Life as a Work-at-Home Mom, Guest Blog by author and mother, Nicole O'Dell
As an aspiring work at home mom, struggling to find a balance seems to be a major effort at times. I am excited today to have author and speaker Nicole O'Dell guest blog and share her experience as the author of the new Scenerios series for preteens as well as mom to six, three of which are one year old triplets as she will share with us today. I hope you find her own individual experience as encouraging and insightful as I have. Grab your morning cup of joe, kick back and enjoy. As Nicole has been so awesome to encourage us today, I hope you will pass be the comment section on your way out and leave Nicole an encouraging word also. :)
I’m Nicole O’Dell, wife, church youth leader, author and mother of six—the youngest of which are one-year-old triplets. I work at home as a writer of fiction for girls ages 10-15. I’m currently working on my sixth book in the Scenarios for Girls series, Barbour Publishing.
What?
First of all, I’ll define what I think it means to be a WAHM. For me, it means that I’ve chosen to fit business needs around my kids, their schedule and their needs—or at least try to. I work during nap times, after bed times, and any time in between that I can squeeze a few minutes out of the day.
Working from home isn’t possible for everyone. It obviously depends on the type of job, the situation at home and the level of self-motivation. It takes a solid commitment, and often seems impossible even from my spot right smack in the middle of it.
Some people work from home like I do—they pretty much do it without babysitters of any kind. I have a sitter/helper come three hours a week. Other than that, it’s Mommy and Daddy who cover the child care. Other Moms are able to arrange more scheduled child care like a nanny or sitter to care for the kids while she works at home. In my opinion, both situations are great and beneficial in different ways. I’m one who likes to see Mom and Dad with the “littles” as much as possible. But, I know firsthand how important it is to have quality time to work, too.
Why?
The reason is simple. I know how fast this time goes, and I want to be there for it as much as I can. Financially, I need to work. So, if I didn’t do this from home, I’d have to do something else much less personally fulfilling outside the home. The choice is a no brainer for me. I want to be with my kids, and I want to write books. I believe that God blessed me with the opportunity to do what I’m doing, both as a mom and as a writer, to the fullest possible extent that I could have ever have hoped for.
This isn’t always the easiest way, but, for me, it’s the only way.
How?
Like I mentioned above, during naps, after bedtime, and anytime in between. Writing is difficult to do with little kids around because it seems like I’ll just get on a train of thought and into a groove and someone will wake up, get hurt, want to eat, etc. So, it requires great flexibility.
Thankfully, we’re still on two naps a day. The babies nap from 9-11 and then from 2-4. Twice a week Daddy takes over the 11-2 shift so I can have those two days as full work days. And, once a week, a friend from church comes over to help for a couple of hours, too. When the big kids get home from school and the babies are up from nap, we all pitch in to get things cleaned up and dinner made.
So, it’s not the perfect, most organized life, but this time will pass so quickly. Pretty soon, the babies will be in school and there won’t be any problem with me getting in my work time—and I’ll wish for this time back. So, I don’t mind losing some sleep or not having much free time for now. It’s a happy trade.
I wouldn’t want to lose a moment of the time I have with my children. I ache with each passing day and milestone—I want them to stay little and under the shelter of my wings. I know this time is fleeting—my 17 year old is proof positive of that fact. That knowledge helps me when I feel overwhelmed or exhausted. I know that I’m capable of as much as I need to do to make it all work. But, when something has to give, it won’t be the kids.
I’m not always perfect or even good at the balancing act. You should see me when I’m facing a deadline! Sometimes the kids get chicken nuggets or frozen pizza instead of rotisserie chicken and veggies, but, I’m okay with that. I know that we are a team and we’re doing the best we can as a family. We’re happy, we’re healthy and we love each other very much.
http://www.nicoleodell.com/
http://www.scenariosforgirls.com/
Life as a Work-at-Home Mom
Who?
I’m Nicole O’Dell, wife, church youth leader, author and mother of six—the youngest of which are one-year-old triplets. I work at home as a writer of fiction for girls ages 10-15. I’m currently working on my sixth book in the Scenarios for Girls series, Barbour Publishing.
What?
First of all, I’ll define what I think it means to be a WAHM. For me, it means that I’ve chosen to fit business needs around my kids, their schedule and their needs—or at least try to. I work during nap times, after bed times, and any time in between that I can squeeze a few minutes out of the day.
Working from home isn’t possible for everyone. It obviously depends on the type of job, the situation at home and the level of self-motivation. It takes a solid commitment, and often seems impossible even from my spot right smack in the middle of it.
Some people work from home like I do—they pretty much do it without babysitters of any kind. I have a sitter/helper come three hours a week. Other than that, it’s Mommy and Daddy who cover the child care. Other Moms are able to arrange more scheduled child care like a nanny or sitter to care for the kids while she works at home. In my opinion, both situations are great and beneficial in different ways. I’m one who likes to see Mom and Dad with the “littles” as much as possible. But, I know firsthand how important it is to have quality time to work, too.
Why?
The reason is simple. I know how fast this time goes, and I want to be there for it as much as I can. Financially, I need to work. So, if I didn’t do this from home, I’d have to do something else much less personally fulfilling outside the home. The choice is a no brainer for me. I want to be with my kids, and I want to write books. I believe that God blessed me with the opportunity to do what I’m doing, both as a mom and as a writer, to the fullest possible extent that I could have ever have hoped for.
This isn’t always the easiest way, but, for me, it’s the only way.
How?
Like I mentioned above, during naps, after bedtime, and anytime in between. Writing is difficult to do with little kids around because it seems like I’ll just get on a train of thought and into a groove and someone will wake up, get hurt, want to eat, etc. So, it requires great flexibility.
Thankfully, we’re still on two naps a day. The babies nap from 9-11 and then from 2-4. Twice a week Daddy takes over the 11-2 shift so I can have those two days as full work days. And, once a week, a friend from church comes over to help for a couple of hours, too. When the big kids get home from school and the babies are up from nap, we all pitch in to get things cleaned up and dinner made.
So, it’s not the perfect, most organized life, but this time will pass so quickly. Pretty soon, the babies will be in school and there won’t be any problem with me getting in my work time—and I’ll wish for this time back. So, I don’t mind losing some sleep or not having much free time for now. It’s a happy trade.
I wouldn’t want to lose a moment of the time I have with my children. I ache with each passing day and milestone—I want them to stay little and under the shelter of my wings. I know this time is fleeting—my 17 year old is proof positive of that fact. That knowledge helps me when I feel overwhelmed or exhausted. I know that I’m capable of as much as I need to do to make it all work. But, when something has to give, it won’t be the kids.
I’m not always perfect or even good at the balancing act. You should see me when I’m facing a deadline! Sometimes the kids get chicken nuggets or frozen pizza instead of rotisserie chicken and veggies, but, I’m okay with that. I know that we are a team and we’re doing the best we can as a family. We’re happy, we’re healthy and we love each other very much.
http://www.nicoleodell.com/
http://www.scenariosforgirls.com/
Comments
I too have been a writermom for 13 years! what fun - ;))
keep on keeping on
Cornelia Seigneur - Writermom
www.corneliaseigneur.com