Summary: Practical tips for work from home moms, to help navigate the unique challenges of balancing work responsibilities with caring for children.

Work From Home Moms are the Leading the Way

According to an AXIS Insurance survey from Q4 2021, almost two-thirds of home-based business owners in the U.S. were women. Since 2020, the number of women working remotely has increased by 23% and 80% of women view remote work as a top job benefit. It is no guess that for moms, being able to work remotely means more flexibility to also juggle the responsibilities of motherhood. 

While I do believe that all moms are “working” moms, let’s define what I mean by working mom for the purposes of this article. A stay at home working mom is a mom that is managing caring for her kids while simultaneously performing work duties for her own business or her employer.

Avoid being an overwhelmed work from home mom

If you are already an overwhelmed mom when the kids are in school, you are probably not looking forward to summer. With the rising costs of summer camp, it is no shock that many moms choose to keep their kids home with them for the summer. The good news is there is a way to successfully work from home with kids at home. You do not have to suffer all summer!

11 Practical Tips for Work from Home Moms

Create a daily summer schedule for kids

Aside from getting your mind right, to prepare for your kids being home, the first best step is creating a daily schedule. If you and your kids just hop out of bed and hope for the best, you will be stressed out! Every work from home mom needs a plan of action. Regardless of your kids’ ages, you need a summer schedule for your kids. This schedule should include things like hygiene duties, chores, responsibilities, learning time, reading time, screen time, playtime, working time, etc. When my kids couldn’t read yet, I printed a schedule with pictures for them to understand easily

Example of a summer schedule for Work from Home Moms.

Create a summer calendar

More than just the daily schedule, a monthly summer calendar allows you to plan ahead. Your summer calendar should include important work dates, activities, outings, events, travel, extracurricular activities, appointments, etc.

Do not feel pressured to leave the house every single day, but be sure to incorporate some outings to add variety to your summer. You can do things like “library Tuesdays” or “Park Fridays” – I have worked from both the library and the park. Be sure not to overfill your calendar, but do your best to have fun when you can!

If you are planning summer travel, be sure to get those trips planned out early. Next, add in events you don’t want to miss. Then fill in the remainder of your calendar. For other local activities and events to add to your summer calendar, search the internet, local mom groups on Facebook, and use the event search function on Facebook. There are lots of fun festivals and events that take place during summer. If your remote work schedule doesn’t allow you to leave the house during the week, you can reward your kids with fun weekend events after having a good week at home.

Make a Bucket List for Summer

Ask your kids what they want to do this summer and be sure every kid gets to do something from their list. Include this activity on the summer calendar. You can even put multiple ideas in a bucket and randomly draw activities each week to incorporate into your schedule.

Let your kids watch TV

As work from home moms, you aren’t able to entertain the kids all day. The reality is that your kids will likely have screen time and there is no need to feel guilty about sitting them in front of the TV during your 1-hour Zoom call or longer. For me, when I need 100% quiet I typically give my kids TV time, because I know they are less likely to interrupt me when the TV is on.

Parents often brag about not letting their kids watch TV. Let’s be clear, this is not a flex! Your kids will not be ruined by watching TV. Just be mindful of what they watch. Your kids should have some freedom to watch shows they enjoy, but they can also learn while watching TV. Check out this list of 40 educational shows for kids.

Communicate with your employer

Let your employer know up front that you have kids home with you. Explain your challenges and explore flexible work options or adjusted schedules that can accommodate your motherhood responsibilities while meeting work requirements. It is much more helpful if your employer is aware so that they know how to best support you.

If you are running a home based business, you may find it necessary to let your clients or customers know about the change. If you are like me, your availability may vary during the summer. Your clients and customers will appreciate the heads-up. Include schedule changes in a direct email to your clients or add a line to your email signature like this: Please note my summer hours: Monday-Thursday 10 am to 2:30 pm EST.

Create a dedicated workspace for yourself

If you have an office, use it! If you do not have an office pick an area in your home and designate that as your workspace. Make sure your kids know this is where you work, then set appropriate expectations or boundaries regarding your workspace.

My office has glass French doors; my kids know that if both of my doors are shut, they must knock before bursting through the door. You can even print off a stop sign and let your kids know if they see that sign not to disrupt you. If you have babies or children that cannot be left alone, set up an area in or near your workspace that has some toys, books, or activities to keep your kids engaged nearby.

Leverage nap time or quiet time

Even if your kids are much older than napping age, set aside at least 1 hour where they go to their individual spaces and engage in a quiet activity. For older kids, encourage quiet activities like reading, drawing, or watching educational videos. While the kids are napping or having quiet time you can utilize this time to focus on tasks that require the most concentration. This would be a great time to schedule a meeting that requires zero interruptions.

Involve your kids in your work

If possible, let your kids get a taste of what you do. You never know how you might inspire them. You can give them small, age-appropriate tasks to keep them entertained for a short period of time. For example, if you are doing a print job, let your child grab papers from the printer. Your kids could even just sit next to you and watch you work or listen in on calls. My kids recently went with me to a lunch and site visit at a hotel. They loved it! They also like just sitting in my office chair observing. You could also give them an old laptop or toy laptop and let them pretend to work as well.

Find places to remote work with kids

Never underestimate what a change of scenery can do for you and the kids. Use your creativity and find places where you can work and keep your kids busy. You can pack up your laptop and go work at a library, park, indoor play area, gym, community/rec center, etc. I have even recently seen co-working spaces pop up that have daycare onsite!

Consider free or low-cost childcare options

Register for Vacation Bible School

Every summer, many Christian churches host Vacation Bible School (VBS). This is typically a week-long program held daily for 3 hours per day. Many VBS programs are free and open to the public. If there is a cost, it is normally a nominal fee, such as $10-20 per kid. Utilizing VBS is a great way to get time to yourself. Search Google for Vacation Bible School near me. Be sure to research the church to ensure it is a good fit for your family.

Pro tip: find a VBS near your home because 3 hours can go by very quickly. If you sign up for a VBS not-so-close to home I suggest finding a library or co-working space nearby so you can maximize your time working, not driving to and from home.      

Find day camps

Some camps have a drop-in option that doesn’t require you to register for the full week. This will be much more affordable than signing your kids up for an entire summer and you can use the day camps as needed.

Hire a mother’s helper

You can hire a teenager to be a mother’s helper, which is someone who is at the house with you, but responsible for keeping an eye on the kids while you work.

Seek support

Work from home moms need support to survive. If possible, consider enlisting the help of a friend, family member, or trading childcare responsibilities with another parent. Another idea is to co-work from home with a friend. While the two of you work, the kids can keep each other entertained. Be sure to reach out to your village when you need help. Do not suffer in silence.

Give yourself grace and be flexible

Even with all the schedules, calendars, and planning, be sure to stay flexible and open. Things come up and not everything will go according to plan. This doesn’t mean your summer is doomed. It is very important to understand that while you have a desire to get your work done, your kids also have their own desires. A peaceful, fun, and productive summer is one that meets both desires.

The Wrap up…

Ultimately, do what you have to do to maintain your sanity and peace in your home. Also, if your work schedule is not flexible enough to incorporate your kids, you may want to consider if this Stay at Home Working Mom life is really for you. It will be impossible to be left 100% uninterrupted while working from home with kids also at home. Your patience will be tested, but you can do this, mama!

Your turn

Which tip will you try first? Did I miss anything that you would recommend to work from home moms? Comment below and let me know!

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