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I?m a mom who works from home full-time as a freelance writer and editor, and while there are tremendous benefits to the set-up, work-from-home parents like me are also a sorely misunderstood bunch. The comments I?ve gotten over the years from well-meaning friends and acquaintances are pretty aggravating.
Here are 11 things never to say to a work-from-home parent.
1. ?You must have so much free time!? Somehow, the ?from home? part is heard loud and clear, but the ?working? that precedes it gets forgotten. No, we?re not sending off a couple e-mails then watching Netflix while clients magically send us cheques. Full-time work-from-home parents work long shifts. And it takes a lot of diligence to do so successfully when so many distractions are nearby, like the TV and kitchen cupboards full of snacks. Let me see you get work done when you know your cozy duvet is just a few footsteps away! 2. ?It?s great you can get so much housework done, huh"? I can?t count how many times I?ve thrown in a load of my kid?s laundry during the day only to forget about it because I got caught up on a project or phone call, or had to run out to a last-minute meeting. Just because a parent isn?t in an office doesn?t mean she isn?t fully dedicated to her career.
3. ?Must be nice to get to spend all that extra time with your kids.? During the school year, a lot of WFH parents don?t pay for after-school care, which is a money saver, and it can mean you get to see a bit more of ...