amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Chickapea · 05-31-2004, 09:32 AM

I do not have a "traditional" WAHM job in that I just sell on eBay, but I am trying to do it on a more regular basis. DH wants me to get a job so he can quit his 2nd job b/c he is so burnt out, but I am hoping to stay home and do it. So I need to devote 20-25 hrs a week working on eBay or at least bring in equal to what he does working that ($150/wk for part time).

So trying to figure out how the normal WAHM works as in hours and when do you do it? I find myself snatching time whenever I can to take pics, edit, upload, etc. and am afraid it doesn't leave me a lot of just rest time or play time at all so I need to prioritize and make a schedule so at least work and play time (with the kids) counters in to the day.

Thanks...off to work some more...

ThirtySomething · 05-31-2004, 09:36 AM

I work between 5-6 hours per day normally. I do this 5-6 days per week, sometimes 7.

I work from 6 am (or earlier) to no later than 9-10 am. I make up the other time at naptime or after the kids go to bed. I overlap work with kid care in the morning. My kids are up between 7 and 8:30.

Notice...I should be working right now, not posting. LOL

2 days per week, I might work more because my assistant is here too.

Stargazer441 · 05-31-2004, 10:08 AM

Hey Cindy - I ***so*** know that feeling.

It gets overwhelming sometimes. That's why I'm working, is so dh doesn't have to pick up a 2nd job... for the time being it seems to work okay for us, but I admit I'm a lot less stressed out when I don't have to work. I am one of those who have a hard time balancing things. But a schedule REALLY helps.

I asked for advice here a while back and Stacy and a few other mamas shared that they get up early to work and work while the kids are still sleeping. Since I've started doing that it's helped. I used to stay up late, but then I was so exhausted, for some reason getting up early works better. But there are still lots of mornings where the boys are up and wake me up... so there goes that. LOL

My "target" for income is about the same as yours, and I end up working 3-4 hours a day usually, and I try really hard to take weekends off for family time, but often work more (when I take trades I have to work more since they don't really count towards the budget). DH doesn't watch the boys and I don't have an assistant or anything, so it's just me and them.

I have found recently that what helped was getting up early, setting a specific time that I will work to, and then after that, not even *touching* work until later in the day. That way I can focus on the boys and not be so distracted trying to catch a minute here or there. I actually have found I'm more productive this way!

Of course, then you have the weeks where everyone gets sick, the power keeps going out (so computer doesn't work), etc, etc, etc...

Ah, the life of wahms...

3ForTheRoad · 05-31-2004, 11:21 AM

I work about 5 hours 6-7 days a week. I do most of my work at night after the kids are asleep, some during naptime and about 2 hours after we all wake up.

I'd LOVE to get up early and work before the kids wake up, but Jack nurses from 4 AM straight through until whenever I can't take it anymore and then we both get up.

Jessica

danica · 05-31-2004, 11:27 AM

i put in about 40 hours a week, dh puts in another 20-30.

i also occasionally hire help for wrapping and other detail work. (usually on trade)

Chickapea · 05-31-2004, 12:47 PM

See, that was suggested to me before, but my kids are super early risers. If they let me sleep until 5 or 6 am, that is sleeping in for me. And I am exhausted most days at that so I am afraid getting up earlier would just make me uber cranky and tired and irritable with them. Not to mention they are all sound sleepers. Every time I have tried to get up earlier than them, they end up getting up within 20 minutes. Working after they go to bed is definitely an option, though.

Wow Danica, I had no idea!!! Do you have a specific schedule set up for working then or do you just never get any sleep?! I am amazed and awe inspired that you work that much at home, your products are amazing and you seem like a pretty darn good mom to boot. How do you keep from burning out? (Not that you have much time to answer today w/ your sale coming up shortly.

)

Stargazer441 · 05-31-2004, 01:00 PM

Cindy, sometimes a night schedule works better for us, too. I had to find an alternative because Wesley kept nursing me to sleep at night!! *lol* (Instead of me nursing HIM to sleep)

But before, I would put them to bed at 9 or 10pm, then work until 1 or 2am, sometimes later if necessary, and then we'd get up somewhere between 7 and 9am. So I still got 5 to 6 hours sleep usually. That worked good for us.

If you're a nighttime person, I say go for it!

Honestly I think from what I've seen having a consistent schedule is what makes the biggest difference - sticking to "work hours" and making sure the rest of the time you can keep your mind off work (well, as much as is possible anyway) and focus on kids/play/school.

Danica, I had no idea you were that busy either! Wow!! How do you find time to reply to my emails?!

orangestarfish · 05-31-2004, 01:10 PM

I work about 8hrs a day. I break up the hours. I'll work from 9:00am until about 2:00pm. Then pick up dd from school and have playtime with her. Then I'll work in the evenings. I try to make it a rule to stay away from the computer on Sundays.

Yvonne

danica · 05-31-2004, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2GuysAndaDoll
Wow Danica, I had no idea!!! Do you have a specific schedule set up for working then or do you just never get any sleep?! I am amazed and awe inspired that you work that much at home, your products are amazing and you seem like a pretty darn good mom to boot. How do you keep from burning out? (Not that you have much time to answer today w/ your sale coming up shortly. )

aw thanks

. it's actually pretty hard but i know it has to be done so i just do it, kwim?

at least half the time is multi-tasking. i only do computer work while nak. i include the kids in as many tasks as possible and i plan my days so that i am at least in the same room that they are. for instance, i wash the soap molds while i give the 3yo a bath. that's of course only one example.

i don't get a lot of sleep.

i make soap after the kids are in bed usually. if another adult is over or dh is home i will make soap when the kids are awake.

most other things the kids know how to make with me. a lot of those products end up as seconds but that doesn't bother me. it is worth it to me that they get the satisfaction of helping and we get time together. i try to make it fun for them. i also make sure what they earn goes into their savings accounts so they don't grow up feeling cheated, kwim? they are both pretty proud of the money they have saved.

i could whine (and sometimes i do

) but it really won't do any good. i have to work to be able to pay the bills so i have just figured out how to make it work. it is not easy, don't misunderstand me. i don't think a lot of people would want to trade places with me. that's okay though because i am happy with my life.

dh handles a lot of the housework. i don't really know who does more because there is always something to do around here.

a lot of people stop by and visit, too. if they offer to help do anything i usually take them up on it, lol!

lastly, it is good that we are jewish. at least the kids get shabbat that i'm not working

.

dreamseeds · 05-31-2004, 05:00 PM

I can put in 6-8 hours a day 6 or 7 days a week.
Then I also take time off. When things are flowing I try to get as much done as I can and when I have lots of mom things to do, I just don't work as much.

I will say that Christmas time last year I worked 16 hours a day for weeks! This year I am going to have to figure out a more reasonable schedule.
So I encourage you to work hard but remain balanced becase wahm can overtake a woman that already has too much to do.

That probably did not help, did it ?

yitlan · 05-31-2004, 05:42 PM

I honestly have NO IDEA how many hours/day I put in. I have always tried to cram work in whenever I can, calling on dh if I need dedicated, non-kid time. But since having another babe four months ago, the past four months I really just work when I can. I think there is some time-keeping freeware out there for both pc and palm. I guess I could start keeping track. But then I'd probably get embarassed by how much time I spend on message boards!

Anyway, make sure you're planning your meals well so you don't waste time coming up with ideas and cooking. I suggest batch cooking to streamline that routine!