out of office

November 29th, 2011

I’m back at work and have a project that goes straight through the end of January. Its pretty much 3 days a week spread across 4 days for now, then it ramps up later this month to a full 4 days. Its a lot of working time. As most of you know I work from home and as all of you know I have a 2 year old. Those things don’t mesh.

Anyone who says they can work from home with their kid around is doing a disservice to both their work AND their child. Its just not possible to be a productive worker with a kid around, and who would rather concentrate on writing emails when there’s a little boy in your face saying “mommy, lets do puzzles!” I don’t even bother trying. Asher is in preschool 2 mornings which has been a dream. I usually drop him off then work in peace all morning and pick him up on my “lunch break” when Jackie meets us at the house. She helps with his lunch and takes him out after his nap so I can keep on keepin on. 2 additional days Jackie comes for the full day and I try to split when I know they will be home.

I can do everything but conference calls at cafes and my favorite time to go is mid-afternoon. After the lunch rush and before the after-school rush. A hot chocolate with almond croissant is apparently part of most kid’s afterschool snack and they pile in like crazy and it gets loud and exciting. If I wanted loud and exciting I would have stayed home.

This is bliss:

My other sometimes option is heading to Matthew’s design studio with him. There are big windows with city views and its super quiet but I hate going alone. Its in Dumbo which is close enough but the walk from my desk to the bathroom is really far and that’s not worth the 30min each way if I don’t have anyone to talk to when I get there. If Matthew is going (he only goes a few days a month) then its much more fun and worthwhile.

As much of a pain as it is I would not give it up for anything. I have to figure out everyone’s schedule every single day to make a work plan and between mine/matthew/asher/jackie/house cleaner/etc its so complicated and tiring sometimes. On the bright side, I do get to wear yoga pants and have lunch with Asher every day if I wanted to. I get to fold laundry on conference calls and not be bothered by people stopping by or music or the dumb office stuff I hated when I worked at an office. Or commuting. Lord I hate commuting. And wearing shoes. Who can work with shoes on? Not me anymore, that’s for sure.

We applied for Asher to go full days next year (its 830-245, so I guess full-ISH) and I really hope they have room for him. We find out mid-december and I am already fantasizing about working from home from 9-230 all by myself. Ahhh, the good life. My fingers and toes are crossed and if it comes through we might have to celebrate with a hot chocolate and an almond croissant!

Entry Filed under: A bit random