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Freelancers with Kids – how do you do it?



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Freelancers with Kids – how do you do it?

I am a blogger and web master. I manage to work around my 2 children (2 years old and 4 years old) but it is HARD. They are thankfully in play school in the mornings and that is when I get most of my work done.

How does everyone else cope that tries to parent and work for themselves? What works for you and what doesn’t?

How many children do you have and what are their ages?

I don’t really have any tips other than just do what you have to do, no matter how tired you are and squeeze in work every moment when the kids are distracted with something else.

I have to admit that I get quite frustrated with my hubby that seems to think I have it easy or easier than him anyway. I would love an 8-9 hour day to just focus on work… come home to a home cooked meal and happy children that are just about to go to bed lol.

What are your thoughts?

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EliteWriter
Trying to cope with young kids is not easy. I often get frustrated because it is normal that they make some sort of noise, whether they are playing or watching TV. The trick is to find something for them to do, but it needs to be something that keeps them engaged for quite some time. Having said that as a parent you cannot just get rid of them and ignore them, so I try to find interesting activities as much as possible. Also, I do my best to complete as much work as possible before they wake up and while they are at school.



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Lynne
My kids wake up at 6am and I just can't get up earlier than that and try working. Firstly I am a morning person, but getting up at 5am is taking it a little far for me Freelancers with Kids – how do you do it?

Also I have actually tried it anyway when I had loads of work to do and my kids wake up and get up when I do. If I sleep later so do they, but if I get up at 5am it will be 5 mins and they join me so this was pointless.

Yes I also get most of my work done while they are in playschool... but what about school holidays? What do you do then?

How old are you kids?



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ajlancer
Hi Lynne thanks for your nice question. I always appreciate you for your hard working as a responsible mom. You have 2 kids and I know you are look after both of them very much. I have one cute kids and he is now 20 months old, near about your younger child. But, my wife mostly look after him. Because, most of the time I passing time in my office. And I know it is very difficult to manage all at a time. Especially when you have 2 Childs. While I occasionally work in home in night time. My son making too noise beside me and he always trying to write something on keyboard and want to play with mouse. It is really hard to do work in front of them. Though, I never feel bore or angry for such activity of my son.

Regards by Ajlancer



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Lynne
Ajlancer you just had me giggling now. I know exactly what you mean.

Yesterday my daughter stuck a princess sticker on my phone..

And my son has broken off 2 buttons from my hubby's laptop recently.

They are lovable nuisances aren't they?

I find it best to focus only on work when my kids are at play school and in bed... and to only focus on my kids when they are around otherwise it just lands up being frustrating for all of us.



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CryptoGuru
oh man looks like you got your hands full there, shoot i got 3 of my own i am dealing with all girls 7, 5, and 2 so trust me i know how tough it can be trying to work and watch the kids at the same , luckily i have my wife support and she does help out quite a lot at key times when i am very busy so i am always thankful for that, but you know my kids do not really make it that hard for so i am usually able to breeze right through with what i need to do.



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CryptoGuru
Lynne, great question! It is super hard to work with children at home no doubt! My wife and I are both home with our children. We have 3 girls (7, 5, and 2). While, I work most of the time, my wife is able to be with the kids and handle most of the housework. Once I get too tired or overwhelmed, we switch and I will help with the kids and house hold chores while she sits down at the computer and works. My wife and I have a great relationship and even better working relationship. We work really well as a team and that helps a lot!! I definitely am not saying having a home business and having children is easy because it really isn't. We have our bad days, but overall we all work well as a team!



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Lynne
Oh that sounds like a great arrangement with both parents home.

I just sometimes feel really frustrated because well, you know how hard it is.

I don't have anyone to help or take over. My hubby is awesome, when he is here but he works long hours.

He recently worked a lot of overtime. He is almost always gone when we wake up and there were a number of nights over a period of about 2 weeks he came home as they were going to bed. It is those times I really struggle.

I am not from this area, I moved here 5 years ago when I got married. I was 6 months pregnant so I could not exactly get around much.

I felt very isolated and I sometimes still do. I would just love my parents to move here so I can have some off time, you know what I mean?



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Everett
I don't see how freelancers have enough time to take care of their kids, honestly. I would probably neglect my kids if I were to freelance and actually have kids. I believe it's amazing for those that actually do have kids, and work at home especially if they are single parents. It's very hard to raise children, and it's especially hard to do it when you work from home or run a business from home.

If anyone said parenting and freelancing is easy, i wouldn't agree. Parenting is a tough job, and freelancing is a cutthroat type of job. I give many kudos to those whom balance the two as I wouldn't be able to do it.



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Lynne
Everett I think you would be a great parent. When the time comes you will see how everything shifts. It is hectic but quite an amazing thing too.

I sometimes feel like I am not coping and like I won't make it through to the end of the day alive.

I remember one woman I was chatting to saying to me "Oh but you cope so well" and my response was yes I am still breathing,... but how does that equate with coping?



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Corzhens
I am fortunate that there are no children in our home. But a writer friend whose bread and butter is freelancing has to take care of her 3 kids, 1 is in school age. She asked me to teach her time management techniques so she can make good use of her time. It is just a matter of prioritizing your concerns and charting the work schedule.



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augusta
As a freelancer and a mother to tiny tots, I will say it hasn't been easy.Raising children and freelancing is the hardest thing in the world because they wouldn't know when to stop bothering one.I try to string words together when they're off to school and just take a little nap before they're back.It not easy but we can just try and try I have been doing.



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