Tips for Working Real Estate Moms

My (first) child is now three months old and I am a working Mom.  I bring my son to work with me and occassionally work from home.  In addition, my office is a shared building in that there are two other businesses and a shared office manager in the same building.  That being said, crying-it-out is not an option.

The story of Eban (my son):  Eban was born six weeks early dispite my best efforts to eat right, not smoke or drink, exercise, and take my prenatal vitamins.  He weighed 4 lbs 10 oz and was very healthy for a preemie.  Even so, he had an 18 day NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) stay which is heartwrenching for any mom.  We quickly learned that Eban loved being held, swaddled, and rocked to sleep.  Although this kind of affection is perfect for the NICU, it did lead us to form some bad habits at home because we continued the trend.  Even now my son will wake 30-45 minutes after being put down into his crib and cannot fall asleep on his own, we still have to hold him to sleep...and if I want to sleep for more than 1 hour at a time we have to co-sleep.  Obviously these are not healthy sleep habits and we are working doublely hard to correct them now.  (we had the best intentions).

I offer this to you from what I've learned through trial and error, exhaustion (on both our parts), and tears (on both our parts).  I hope that this should find you before you should need it however, hopefully this could come when you need it most!

1. Read a sleep book before you have the baby or as soon as practically possible, just like we ask our customers to do, it's a good idea to listen to the professionals.
2. Plan to stay at home for the first three months, if possible.  This is especially important if you've had a preemie or if you choose to ease into sleep training.  Both instances seem to be two steps forward-one step back circumstances.  Also because babies really only begin to be able to hold enough food to sustain them for longer periods at this point, it's really hard to begin serious sleep training until this point anyway.
3. Have a written plan before you start working - AND discuss it with your spouse or partner.  It's not just about the paycheck, if you are working from home you'll also need a clean workspace and the occasional uninterupted quiet so you can actually get something done.  A schedule is good for parents and baby!  Mine looks something like this:***Remember to keep your schedule flexible as the baby won't work on your time, only on his!***

6am Wakeup call (if baby doesn't beat the alarm

6-7 Get husband ready for work, get baby fed and changed - I make my lunch in the morning so I don't have to fuss later & can be more productive

7-8 Get baby and myself bathed, dressed and prepare milk for the next feeding

8-9 Baby's morning nap, when he goes down, I get to work! 

***Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize!***  Highlight this part of your day with a green highlighter - for $$$ -- whatever needs to get done first that is most likely to procure a paycheck including returning phone calls and emails so you know if there is any new items to add to the agenda as well. 

9-11 Second feeding, changing, playtime/walk - if baby is still awake by the end of this time, I use a front carrier to attach him to me & work on second priority items - returning phone calls, new leads, etc.

12 Naptime!  Lunchtime!  Since I've already prepared it, I eat at my computer & finish up any of the top two tier priority items.  

1pm Third feeding, changing, snuggling - Since I've already finished the high priority items, I am more relaxed and can focus on my baby for a bit.  Once he's comfortably playing or sleeping again I will work on maintenance items (recheck email, update website, blog, etc.)

 ***Having definite sections of your home/apartment for work, play, and sleep is sooooo important - for you and baby*** 

In the late afternoon and evening, focus on the household items that would otherwise distract you from working in the day.