Depending on the type of home-based work that you do, having your children around to be a part of things can be a wonderful part of the experience. However, there are going to be times that you must simply have peace and quiet - whether it be to make an important phone call, to finish work for deadline or a myriad of other reasons.
There are many ways to entertain your children while you work. Finding productive ways to entertain them with can be more difficult. Outlined below are five constructive things that your kids can do to give you a quiet moment.
1. Naptime
Working while your child is taking a nap is an easy way to have the quiet that you’ll need for phone calls and other important tasks. If you have more than one child, try setting a specific time for them to take a nap each day, so that they will come to expect it. Even a half hour a day can make a difference in your workload.
If you have older children that are home during the day, they too need quiet time even if they don’t necessarily sleep. It is good for children to have some time to themselves. They can play quietly in their room, read or do another quiet activity.
2. Playtime
If your children are 4 years old or more, you can many times help them start an activity that they can complete. Put a small table near your desk and allow them to play with play dough, do a puzzle or a simple craft project. Take a break every so often to check their progress and help them if needed.
With older kids, you can have them sit at the kitchen table or somewhere else out of hearing range to do an activity or craft suitable for their age and interests.
3. Outdoor Time
When the weather cooperates, send the kids outside for some fresh air. Be sure that your children are old enough and mature enough to handle time outside by themselves. If possible, have a next door neighbor keep an eye on them. If you have a fenced in back yard, that is often the safest possibility. Another option is to buy outdoor activities that can keep your children occupied.
4. Computer Time
Allowing your children time on the computer can be a fun way for them to pass time quietly if you are on the phone or doing other tasks. There are many educational websites and games that they play online, such as SesameStreet.com, Noggin.com and BigIdea.com.
Many smaller children will also enjoy “typing.” Open a blank document in your Word Processor and make the font large. As they get older, they will become familiar with the letters and even learn to type their name and other words.
5. TV time
On the days when your child is sick or it is too cold to play outside, consider allowing them to watch a movie or an allotted amount of TV time. Most children’s movies are kept short to keep their attention and are also educational. Find movies and TV programs that meet your approval and adhere to your morals and beliefs.
Working from home and being there for your children is one of the best gifts that you can give them. However, there are always times when you will need the little ones quite while complete necessary tasks. Use these five ideas to take the stress out of finding quiet time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. This site is dedicated to providing work at home moms with opportunities to promote their businesses while at the same time providing them spiritual encouragement and articles. Visit http://www.CWAHM.com for additional information.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just about roses and boxes of chocolate. You can surprise your sweetheart with some healthy valentine snacks this year that not only good for him or her, but also delicious. Here are five healthy snack ideas that are perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Combine ripe strawberries with dark chocolate for a healthy, yet indulgent Valentine snack. Start with large, ripe strawberries. Melt some dark chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave. Dip the strawberries halfway into the dark chocolate. Allow the excess chocolate to drip off, and then place them on some wax paper to allow the chocolate to harden.
Heart Shaped Grilled Cheese Sandwich
For these cute grilled cheese sandwiches, layer a piece of low fat cheese between two slices of wheat bread. Use a large heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut the sandwich into a heart. Spray a hot pan with a non-stick cooking spray and add the sandwich. Grill it until it is golden brown on both sides and the cheese is melted. These sandwiches are a perfect snack on their own, or serve them with a cup of tomato soup for a light lunch.
Cupid’s Arrows
This snack also makes an attractive appetizer. Start by washing some grape or cherry tomatoes and cutting some low-fat mozzarella cheese into cubes. Thread them on some kabob sticks, alternating the tomatoes and the cheese. Lay the “arrows” on a platter and drizzle with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar to finish off. Even cupid could not resist this Mediterranean inspired snack.
Valentine’s Day Smoothie
This very-berry and pink smoothie makes a great midday snack or even a filling breakfast. Start by adding some low-fat strawberry to your blender. Toss in some frozen berries (we like strawberries) and a frozen banana if you’d like. Add a little orange juice and blend on high until well mixed. Pour the smoothie into tall glasses and top with a little low-calorie whipped topping, a strawberry and a Hershey’s kiss.
Jello Hearts
These jello hearts are always a favorite with the kids. Prepare a package of strawberry yellow according to package directions. If you’d like, you can fold in a few finely chopped strawberries at the end. Pour the jello mixture into a baking dish and allow it to harden. Use heart shaped cookie cutters to cut hearts out of the red yellow mixture. Top each heart with half a strawberry (cut lengthwise).
For more healthy recipes and menu planning ideas for any day of the year visit http://www.healthymenumailer.com - The Healthy Menu Mailer also makes a thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susanne_Myers
When I tell people I'm a work at home mom, I usually get dismissive looks, the occasional raised eyebrow, and sometimes even a laugh. If I told someone that I was a domestic entreprening engineer...well that might get a little (as Aretha would have said) r-e-s-p-e-c-t. But we "moms" are not "workers" in the public eye. Whether that stems from tradition (a woman's place is in the home anyhow) or from ignorance (How hard can it POSSIBLY be??), I'm not sure. What I am sure of, is that we deserve proper credit for all the long days, short nights, a**-busting labor, taxi service, errand-running, meal making, child-comforting work that we do. And let me tell you, the term "Work at Home Mom" doesn't even begin to cover it. Not even close.Sadly, although it is the 21st century, and we women now have equal pay, voting rights, and other equal-opportunity bonuses, we are still FAR from equal in the eyes of the general public, some men, and even yes...in the law. We still have yet to have a woman president, or even a woman president-elect. Woman still aren't allowed to be in the NFL, or the AFL, or to be in the Navy Seals. In fact, women, as a minority group, are now the most discriminated against in the country. African Americans, gays, all manners of religious persuasions, and other minority groups, all have the above opportunities. Women do not. It is a sad fact that society still hasn't quite got the grasp on the whole equal opportunity thing. For those who say a woman couldn't do the job...well, they've never given birth to an 8 lb. baby, have they?So when it comes to working from home, women already are at a handicap. Although the women's right movement has come a very long way, it isn't quite done yet, and our bras are only a little singed, not completely burnt. People "expect" women to live in the home, clean the house, take care of the kids, cook the meals, do the laundry, etc. Which in itself is a major undertaking as many people already know. But when you add a home business to that, the lines tend to get blurred, and boundaries are, if not completely shattered, blurred around the edges. If you are on your computer answering emails about your business, and your 4 year old falls down and cuts his knee, you have to be there for him...even though you are still technically "at work". You are still expected to do the "woman things" you would normally do, but on top of all of that, now you have a business to run, that doesn't even look like a business to an outsider who sees you running for your crying baby in the middle of a business meeting.No, working at home while being a mom is not easy. It isn't simple, and for the majority of us, we could make a heck of a lot more flipping burgers at McDonald's for a heck of a lot less effort. So why do we do it? To be able to be with our families...to be our own bosses...to not have pressure of bosses and deadlines...there are a million reasons. But as mother's, more is expected from us. We have business hours, we have important things to get done. Just like you, we have deadlines, and schedules and important emails. We are your wives, your daughters, your sisters...but we are not your maid who brings in extra money on the side selling that "smelly stuff". We are business women, and deserve to be treated as such.
Category 1: Women's Issues/Women in BusinessCategory 2: Family/ParentingCategory 3: Women's Issues
Keywords: women, woman, womanhood, female, business, wahm, businesses, mother, mom, moms, work, working, house
