Bejuggled - One Mum's Take On Working From Home

Bejuggled - One Mum's Take On Working From Home

It's fair to say that when I tell people what I do, they generally say, "ooh how lovely and aren't you so lucky to run your business from home. I'd love to do that. You've got it completely sorted".

They are of course right in many ways. I am very lucky I don't have to do the daily commute to a featureless office, getting in bang on Nine o'clock or 10 minutes past, having dropped off children at various child care and schools en route; I don't have to miss prize-giving ceremonies or class assemblies as long as I have some sort of decent notice; I can squeeze in the occasional reading group or canteen duty; I can go for a coffee after drop off; I can go for a walk along the coast before settling down at my desk; I can eat lunch when I want and go the gym or get in the odd game of tennis; I can have as many biscuits with my coffee as I like and no one will know!

However aside from the biscuits, I spend weeks on end when I simply don't do any of the above. I am on the edge; over-worked; over-scheduled; underestimated and over-tasked. I am expected to be all things to all people. Largely unpaid or certainly under-paid. I am seen at school, so am expected to be there for everything and even my fellow females, my non-working friends, look mildly offended or make sarcastic comments about my commitment to the group if I turn down a lunch or coffee, joking of course…Where's the support, ladies – you know who you are!!

And then there's the husband. I work from home and don't earn as much as he does, therefore the expectation is that I can shop on demand; drop off /pick up the dry cleaning; take kids to doctors, dentist, uniform shopping etc; drop everything when our daughter is sick or refuses to go to school; supervise homework, do the laundry, cleaning and general household duties and undertake random errands; always have a suitable answer to "what's for dinner?" that doesn't involve the words beans or toast and never be late to pick up from After School Care.

I worked for agencies for years, being a slave to the business, the politics, the salary and to my clients. I now work for myself and my business is successful in a low-key way, which I like. But it's not necessarily easier. Because I work from home the perception is that I'm always around and generally available at the drop of a hat. I'm sure some clients think I really do just sit around all day waiting for the phone to ring in between updating Facebook and watching Days of Our Lives (which I have never watched, honest).

I do have some work rules in an attempt to maintain my sanity: I don't do unnecessary meetings or write reports that no one reads; I don't travel unless I really have to; I rarely go to events just to show my face and I never pick up "blocked numbers" or calls from clients after 5.30 or at weekends unless it's likely to be something truly important. Which let's face it in the world of consumer PR it generally isn't! Perspective is key.

I am very lucky it's true. I have a job I like, that's creative and rewarding. I have mainly lovely clients, most of whom really do understand the premise of Work-Life Balance. But I am stretched to my limits! Being all things to all people is the modern dilemma of women in western societies, where mortgages and standard of living is on the increase; child care fees are ridiculous and child care places are few.

More and more women need to work, but with the internet being largely available around the country, working from home has become one of the norms. But contrary to popular belief it doesn't always make life any easier. In fact I would sometimes love to hide away in an office from 8-6. At least there are known and accepted boundaries. You're not expected to be at school, so no one asks you to do anything. Expectations are less from teachers, children and other parents! You can be largely anonymous and so when you do make an appearance, it's a novelty.

Truth be told, although I am mostly happy with my life, I don't have it "sorted" at all. Most days I am late out the door and arrive at school on the bell, having made the mistake of checking through emails while my daughter is supposedly getting dressed for school, but actually isn't; I never get to the bottom of my to do list; I regularly work pretty late at night and at weekends; I often don't even know what day it is and have to set an alarm on days when I don't have after school care, to remind myself to pick up my child. I juggle house, business, husband and child with help from after school care, the odd babysitter, an ex-nanny and as many play dates as I can muster. I have so many balls in the air, they may all come tumbling down at any minute.

I love what I do, and I really am very fortunate, but I do sometimes wonder whether it's all really worth it. Because most of the time I am completely and utterly BEJUGGLED!

SC, Kensington NSW.

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