More people are turning to work at home opportunities.  Some prefer the flexibility that a home business offers.  Others, like me, want to be home with the children.  Working at home with children is not just a job, it is truly and adventure (to quote another famous job opportunity) and is not something for the weak hearted (or weak stomach many days).

It’s even more interesting around our house.  The youngest child is not even two yet, but he can get into anything and everything (and usually does).  He is especially fond of pulling out everything from the pantry.  For a while, I duct taped all the cabinets shut.  He has since figured out what that silver stuff is and just how to make it work in his favor.   Most of my constructive work has to be done when he is sleeping.

The two older boys are eight and ten, but they are just as eager to get mom’s attention.  Usually they wait until I log onto the computer to ask if they can do some school work online.  With only one computer in the house (and a dial up connection to boot) we always had to find a way to coordinate our efforts.  This year, I broke down and bought a laptop.  Not only has it been great for the children, but I can carry it along and get a little work done while I’m waiting at their many practices.

The biggest struggle I find about working at home with children around is getting a quiet moment to do anything.  I’ve adjusted my own schedule, so the first thing in the morning and the last thing I do at night is spend some time working.  I also tend to get in a couple of hours during the baby’s nap time.

Working at home gives me the flexibility to work around my family.  The key is to still do the work I need to do, even though it may be stretched out over the entire day.  Now, If only I could find a way to get paid for all the additional hours I spend “working” I would be a wealthy woman.

Homeschooling is something we have done since our children were just barely old enough to talk.  As they got older, we were coming into our own in the school arena when I found out I was pregnant.  That makes a seven year difference between the middle child and the new baby.

Now, school is even more of an adventure.  Having a two year old is challenging enough.  Homeschooling two elementary school children at the same time you are entertaining a toddler is down right exhausting on some days.

The dining room table has always been home to school.  We started there again this year.  But baby brother had to be involved, and after the umpteenth time of dragging him off the table, I knew I was going to have to come up with a new plan. 

I spent the next weekend reorganizing the crafts and the school supplies.  Now I am able to put up baby gates in the two entrances to the family room.  The older boys can work in there.  I can work in the kitchen (in what we refer to as “the office”) and the baby has the run of the rest of the house.

It seems the key to homeschooling with such a wide age span is to make sure everyone has something to do that will keep them focused and entertained (or just lock out the nuisance and call it a day).

Potty training can take the fight out of the best parent.  It takes constant patience, attention, and a consistency known no where else in the galaxy.  I guess that’s one of the reasons that so many parents in “modern” society tend to put off potty training as long as possible.

I’ve read stories about how some societies complete the children potty training by six months old.  Any time before the child can say “I gotta go” seems awful early to me.  In our house, the child starts potty training only when he shows an interest in it.  Until that moment (and for some time after the initial interest) the diapers are more than welcome.  Disposable diapers probably contribute to my lax attitude.

The first child was a late bloomer.  I don’t think he was potty trained before he was three, but the truth is that as time passes I don’t really don’t remember everything thing that he did and when he did it.  I do remember that we used the pull-ups method and I do remember cleaning up some serious messes.

The second child was more interested – probably because he had seen big brother do it.  He was trained before he was two.  The pull-ups didn’t work well with him.  We went with training pants instead.  It went much quicker with these.

Now the third child is showing interest, only he isn’t doing ANYTHING like his brother’s did.  He wants to use the little potty – his brothers preferred the big potty.  He wants to go #1 and is quick to tell you – his brother’s took a bit of time figuring out this one.

The moral of the story is that every person – parent or child – will be different.  For successful potty training, you’ll need some time, lots of patience, and forgiveness (for when mistakes are made).  With a lot of consistency, potty training will be a breeze for the parent’s and the children.

It is never too early to learn about money.  Unlike my parents, and probably their parents before them, my husband and I talk about finances in front of and with our children.

There is a time and place for these discussions.  We don’t burden the children with the difficulties we have put ourselves in by borrowing more than we can pay.  What we are trying to do is to teach them as we learn so that they don’t make the mistakes we’ve made.

We started with allowance, and everyone gets one starting at age six.  It then progresses up by $.50 per year (mom and dad also get an allowance).  For this payment, there are certain things that are expected.  Each month, we pick chores to do for that month.  If these chores are completed, then payment is made.

From the allowance, ten percent goes to charity (or the church) so that the children start to understand the importance of giving back.  We also take out twenty percent for taxes.  This goes into a fund that we vote on how to spend.  I don’t want the children to get tax shocked when they get their first “real” paycheck.

Finally, the remaining money is divided between savings and can be spent. 

Even at the young ages of 10 and 8, our children are beginning to grasp the idea that debt is not something they ever desire and that working for what you want (and saving to get there) is worth the wait.

Being a new mother can be unnerving enough. Finding out you have given your child poison can leave you completely distraught. It’s not like there aren’t enough threats on your child already, but now the Chinese are attacking through the toys. What is a mom to do?

Recently, Mattel has recalled a large number of its toys for young children - the same children who are notorious for putting things in their mouths. The recall is on toys with the label “made in China” because of an excessive amount of lead in the paint on the products. Lead paint has been forbidden in the United States for decades.

Not too long ago, another Chinese product (this time pet food) was also recalled. The poison in this case resulted in pet deaths and serious illness. There was also a recent incident in the recall of fish imported from China. It this a trend that should be a concern, or is it just a coincidence?

It’s almost impossible to protect your child from everything, but moms still try. It’s disheartening when I company that you have known and trusted has a mistake this large and this potentially hazardous. In truth, there is very little a mom can do to ensure that products are always completely safe. Unfortunately, there has to be some leap of faith in the companies. It’s just too bad the company in this case has fallen short.