| A home based business plus children can be a | | | | the business and not have any memory of a |
| recipe for success or a recipe for disaster. | | | | time when your attention did not have to be |
| The outcome of the experiment depends not on | | | | shared. As an infant normally spends most of |
| the ingredients but rather upon the | | | | the day sleeping, you will have plenty of |
| techniques you use to combine them. | | | | quiet hours in which to get your business up |
| | | | and running efficiently. A three month old |
| The key to successfully combining the running | | | | baby will be perfectly happy to entertain him |
| of a home based business with caring for | | | | herself on an activity mat in a corner of the |
| young children is to create an environment | | | | home office with you in sight while you work. |
| where the children don't feel that they need | | | | |
| to compete with the business for their | | | | Things get trickier when baby gets to the |
| mother's attention. The simplest way to do | | | | crawling, standing and climbing stages. For |
| this is to ensure that the child feels | | | | several months, your day will be a series of |
| welcome in mom's home office and not shut | | | | rescue missions: either rescuing your |
| out. The way this can most easily be achieved | | | | adventurous tot from precarious situations or |
| depends upon the age of the child when the | | | | rescuing your treasured possessions from your |
| mother decides to become a work at home mom. | | | | little treasure's ever extending reach. Keep |
| | | | a box of toys in your office and encourage |
| The older the children are, the easier it is | | | | your child to play within sight while you |
| to reassure them that they will still get as | | | | work. Working while baby is awake will, |
| much of mom's time, care and attention as | | | | however, be impossible except for very short |
| they need. At the same time, they can be made | | | | spells, so make the most of nap times. |
| to understand that the new home business is | | | | |
| important and that they can help make this | | | | By the time your child reaches two years of |
| time easier for their mother. Don't be afraid | | | | age, independent play will last longer and |
| to lay down some rules, children respond well | | | | demands on your time will lessen. A toddler |
| to a structured existence where they know | | | | will enjoy sitting at his/her own little desk |
| what behaviour is welcomed and what is | | | | in your office and crayoning works of art or |
| forbidden. | | | | making collages while you get on with the |
| | | | grown up version of office activities. If you |
| Make sure any timetable includes spells of | | | | can provide little jobs for your child to do, |
| "together" time when you will give undivided | | | | this will encourage growth of the child's |
| attention to each child individually. This | | | | self-esteem and feeling of being an important |
| could mean helping an older child with | | | | part of your home business. A two year old |
| homework or reading a story to a toddler. | | | | will be delighted to be trusted with the |
| Also slot in time for family activities when | | | | important job of helping to take out the |
| you will all get together to watch TV or go | | | | waste paper at the end of the day. |
| to the park or play a game all the children | | | | |
| can enjoy. | | | | Making your child feel welcome in your home |
| | | | business environment is the first step in |
| Although caring for tiny infants is time | | | | getting this recipe to work well. A set of |
| consuming and tiring (especially if they are | | | | simple rules and a workable schedule are all |
| wakeful during the night), when your baby is | | | | that you need as finishing touches to enjoy |
| very young is a good time to start your home | | | | your recipe for success. |
| based business. Your child will grow up with | | | | |