Working from home can seem like an incredibly tempting prospect. Many new working parents catch themselves thinking things like, “If I worked from home, I could take care of my kids at work and have the best of both worlds!” There are important realities about the work-at-home life that you need to understand before you make this decision, however.
First, and perhaps most obviously, not all types of jobs can be performed at home. Think about whether it will be possible for you to work at home in your current field, and if not, whether you’re willing to switch fields. If you do switch fields, will you be able to find work from home? Will your boss let you telecommute fulltime, or will you have to go into the office, and if so, how often? If you plan to freelance, can you find enough work to sustain your family?
The advantages of working from home are fairly self-explanatory. You get to have many special moments with your kids that other working parents will miss, and you will instill values like entrepreneurship, the value of working for your own success, knowledge of personal finances, into them. You will save money on transportation, formal office clothing or uniforms, and your hours will be much more flexible. There are also tax advantages sometimes.
There are disadvantages to working from home to consider, however. If you are telecommuting, you are more likely to be overlooked for promotions and raises, and you might feel less connected to your coworkers in the office. This also means those who love office gossip will be less connected to the “grapevine” and may feel too isolated. You will run short of sleep if you have a baby… it’s easy to get an idealized picture of doing your work with the baby napping in your arms, but all too often, the baby will be crying, the housework will be undone, and you will be frantically trying to get the last bit of work done. If you’re willing to accept this reality in exchange for the huge advantages working at home also brings, you might want to try it, however.
You can get started by considering whether working from home is a viable option for your family, and then deciding how you want to go about it: telecommuting, freelancing, running your own business, or some combination thereof. Talk to your family members (partner and children in particular) and see how they feel about it. If you plan to work from home within your existing job, talk to your boss; otherwise, seek advice from others who have done the same thing and plan for your financial security before you make your move.
Working from home offers a great opportunity to parent too, but the two are not always completely compatible. You have to be ready to sacrifice sleep or adapt your work habits sometimes, and there are both advantages and disadvantages to working at home to be considered before you make your decision.
Related posts:
- How to Avoid Guilt as a Working Parent
- Take Your Kids to Work Day
- When One Parent Works: Negotiating With Your Family
- When Maternity Leave is Over
- Your Options for Flexible Work Weeks
Tags: Working Parent from Home