Children in the Home Business Environment

Copyright © Stone Evans, The Home Biz Guy
http://www.PlugInProfitSite.com/main-9336

Operating a home business is seldom easy and
interruptions come in all shapes, sizes and forms.

Between the family, friends and neighbors who
call or come by, and the telemarketers who insist
on ringing your number off the hook, getting
through the workday can be a real challenge.

When you introduce children into the home office
environment, your productivity and patience can
be seriously tested.

For example, right now my three-year old daughter
is pulling on my shirt and begging me to read her
a story. Clearly, Im in the middle of something
important here, but how can I say no to those
eyes? I'll be right back...

Ok, that wasn't so bad was it? She's happy, Im
happy (having bonded with my daughter) and now
I'm back to continue my conversation with you! :-)

What's the lesson here? Flexibility is a major
key to balancing your home business priorities
with your family's needs.

I can tell you from first-hand experience that
maintaining a deep level of concentration on work
in a home business for long periods of time is
next to impossible. Naptime does offer some
reprieve, but any break from the kids is usually
short lived.

Even with older children, summertime introduces
new challenges with kids running in and out of
the house all throughout the day.

I would like to share with you some of the tips I
have discovered to help manage your home office
with children in your midst. Since children of
different ages pose different challenges, I will
present my tips in terms of age groups.

OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENS

We will look at older children first since they
pose the least challenge to our work productivity.

Children, who are old enough to understand the
idea of schedules and chores, are old enough to
understand the needs of your home business.
Explain to your children that you do your work at
home so that you can be near them when they need
you. But also be sure they understand that you
must do your work so that you will have the money
necessary to keep your house, feed the family and
to provide them with money for entertainment.

Once your children understand the necessity of
your work, then outline a work schedule and
explain it to them. Do make sure they understand
that emergencies are definitely an acceptable
reason to interrupt your work. Then make sure
they understand that between hours x and y, you
will be doing work --- and then hold them to
respecting your schedule.

INFANTS

Infants will never understand your needs for
work. But fortunately, babies do well under a
schedule or routine. Instead of expecting your
child to work around your schedule, schedule
your work around the needs of your baby.

It is simple. Babies eat, sleep and poop.
Sometimes they play. Fortunately, babies sleep
more than they do anything else.

Naptime offers the best advantage for getting
your work done. Get your baby into a routine of
eat, sleep and play, and you will experience
unexpected levels of productivity.

TODDLERS

If you have a toddler running around the house
while you are operating your home business, then
you may find that your hair turning gray or
disappearing altogether. But, gray hair is a
sign of character, right. ;-)

I am venturing to guess that the person who
devised the door lock for the inside of the house
did so because he had toddlers in his own home.
Inside door locks should only be utilized when
you are making that important phone call and your
toddler is screaming for your attention. At all
other times, your door should remain unlocked
with your door open.

Develop a routine with your children for meal
times, naptimes, and play times. Work these times
into your work schedule and adhere to them. If
you fail to keep appointments with your children,
your children will have less respect for your
work and do more to prevent you from the
completion of your work.

Don't be afraid to let your children sit in your
lap while you are working. It helps them to feel
wanted and it helps them to be a part of your
daily life. There are times when it is okay
for them to be sitting in your lap while you
work, and at other times you need them out of
your lap. Don't be afraid to tell them to get
down and go play or read a book so that you can
resume your work.

Permit your children to have their toys in your
office. Often they will sit contently and play
while you work. Just knowing you are near is
enough to keep them happy.

Be prepared to take an hourly break to deal with
your toddler. Try to do potty breaks at your
hourly break and to do drink refills. This can
help your child grow into a routine that will
work well with your home business. At each break,
spend a few minutes with your child giving hugs
and kisses and talking with your child about what
he or she wants to talk about.

Toddlers don't always do well with the routine,
so be prepared to take a few minutes when needed
to give the attention that your child so
desperately needs in the moment.

IN CONCLUSION

I hope these tips serve to help you in the
challenge of operating a successful home business.

My home business permits me to fulfill my
financial obligations *AND* see my children grow
up. I would never contemplate trading my home
business for another kind of business. Even with
the added challenges of dealing with toddlers in
my home office, the upsides far outweigh the
downsides.

Growing my own home business with children around
has definitely given me a new respect for all
people who successfully run a home business with
kids in the work environment. I tip my hat to
you... You deserve it!

About The Author:
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