Working Mom Woes: Tips on how to cope

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One of the things I miss the most about working from home is this:

Part of Working Mom Woes: Missing Kiddie Clutter
Kiddie Clutter.

While I find fulfilment in working away from home, sometimes I’d rather be picking up my son’s clutter in the early mornings. There are days when you just have the working mom blues!

Here are three ways I cope with working mom woes:

  • Indulge in the sentimental for a few minutes, then go back to work. I daydream a little bit about home. What toys would we be playing with? Will we be reading books together? Giving yourself a few minutes to think these happy thoughts helps get the daydream out of your system! This way you could focus more on your tasks later on.
  • Work towards a deadline. I try to get out of the office by 6 pm. But to do that, it means completing all my tasks by that time. Focusing on getting the tasks by 6 helps ensure that I get home to my son earlier. The more I dilly dally at work, the less time I’ll have with him when I get home. So work towards the 6 pm deadline it is!
  • Check in. Receiving photos via iMessage is a big stress reliever for me. I ask the folks at home how Timmy’s doing and they respond with images of my toddler at play, eating a meal, taking a nap. If it calms you down to know how your child is doing, check in at home. Not too often though! Just enough to put a smile on your face and motivate you enough to get through the day.

So far these have helped take away some of the blues I have when missing home. What about you? Do you work away from home? What do you miss about the stay-at-home or work-at-home Mom life? How do you cope with the working mom woes?

13 Comments on Working Mom Woes: Tips on how to cope

  1. Mom-Friday
    July 2, 2013 at 9:31 am (11 years ago)

    We’re the opposite now…. since the two kids are both in school, I day-dream of working again!!! I’m just so lazy now and I still want to stay at home. But there are days I think about my working days in the agency and how structured my life was then. Maybe I’ll give it a serious thought after a year or two.

    By the way, I finally did the Alphabet Meme, up now! :)

    Reply
    • Toni
      July 2, 2013 at 12:37 pm (11 years ago)

      You’re so blessed to have that luxury of choice!

      Thanks for answering the Alphabet Meme. I’ll go and check it out. 😉

      Reply
  2. Rosels' Mom
    July 4, 2013 at 9:20 am (11 years ago)

    thank you for the tip. i am a work from home mom, and your post is a big help!

    Reply
    • Toni
      July 4, 2013 at 9:43 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you Rosels Mom! Happy to help.

      Reply
  3. Maggie
    July 5, 2013 at 12:17 am (11 years ago)

    I take lots and lots of pictures and videos of my son. They are my life savers especially when it becomes crazy at work. :)

    Reply
    • Toni
      July 5, 2013 at 7:00 am (11 years ago)

      That is so true, Maggie! I whip out my phone and browse through pictures and videos of my son to perk me up at the workplace. I tried the digital frame once, but that made me miss him immensely!

      Reply
  4. Brenda Barrientos-Vallarta
    July 5, 2013 at 3:55 pm (11 years ago)

    I can totally agree with these tips, especially about working on a deadline.
    I try to finish all the work so 100% FULL TIME mom when i come home!

    Reply
    • Toni
      July 5, 2013 at 4:48 pm (11 years ago)

      100% FULL TIME mom when you get home — I love how you put that! That is the goal indeed at the end of a work day. :) Thanks Brenda!

      Reply
  5. Chrissy
    July 8, 2013 at 5:18 pm (11 years ago)

    I look at my son’s photos and vidoes every so often and I call him and his Yaya twice (morning and afternoon). Sometimes I get to talk to him and I get to ask what he’s doing. :) But if my toddler declares that he’s busy playing, I’m content with talking to his Yaya while I hear him on the background – shouting, humming, singing.

    Reply
    • Toni
      July 12, 2013 at 7:20 am (11 years ago)

      I do that too! Look at my son’s pics and videos on my phone. They’re immediate picker-uppers. Thanks for sharing, Chrissy!

      Reply
  6. Jessica S.
    August 5, 2013 at 6:15 am (11 years ago)

    I’m a WAHM, and I know I’m not strong enough to work outside the home, now that I have DD. However, while being a WAHM may sound like the things flowery dreams are made of, it’s really hard to make myself sit in my office and work when I hear my hubby and daughter laughing. Or worse, when she starts to cry for me. All I want to do is go to her, but I know if I open the door and leave the office, she’ll only do it more. :( The other day, she hopped (both feet off the floor) for the first time, and I missed it. I was only a room away, but I missed it. I love being ABLE to work from home, but sometimes it makes it even more hard to make myself go work (I mean, no one would really know except me, right?). My other woe is picking up the house. Hubby agreed to watch daughter, but breakfast and lunch are served by mommy, messes are cleaned by mommy, poopy diapers are done by mommy, housework is done by mommy, litter boxes and all feed times are done by mommy… *sigh* Being a WAHM is definitely life a big emphasis on the W. Hehe. In the end, though, for the moment when I walk out of the office and DD grabs my legs and goes, “Mmmmm…” and won’t let go–it is all totally worth it. :)

    Reply
    • Toni
      August 5, 2013 at 10:54 am (11 years ago)

      High five, Jessica! The rewards far outweigh the pains, yes? :)

      Reply

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