I have been freelancing from home for the past 5 ½ years and I love
it and I love the work I do. It gives me the flexibility to be with my
children, I have really low childcare costs (Little Miss funding has just
kicked in so zero costs now) and I get to choose who I work with.
When I tell people I am a work at home mum they generally
tell me I am really lucky and for a very long time I agreed with them.
Oh yes I am lucky not to have to go out to work
Oh yes I am lucky that I get to be at home with my children.
Oh yes I am lucky to do I job that I love.
But I’m not lucky; I work really, really hard to be able to
do this. Don’t get me wrong I wouldn't have it any other way but it’s not come
easy. I spent many years working away
late into the night and grabbing precious minutes at nap time to fit work in
and build up a reputation and client portfolio.
During that time I had a second child and a lovely bout of
depression to help things along.
I still work in small pockets of time as Little Miss only
goes to tom playgroup 3 mornings a week, I am praying really hard that two extra
mornings become free soon! Life is hectic and sometimes down right exhausting. My recent illness has not helped but I am on the mend now.
I let myself devalue my own work. I think it’s because for such a long time I felt like a fraud, not believing in my abilities. I have come to realise that I am good at what I do!!
I feel like I am on the go constantly. Today I have dropped the
girls off, BG at school and Little Miss at playgroup. Before we left the house
I swapped the washing over. When I got back from the school run I filled the dishwasher
and swept the floor while I waited for the kettle to boil. I have then done an
hour and 20 mins work and have written this blog post (yes I am skiving), very
soon I will have to walk back and pick Little Miss up (I don’t drive so the 20
min journey is done on foot), we will then walk home, have lunch, I will attempt
some tidying, have a cup of tea and then do my 3rd school run of the
day. Then it will be dinner time, bed time, I will then do a few hours work,
get the kids’ stuff ready for the morning, watch a bit of TV and go to bed. I
do that on a Monday and Wednesday. On a Thursday OH is off so I get a full
working day. Tuesday and Friday I work in the evenings.
My house is a pit; I have piles of washing everywhere.
This is my desk, the house is even worse!
I wouldn’t change the way I work. Yes it’s hectic and the
days are long but Little Miss goes to school next year *sob* and things will
then get easy. This September she goes over the pre-school side will be doing
two and half days and that will really make a difference. Until then I will carry
on the way we are, I am trying not to think about summer!
So I am not lucky to be a work at home mum, I work really
hard so I can be one.
Right I have 20 minutes before I have to leave. Time for some more work!