• set up a play pen and/or play area for your child include quite toys, games, books etc. Good ones are: duplos, books, play phone, stuffed animals, cars, johnny jump-up, rocking horse, crayons, paint with water, movies, Mr. Potato Head, play do, peg boards, blocks.
• arrange toys in plastic dishpan containers so that you can easily put them back in the containers for quick pick up and to easily rotate toys. (Hint: only put a few items in each one and keep others stored out of site. when child tires of one set pull another one out.)
• set up your office space near an outdoor area. I converted our garage into an office and put in a side entrance. The side yard has been fenced off to provide an outdoor play area. I just leave the door open and can see and hear everything that goes on. With a riding toy, sand box and some musical instruments, the outdoor area provides tons of safe outdoor fun for my toddler. You could set up shop near a sliding glass door that goes out to a deck that you have gated to limit access to the other parts of the yard, or fence off a small patio area.
• Children always want to do what you are doing. I have an old phone and typewriter that I put down so my two year old can play office. You can also include self-inking stamps, old envelopes, stationary and stickers.
• There are also a lot of places on the internet where you can download activity sheets and coloring pages, which can be printed out.
  

• Time Savers
• Have snacks already cut up and in individual servings so you can quickly dole them out.
• Kill two birds with one stone! Get organized and spend time with your child. I have a couple "baby banger" games on the computer. You can download Danny's First Program from Sylvan's Place. I believe they have it in both PC and Mac formats. My two year old will sit on my lap and play her computer game. While she is doing that I sort through my mail, make my to do lists and pay bills. When she gets tired of playing the computer, I get back to work and she is ready to do something by herself.
• Turn the ringer off the phone or close the door when you are not working. Otherwise you may be tempted to answer it even late at night.
• Delegate household responsibilities. It is difficult to run a home business, take care of small children and keep up all of the household chores. Don't play "Super Woman or Man" or you're sure to burn out.

• Take Breaks
• Take breaks periodically throughout the day. That way you will get some quality time in with your kids and you will both feel more productive when you come back. Go to McDonalds for lunch or a pack a picnic lunch and head to the park.
• Try to find another work at home/stay at home mom that you can trade off with. or find a drop in day care. That way you can get some quality work time and your child can socialize with other children.
• If keeping other children in your home is not possible, find another Mom to share a full time daycare spot. It will be less expensive than finding a part time spot on your own.
  
• Handling the Phones
• If you're expecting an important call that you want to be sure not to miss, keep cheerios or other snack food in a small baggie in your desk drawer. When the phone rings answer it. If your child starts wanting your attention or is getting too noisy, hand her (him) the snack. Many times they may be too busy to notice that you're on the phone, but at least you have a back up plan if not!
• However, for professionalism, don't answer your phone if you don't know who it is and the volume level is too high. Most people will either leave a message or call back, so don't worry about losing business by not answering the phone. Use call notes or an answering machine to field your phone calls.
• Most of your clients will know that you work at home. And won't mind if they hear children in the background. So go ahead and make those calls at any time.
• Reserve all other phone work to nap time or in the afternoon when you may have help with the little ones.

The following articles were written by The Critical Link Founder-Azriela Jaffe They have been reprinted with permission. Azriela is also Author of "Honey I Want To Start My Own Business, A Planning Guide for Couples". "Recommended by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top work/family books of 1996". Azriela also publishes a free online newsletter for entrepreneurial couples. You may contact her via email for more information at: AzJaffe@aol.com.

"Working at Home with an Infant - Can it Work?" by Azriela Jaffe

"Romance In A Black Chiffon Dress" by Azriela Jaffe

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