Freelancing with kids? How much damage have they caused to your equipment?

Lynne Level 1

September 13, 2016, 12:54 pm

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Freelancing with kids? How much damage have they caused to your equipment?

I am a mommy blogger so, I work from home and I collect my young kids from playschool at midday.

This means I am very often trying to work and look at my kids. This combination doesn't mix so great.

Does anyone else work with their kids around and what sort of damage has this caused your equipment?

My first taste of this little problem was when my daughter was 18 months old and I decided to buy an ipad. My thinking was that it would be so much easier to work on an ipad with my daughter around (especially after she somehow managed to throw my laptop....)

So I had this mental vision of a baby in one arm and an ipad in the other. Ok let's look at reality - I had just purchased my 18 month old daughter an expensive ipad.

This ipad is now shattered (back and front) so badly that I was too embarrassed to even call my insurance to find out if they will cover it. In their defense it still turns on and works... but of course you run the risk of shredding your fingers.

I can probably write a book detailing the damages to my work equipment...

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RaduV

RaduV

Hey Lynne, i don't have my own kids but i have a nephew which is quite often at my place. I remember that i was due on a translation gig a while ago and the little "devil" came and mess up my file, closed my word document and somehow he managed to delete the file just because he wanted to play some online miniclip games. It was my 2 days work which he "destroyed" in a matter of minutes. It's interesting to work with kids around but it's tricky. Since that day, i try to backup my files when he is around because i can't just forbid him the access to the computer. It's quite easy to keep him busy with the games than to entertain him 4-5 hours when he's around.

8 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

LOL I can just imagine how fast the little guy removed 2 days work!

2 weeks ago my 2 year son climbed on the table while I was working and jumped on my laptop, like I had to move my hands from the keyboard. I heard a crunch. My laptop was still working after that but it would turn off every time I didn't keep it on a flat surface like a table or desk. I couldn't use it on my lap, but now it has started being ok to have on my lap again. It is funny, but like so NOT funny too.

This evening he removed another letter from my husbands laptop keyboard.... oh dear it just never ends!

8 years ago

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RaduV

RaduV

That's a bummer. I'm glad that i can trick my nephew with the tablet and luckily it doesn't have keys. From this point of view, he's calm with the equipment and he doesn't destroy it but anyway, it's better to get some precautions.
I am planning to convert a room that we don't use that much in a personal working space where his access will be limited to avoid any incidents like i had before.

I'm affraid of my future kids, if they will be as interested in see the inside things and why the laptop is working, then i will have the real problem.

8 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

This is a great topic! well first off i started working out of my kitchen, i know it sounds weird but before we lived in this big house we had a tiny apartment. and my kids destroyed about 5 Ethernet cables because i had it run from the living room to the kitchen across the floor. They have also destroyed a wireless router of mines by pulling it down off of the entertainment center! I did not punish them either time just ask them to be more careful i have good kids i cant complain. I always recommend people separating themselves from the house if its at all possible, for example my new office is in the garage. I love it because i can get my work done faster with zero distractions and i don't have to worry about them breaking stuff because they are not allowed in the mining operation hahahaha! The crazy thing is though soon these kids of mines will be using a computer! AAAAAHHHH

8 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

Oh geez Jkeyz2, I can just imagine how hectic that must have been working from the kitchen with kids and having cables running to another room. In fact I have quite a crazy image in my head for that heehee. I am sure that things are a load better now with you working from the garage.

I have a cool set up at my house. It is a double story and the top is just one room with a bathroom so that is my office space. It is part of the house, but also completely separate from the rest of the house too. The cool thing is I have a stunning view of the beach and a balcony.

8 years ago

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EliteWriter

EliteWriter

I fully understand your situation. There is no doubt that you cannot explain to kids that laptops and other gadgets are expensive, and unfortunately they end up ruining them without realizing how devastating it is to us. My worst experience was when I saw my laptop getting smashed to the floor because my kid was running after the dog and they kept running into the power cord. So the laptop ended up on the floor along with my mobile which was next to it. Thankfully the mobile still worked, but the laptop started to give me small shocks, and part of the casing was awkwardly protruding outwards while typing.

8 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

Yeah it is frustrating isn't it?

I think part of the problem with me and my kids is that I try and get work done in the afternoons when they are with me. They now see my laptop, my computer and my phone as competition for their attention.

My 2 year old already knows how to tell me to "please stop working mommy" and if I get up from my laptop to go to the toilet or put the kettle on he quickly closes it and hides it in a cupboard.

I can really feel guilty at times, but you know I have to make money and it is hard at times.

8 years ago

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EliteWriter

EliteWriter

Oh my what a cutie! Yes it is very depressing at times. I have often felt guilty about it, because no matter how old kids are they still do not appreciate the value of having to work so as to earn money. The fact that you are working from home is not a simple thing that they can understand as most people do not work from home, but out of their home from an office or shop or whatever. So if you are at home, kids expect you to be with them, to relax, do fun things and play.

8 years ago

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Everett

Everett

I don't have kids, but if I did and they are younger than 5 I will probably limit their access to technology. I remember years ago when it was a thing to bash kids that have smart phones when they were like eight years old. Does anyone remember that? There are a few memes floating around somewhere about this.

Never the less, I can see why parents choose to entertain their children with these devices, but on the otherhand it could be quite dangerous especially if the child was exposed to adult sites, or other malicious websites. This is one reason why I would be scared for my child to access the internet.

8 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

Oh my gosh no, I don't let my kids touch my things.... they are not supposed to touch anything. But I can lock my laptop in the cupboard, go and make coffee and when I get back I have a two year old burglar running off with my laptop.

My daughter managed to grab the camera I borrowed from my father in law off the kitchen counter when she was 2 years old and threw it... kids they can truly be a complete menace LOL. I was so embarrassed because I borrowed the camera for work and at that time I couldn't afford to replace it. I felt awful.

8 years ago

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overcast

overcast

I have seen some kids harming the device. So in such case getting one dedicated room is lot better idea. I think it'd be possible to have the equipment properly handled. You have to work with the kids and in such case you have to tell kids where to not touch. I think if that can done then surely things can be possible. I guess freelancing is not easy if you are with kids and family around.

8 years ago

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Corzhens

Corzhens

I'm fortunate that there's no kids in our home. However, a friend who is a freelancer has 3 kids to take care of while working at home. Her attitude is admirable because she was able to discipline her kids not to mess with her things. She confided to me that she always tells her kids that she needs to work for the money otherwise they will go hungry. Well, it worked.

7 years ago

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Barida

Barida

I must say that you're really determined to make it as a freelancer for not many moms would want to make some money while nursing a new baby. So, I give you kudos on that, but just try to manage the time you work and the time for kids.

7 years ago

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