Working from home….can it work?

Working from homeI was over the moon when hubby started work again a few weeks ago.  The only downside is we’re both working from home, we have a tiny house and I’ve been doing it a long time so have a rhythm and not used to having someone under my feet.  Something has to give.  This is my day and my hubby’s day…what do you reckon?

Mediocre Mum

  • Woke up before everyone else but not too early
  • Did the washing up from last night
  • Put a load of washing on
  • Made packed lunch
  • Gave Madame Breakfast
  • Did her ear drops and antibiotics
  • Helped her get dressed, brushed her hair, reading journal, boots and jacket
  • Did my invoicing
  • Sent out an email campaign
  • Responded to a few work emails
  • Went to the post office, pet store for Hamster supplies, Sainsbury’s for a few bits and Matalan.
  • Telephone conference with a client
  • Cooked Thai Green Chicken Soup for dinner
  • Cleaned the house in anticipation of the cleaner
  • Drove 50 miles to work including the Dartford tunnel, delivered a training session to 30 people with enthusiasm, drove 50 miles back, got stuck in a traffic jam, drove like a loon.
  • Picked up Madame, gave her a snack, danced around the lounge, gave her a bath, brushed hair, jammies, played with Hamster and did Bedtime stories.
  • Completed post visit reports
  • Plus another round of ear drops and antibiotics
  • Sorted Childcare for next week.
  • Wrote this post
  • Poured myself a very large glass of wine and hit Twitter!
  • Served dinner

 Hubby

  • Drove Madame to school
  • Sat in the corner in the kitchen on his computer all day……and he’s still there.

I rest my case!  Comments or suggestions on how we are going to make this work?

 

How old is too old?

‘My neighbour just had her first baby at 49’ my mate said last week.  My jaw hit the floor; initially I thought she must be insane and can’t imagine how exhausting that would be.  I was a slightly older mum and was classified as geriatric by the NHS being nearly 36.  A friend of mine has three children; her first was when she was in her mid 30s and the last was when she was 41.  She said it was a lot more tiring with the last one, I don’t know if it was age or if it was the fact of having three.  I’m reluctant to have another one facing 40 this year.

I would never want to deny anyone from experiencing the joy and pain of having children but I can’t help thinking there are limits.  Advances in science allow us to push the boundaries but is it still a good idea?  Please note, I also think they keep people alive a lot longer than they should these days and I do apologize if this offends anyone

I can’t help thinking of Carole Hobson, the single ex-barrister, who gave birth to twins using donor eggs and sperm from India when she was 58 years of age.  She herself said ‘Be careful what you wish for. . . you might just get it.’  Technically most women would be well into menopause at her age.  Is it irresponsible to bring children into the world when there is a good chance you won’t be able to care for them??  Who is going to be left to care for them and in this case, they have no biological bond to anyone in the UK. Her own parents are elderly, her brother thinks she’s crazy and her long-term partner left when she set about the mission of becoming a mother.

There is a good chance she will live to 81, the average life expectancy of women in the UK, which means she will have 23 years with her children but with what quality.  We have just gone through a difficult time with my hubby, who was born when his mother was 43; we lost them both within 18 hours of each other last summer.  Sadly, they were in their mid 80s when our daughter was born; they never really got to enjoy her fully, they were too scared to hold her, nor in a state to care for her and she will have no memories of them.

The fact that menopause sets in must be nature’s way of telling us it’s time to throw in the towel????

I can’t help feeling it’s selfish and irresponsible???  How old is too old?  Thoughts….

 

 

 

 

Why is the Childcare My Responsibility?

I’m self-employed so if I don’t go to work I don’t get paid!  Fortunately, this has only been an issue 2-3 times in the last couple of years since Madame was born.  We decided that I would only go back 3 days a week so I could be a bit more involved.  I have a great work life balance as my job is not that demanding and I still get to take her to swimming, dancing, toddler groups etc.  However, in this move to part-time work somewhere along the line my job has been devalued in our house.

A few months ago our childminder called in sick.  It’s the only time she has ever done it.  Panic set in!  I called everyone I know and even approached friends who didn’t even know how to change nappies.  I couldn’t find anyone.  I even contemplated taking her with me to work but thought the school may frown upon this.  In the end, I had to cancel the training session.

In hindsight, what I should have done was call hubby at work, stomp my feet and demand he come home.  He could’ve taken it as a sick day, still got paid and I wouldn’t have let the school down.  It seems obvious to me now but in my panic state I didn’t see it.

It happened again this week, this time I was poorly and really needed for him to stay home but again but he didn’t!

I can assure you it won’t happen again!

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. But fool me three times…..