Take today, for example. I was trying to work on a programming project that required my concentration. Of course, the kids are home from school for the summer and it seemed like every 5 minutes one of them needed me for one reason or another.

"Can I have another snack?"
"Watch me, Mommy!"
"But I'm DYING of thirst!"

You know what I mean.

I began to wonder how it would be for my husband to have to deal with these types of demands while trying to do his job.

So, I started fantasizing about his workday:

He works for the local phone company and drives one of those big trucks with the bucket that lifts him up to the tops of the telephone poles. I envisioned him up there in his bucket, needing to concentrate on which wire goes where- with the kids up in there with him.

"What's that, Daddy?"
"Can I have a snack?"
"I have to go to the bathroom."

So then, I thought about when I used to work in an office. I imagined being at my desk, interviewing someone, when in walks my daughter, "Mommy, will you play a game with me?"

A stage whisper conversation ensues:

"Honey, I can't play right now. I'm in the middle of an interview."
"But you said you'd play a game with me, and that was like 50 HOURS AGO"
"I'll play a game with you, but you need to wait patiently until I finish."
"You NEVER want to play a game with me!"

At this point, I'm smiling at my interviewee through gritted teeth while I give my daughter THE LOOK.

What if I was a doctor? A surgeon?

"DON'T TOUCH THAT!"
"Mommy, would something bad happen if I accidentally dropped my gum in there?"

Suddenly, my reverie is broken my 5-year-old loudly complaining, "Mommy, Lauren burped and she won't say 'excuse me'!"

Ah well, I'll just have to do that programming project some other time.

I guess the things that are most rewarding about working at home can at times be the most annoying.

It's all in the perspective.

--------------------------------
Sharon Davis, Work-At-Home expert, author and consultant,
helps people to achieve their goal of working at home,
telecommuting or starting a home business.
Work At Home
Work At Home Blog
Work At Home Forums