One hour a day: That?s the amount of time I?ll be spending with my kids if I accept a full-time, nine-to-five office-based job.

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How to ask your boss for a more flexible work schedule I wish that wasn?t an exaggeration, but when I factor in my kids? 6 a.m. wake-up time and 7:30 p.m. bedtime and my three-hour commute each day, there?s only one measly hour left over. That?s one hour to make dinner, help my kids do their homework, talk about their day, play Lego Ninjago and mermaids and have some semblance of family bonding time before bathtime, storytime and bedtime. One hour. For 6½ years, I was fortunate enough to have a job that allowed me to work from home a couple of days a week and work in a flexible environment where it was never an issue if I needed additional time to be at home. I was recently laid off and, as I search for something new in our current economic climate, I now realize just how lucky I?ve been.
Despite our glorious digital age, many employers view working from home as an ?entitlement,? but working from home can be a lifesaver for many parents. Getting back the three hours that would be spent commuting each day isn?t a luxury. It would mean that my children wouldn?t have to wake up before the sun is up and eat breakfast bars ...