Time ran an article last month about whether it is feasible or not to bring your baby to work. But, indeed some companies are establishing work programs that allow mothers to bring their children to work with them (home away from home?). How far we have come and yet how far we have to go. Some companies let mothers bring their children to work while others still don't give mothers paid maternity leave or pay for reproductive assistance if she is not married. Uh oh...I'm about to get on my Tide box here so, let me go back to the issue at hand...babies at work... I think it's great if it works for you. For me, it would work maybe 30% of the time. When I'm out shopping for clients yes. But, I can't imagine going to a meeting with Baby I on my hip. Heck, I can't even imagine having Baby I home all day and I'm trying to get focused to write a proposal or do some other major work. Uhhhh case in point, I've been trying to write a proposal all day and you see what I'm doing now! Writing this post about why having my baby at work wouldn't work for me!
Maybe for those that are a little more disciplined it would work but, for those with Adult Boredom/Attention Disorder it wouldn't work so well. So, while I plan to have Baby I home with me for 3 days a week, the other 4 days the kid has to go to that expensive daycare/preschool if we are to keep a roof over our heads! And I really don't look good in cardboard! Tell me, would it work for you?
13 comments:
I have been having this discussion with friends. On a day to day basis in a office, I'd say no. But, I have a job where I travel. Friends are trying to figure out who will keep the kids if I'm on the road. As long as they are not in 2nd or 3rd grade my kids are packing up and going with me. Grandad or other another designated person will travel with me but I will not leave them. My cousins son lived with me for a year. On a couple of occasions, I had to take him on a client site. It's not ideal but I called ahead and got it approved. I explained to my surrogate son how he was expected to behave and he understood. For him it was fun. The client would put him in an office or cube and I made sure that he had quiet things to do: activity books, reading books, or something. That might be 3-4 hours max. I have had people who work for me bring their kids in. Babies, not so much.
you are going to have her home 3 days a week?! wow, that's awesome. how fortunate of you.
Valarie, can I travel with you? I'll be good I promise! LOL
Laura, it's only 1 day a week she will be home with me either Monday or Friday the other days are Saturday and Sunday.
Come on Tami! I think we would have fun on the road.
I could not do it. I can't even get anything done when I am home with my dogs. I could probably only get something done if baby were sleeping....soundly...for hours. I suffer from adult boredom/attention disorder though! I probably surf the net about 250 times a day in between reading and drafting contracts and such....
Ok, Valarie...I'm there! LOL
I always read your blog! Love it! I explained the picture link thing on mine. I am trying to fix it- but click the name "Martin".
Hi Tami,
Love your blog! I'm delurking for this one. My daughter is 2.5 home since 3.5 mos. The few times I've tried to work from home have been pretty bad. I get so engrossed in stuff I'm not supposed to be doing, like reading Stellaluna, that I miss meetings (that's what happened the last time I tried it). I do take my daughter to work with me on occasion, around the holidays, but there isn't much working going on then anyway.
Monica
When my daughter was little I worked as a private nanny so I could have her with me all the time. Even now I often have her at work with me. Its distracting at times, but my job is so hectic it seems to work out. I think it also has to do with how behaved your children are. Do they actually understand the rules at work and do you maintain those limitations? Some of my co workers kids absolutely can not be at work with them, they just act up too much.
That is hilarious. Get to work girl. I work for a small agency therefore FMLA doesnt apply. GRRR!
Sorry no call in D.C., I figured by the time we got through immigration and to our next flight, you'd have all but 30 seconds to spend with us!! I was right, we had about 30 minutes to get to our next flight and get situated!! You should be glad you didn't see us, we were delirious:-)
I'm gonna try it, in the beginning when I am transitioning from time off to part time, and then back into full time. I am very lucky and work for our family business. I bring my dogs now. I have a pretty big office and I'm thinking of putting a TV/DVD deal in there. My office may be the designated place where kids are allowed to watch TV. I am aware that television as babysitter is not the best childcare plan anyone ever had. Who knows how much work, if any, I'll get done. My plan is to play it by ear and pretty much figure it out as it develops. Pretty much a non-plan. Don't worry, I've got back up options.
I'm so distracted from my work by the IDEA of children and expecting children, I don't know how I'm going to force myself to focus on work when I actually have children. I expect it to be really hard. But I can't wait.
Ugh, this is a topic I am wrestling with. I work for a HUGE financial services company (not naming names, but it ends with 'of America') so there is no way I could bring baby to my cube away from home. I did brng my 23 year old niece when she visited one summer, but she ended up actually helping me with filing! The good news is I can work from home, but I am debating on how feasible that will be and for how many days per week.
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