I would like to add a couple that work great for me:

1. Distinctive Ringing on the phone ~ awesome for ignoring the million phone calls that start out with “What cha doin?”, while you are in the middle of a task.

2. Improvise ~always~ you have free hour you didn’t expect, throw in some laundry, get the vacuum out, catch up on your bookkeeping, clean out the old emails, whatever you can fit into that time.

3. Peek at the faces of your children. Getting caught up in being busy is very easy to do, and younger children just don’t really understand. I’ve noticed, if I look away from the screen just for a moment and look into those eyes ~ I’ll know if it’s time to take a break and give them a few minutes, or if it’s just a pass-by mom in the office, make sure she’s still breathing.

4. To avoid the burned dinners, I just say “Honey, will you help keep an eye your supper so I don’t burn it AGAIN while I’m doing this?” lol. Seems to work ok for now.

I agree, the support system is key. I found that having other WAHMs as friends helped quite a bit.

1) Make a commitment: After running around a child all day (I don’t use day care), it can be very tempting to put work aside. However, I have found that it works great to put myself on a schedule. I get up early every day, work during naps, on weekends and two nights during the week. While I change my routine if needed, I make sure I put in the time.

2) Make time for things for yourself: As much as I believe in working hard, I also strongly advocate finding time to do what you enjoy. Spending time with my husband at night, seeing friends or even going for a walk or reading a book does wonders for my sanity.

3) Have a support system. For me, I rely heavily on family, other freelancers and moms. I couldn’t do this without the help of each of these groups.
- Family: My husband is fantastic (I’m thankful for him every day) – he completely understands that I need time to work and does a TON to help. And, while I don’t use day care, my mother-in-law watches my daughter for a few hours a week, which is a godsend.
- Freelancers: I’ve been very fortunate to find a great group of women who are also freelance marketing writers. Not only have we started blogging together, but we trade emails constantly and give each other advice and support; it’s been the best thing that’s happened to me.
- Other moms: I have a group of mom friends who have children the same age as my daughter who I see a few times a week. Even though we don’t “talk shop” they are a huge support to me as they make me feel less crazy.

I’ve never been so tired, but I’ve never loved my job this much (both mom and marketing writer)! I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I am the same as you. I did everything I could to hide the fact that I worked at home.

I have to say, though, now that I’m renting commercial space (as in, an office OUTSIDE of my house), I don’t know why I didn’t do this sooner. The quiet is wonderful and going home every evening with the knowledge that my work is not in my home is very freeing.

My friend and I joke that we could start a burned pot collection due to the number of meals we’ve scorched while answering email, hahahahaha.

I love that! It’s the “training” part that stymies most Moms. Seems like you found the way that worked beautifully for you and your son. You know how it is for all of us…talking to a client while shushing the kids with popsicles and managing an over-boiling pot of spaghetti (all while hoping the house phone doesn’t ring!)

When I first started out, I was so fearful that a client might “find out” I worked from home. I jumped through hoops and spent money needlessly trying to hide that fact. Only a few years ago, working from home still wasn’t considered professional. Today, everyone is clamoring to have what you and I have had for years, Dianna, which makes it so cool…and I no longer hide my home office status from my clients. They all know where they can find me. It’s one of the things that makes my business unique and so much better able to offer the kind of personal service that is sorely lacking in business relationships today. My clients recognize and appreciate this.

So to all the freelance moms out there who may be reading this, I say don’t let anything hold you back from getting started. You don’t need a fancy address. Technically, you don’t even need a dedicated home office (if that is what’s keeping you from getting going). A computer, a cell phone, maybe paper and pen, and a few quiet hours a day is all you really need to start moving in the right direction. There will be plenty of time for fancy offices later

I often had other mothers ask me how I was able to talk on the phone without constantly being interrupted. That is because I trained my son not to interrupt me while I was on my *business* phone (unless the house was on fire). So, when I was on a personal call, I could talk without a problem. Now when I’m on the phone he writes me notes, which I love.

Some bottom-line rules I gave my friends and family included:

1. “Do not disturb Mommy unless it involves blood, smoke or broken bones.” (Again, only works for older children).While I may be here in body, my soul is elsewhere when I am working. Pretend you don’t see me or hear me on the phone. Setting specific hours the kids understand is very helpful. In fact, posting a chart with those hours and calmly discussing your expectations is even better. Then make sure you stick to the hours you’ve set, so your children can transition more happily to the new schedule.

2. “I’ll be here for you when you get home from school.” For school-aged children, work your schedule around theirs, so you can devote your ears and your heart to the things they need from you when they walk in the door after a trying schoolday. For very small children, work out their care for several hours each day. Trading off time with a neighbor or joining a play group is great. Or, simply pay for a babysitter. Before you complain that this is spending money instead of making money, consider that it is actually an investment in your future. You wouldn’t consider freelancing without a computer, right? It’s a necessary investment. So is the opportunity to work without kids screaming in your ears and running underfoot.(By the way, this is incredibly impossible to do.)

3. “I know you don’t think this is a “real” job, but it is paying “real” bills.” People can be highly judgmental, even in today’s supposedly telecommuting-enlightened society. I say “ditto” to everything Dianna expressed about how to ensure people take your job seriously. But you must also take it seriously for this to happen. Don’t make a habit of chatting with friends at 2 pm every day while mentioning how you just threw in a load of clothes and are taking a sec to polish your nails. You’ll undo the last ten weeks of hard work spent convincing them this is a real job.

4. “No, honey, I can’t [drop off your drycleaning], [call the IRS], [get the car washed], etc. today. I have to work.” Put your foot down! Even the adults in your life – especially husbands — need some help understanding that you aren’t surfing the Internet for fun all day. Be open about what you do, [lest some nosy neighbors think your business is porn-related] but draw the line at running errands during your work hours. I always said to my husband and others, “If I worked in a “real” office, you wouldn’t be asking me to do that. Pretend that’s what I do.”

Oh, and the thing about the porn…actually happened to me! Despite how common the Internet has become, some people still don’t understand what it’s all about. Don’t worry, and don’t fret if others don’t always understand what you do. Just keep doing it, comforted by the knowledge that your freelancing career is putting you lightyears ahead of those who are still stuck in the 9-to-5 grind. By time everyone else catches up, you’ll be an experienced(and wealthy)freelancing pro!