Comments on: Writing Through Chaos: The REAL Truth About Working from Home

By: Joseph Rooks

Joseph Rooks — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:09:33 +0000

Look up “coworking.” Not as in co-workers, it’s something different – people are opening workspaces for freelancers based on the concept. The video on this page features one of the founders of the movement talking about it in better detail than I can give you: http://hatfactory.net/about

By: Cheril Vernon

Cheril Vernon — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:56:28 +0000

I can relate to this very-funny but true-to-life post in many ways, as well as many of the comments.

It’s nice to know that there are some people out there that life “my” life.

I totally get what you are saying about the library and coffee shop and how everyone wants to chat and nothing gets done.

When I’m home working on my freelance projects, my husband doesn’t understand why the house doesn’t get cleaned.

My other problem is that I work full-time too as well as writing freelance part-time. So people think when I’m off from my “regular” job that I should be free to do whatever. But I still have deadlines to meet and generally work into the wee hours of the night to get it all done.

By: Genesis

Genesis — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:36:22 +0000

My husband quit his teaching job 2 years ago when I was earning enough to support us. He hated teaching and he wanted to do music full time. So he was going to come home, watch the boys during the day for me and work weekend nights. HA!

I love my man. I love that he spends so much time with our children, but seriously, a man and woman should NOT be in the same house 24/7. ANd our house is just two bedrooms and a kitchen/living room, so there is no hiding out possible.

My kids and I were sick for nearly two weeks and I’m so behind on everything now. I totally get what you mean about buckets and antibiotics. I had six different medicines to dole out at various times just for the kids and two more for myself! And as much as we’d like Papa to help sometimes, I know my kids just want their mama when they’re sick.

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:35:32 +0000

Great post–My fiance just returned to work after a 10-month hiatus– forget the money, I’m celebrating just having him out of the house!

By: Nikki

Nikki — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:23:29 +0000

I love you! Thank you! THANK YOU! My husband was in a car accident at the end of August and was able to go back to work just shy of 6 weeks home… ALL DAY. EVERY DAY. Then 3 weeks ago, he reinjured himself falling down our frosted over deck stairs. I had just gotten excited about things getting back to normal when… Crap. They were back to Not Normal. It was so hard having him around because he’d want me to do be doing anything other than working, and this last time he was off he got no short term disabilty at all so it was all my income we relied on. Can I just tell you how behind we are right now?

Oh and did I mention the 3yr old and the dog I already spend my day with until the other 3 kids get home from school.

Your post totally hit the nail on the head for me.

By: vcmcguire

vcmcguire — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:56:37 +0000

Great post.

Vanessa, your comment pretty much sums up my work/home life. No wonder I’m tired.

By: Jennifer L

Jennifer L — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:47:25 +0000

They really should make a TV show about the glamorous life of the freelancer!

You want to hear about my recent chaos?

Try October for me. I am pregnant, and I was still regularly sick as the month unfolded. I had several major deadlines for longterm projects looming, and then suddenly got several new projects (money=good, but time crunch=not so good). Then my husband got a severe case of H1N1 which developed into pneumonia. Then my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and we were all scrambling around to figure out who could be with her to go back and forth to pre-surgery appointments and then surgery. My FIL was also undergoing some medical issues at the same time. People kept moving up deadlines on me–argh! And did I mention that I was pregnant, huge and tired with a three-year-old boy to chase around?

Thank God for November.

By: LIsa

LIsa — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:08:32 +0000

amazing… just read this to DH, who garumphed and asked “is this me???” um… yes… but the big upside is that he’s able to take over a lot of the homeschooling for our son (he’s in a homeschool resource 2 days/week, at home 3). Of course, sometimes we go in opposite directions with me carting DD and he driving DS… and clients sending little “will we be hearing from you soon?” emails…

bleh.

By: Dave Doolin

Dave Doolin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:20:17 +0000

I know far more men unemployed during this recession than women. I don’t know why that is.

By: Lisa (lablady)

Lisa (lablady) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:04:28 +0000

Deb,

Just think, now you can relate to all of those jokes about women’s husbands retiring and what they have to go through because he’s home with nothing to do, bored out of his mind and is there every single hour of every single day. And then finds, no…creates, projects! lol You poor thing.

I think you should tape a sign to your back that says: “Working – Do Not Disturb” when you’re in the library and just don’t look up at ALL when moms try to catch your eye. Also, tape the same sign to the top/back of your laptop so when they sit down opposite you, they’ll see it. Hey, you have to do what you have to do.

Great post. Oh, and when your husband decides to begin his job search and needs help, you can send him my way. I’ll get him out of the house (pounding the pavement) for a few hours for you. lol Hang in there!