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I find that as soon as school stars, if I call or e-mail my daughter's teachers and let them know that we work and what time we get home and all that, things tend to go easier the rest of the year. In our neighborhood, there are a lot of stay-at-home moms and so the teachers often expect the parent involvement to start even before school is out, but when they know the situation, the demands they put on the kids work better with our schedules.

When choosing a doctor, I recommend one close to your children's school. I have to take the little one in in a couple of days and have to drive allll the way to school then alll the way to the doctor (which is close to our office) alll the way back to school and allll the way back to work. This will take up almost a full day. I am debating whether or not just to take that time off, then I won't have to feel rushed.

Isn't it amazing how one person in the office can ruin the whole dynamic? Everyone is great except ONE and it makes it more difficult to get ready for work in the mornings. Added stress too because I don't want it to affect the time I spend with the remaining child who needs extra attention right now. Poo. >:{

I want to go back to work.  Putting aside the cost of childcare.

How do I take the plunge without the guilts and throw myself into the work secularly and work home?

I just don't want to leave myself out of the business world too long otherwise in 5years alot can be a big catch up.

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So what do you do with the kids when you are at work? Do you work during the day or at ngiht?

Some of the other parents who work with me and I have started keeping survival kits at the office. Blankets, sweaters, art supplies (well, we've already got lots, we're a design firm), snacks, books, games. . . one woman even has a big jar full of pinata toys, so when holidays for the kids start but holidays for the parents don't, any of those who can't find day care just bring their kids to work and we put them in a back room or under the desk or in an empty cubicle and let them entertain themselves. It works out especially well when there are lots of kids. Ours are the oldest, so everyone loves it when they show up (free babysitting). The blankets really come in handy too when a kid has to stay home from school and we just can't stay home with them. The kids get a little bored, but they've always been pretty good. Fortunately, as artists, everyone expects us to be a little quirky, so when clients come through the shop, seeing an 8 year old behind a desk is just chalked up to eccentricity. We are also very very lucky to work at such an accomodating office. My heart truly goes out to those who have to work and can't find child care.

Just a note - a really good friend of mine used to work for a company that provided tech support for internet camera systems where you set up a camera in your home, then you can check it over the interent. She said a fair number of people were using these to help keep an eye on their kids when they couldn't be home with them. The amout of checking varied from knowing when they came home to knowing what they were up to. I thought this was an interesting idea, especially if your work schedule conflicts with the school schedule, which it often does.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0602/p11s02-lifp.html

Welcome to all two-career households and single working parents, those who can "bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan. . . " to quote an old Enjoli advertisement.

When it seems like you don't have enough time to get yourself together much less get together and exchange advice, here's a place where you can just scribble out your questions or two cents, or just go AAAAAARRRRRRGGH!