I worked on the road for a very long time. There were stages my children went through that I regret missing. At the same time there were things I experienced that I wouldn't change; but that is for another article. I love my wife and children and enjoy staying at home immensely. Along with staying home with them comes a certain amount of interruptions and decision making I hadn't planned for.



Right now as I write this article I've got a 12 yr. old and 14 yr. old discussing the merits of an Xbox 360. They want to buy one and are wondering if I'm "in". These discussions go on around me all the time and I've learned to listen but not listen (parents with children know what I mean). These are not the moments this article is about. What I will address are the things that need to be done as a parent - daily. Things like meals, rides to wrestling practice, going to pick up buddies, sledding, and taekwondo practice.

First off some boundaries need to be set. You DO need some quiet time to do some of the work you do. Set them down and draw some boundaries. Some people need more quiet than others. You've already gotten a glimpse into my life at home. I'm writing an article with my children trying to drag me into a conversation. I can deal with this some people cannot. I have quiet time certain times of the day and I use those times for the work that needs more concentration; like editing. Sometimes I trade them time for rides they need to events or tell them if they give me 3 hrs. alone they can have a buddy over on Saturday. Better yet they can go to a friend's house. That is even more time alone or with one less child.

The whole idea for me was to spend more time with my children. I take time off during the day and go sledding with my 8 yr. old, walk to the local café for lunch with my 12 yr. old daughter or take a couple hours off to go deer hunting with my 14 yr. old son. These are things they enjoy and I am rewarded handsomely for it. When I do these things with them they no longer feel the need to seek my attention and I get more work time naturally. Young people this age are adept at computer operations; soliciting their help in your home based business is also a viable option from time to time. You'd be surprised how many articles or ads they can submit in a half hour.

Smaller children bring to the table a different set of circumstances. There are various stages they go through and can need anything from diaper changing to nose wiping or cleaned up after taking a dive in the toilet (I know, I've been there too). With smaller children you must figure out a way to keep them occupied safely and check on them often. More time will need to be spent with them doing the various chores that present themselves with toddlers but working at home and caring for them at the same time has it's rewards also.

Getting up early in the morning and working before they get out of bed is one thing to do. Doing the parts of your business like balancing books or editing can be done while toddlers nap. During the summer months hiring a child just a bit older to play with your toddler can be a wonderful solution. Young girls and boys from eight to 12 yrs. old can be great at keeping toddlers busy and can be hired very inexpensively to do so. It is a very good way for them to gain self esteem from earning some spending money; and toddlers tend to look up to children that age as role models. It can be a win- win situation for everyone.

These are just a few suggestions for beginners to think about when starting a home based business. This is surely not a comprehensive list but one that will hopefully get the creative juices flowing in the right direction. Opportunities to work at home have never been more numerous and varied since the advent of the internet. Anyone wanting to stay home and work should have no trouble finding a niche that fits their lifestyle choices.