For Parents: Advantages and Disadvantages of Work at Home

There are quite a few advantages and disadvantages of being a work-at-home parent. It would be best to explore these before you decide that this is a way of life for you.

Advantages

If you are ready to give up the rat race you may want to work at home. You can pursue a talent or passion you enjoy. You no longer have to be under the reins of a boss.

You can also set your own hours and you can arrange your schedule around family or social time. More specifically a parent who may work at home can properly balance child care and paid employment.

It does something for a parent if he or she can find something that is all him or her. Every person needs goals or tasks independent of the need to take care of a family.

Disadvantages

Sometimes a mom or dad’s work takes her/him away from home. If the parent’s work requires a long business trip the family often struggles. They have to ‘hold down the fort’ so to speak in that other parent’s absence.

This is especially hard if the one parent who is on a business trip happens to be the family organizer. Another problem is that when the parent is at home and the children are at home the parent may find it hard to concentrate unless the kids are occupied.

Typical Home Worker

It seems that women who live in traditional two-parent household are the ones who work at home the most. In this case the father is usually the major breadwinner. These women may work part-time but also may work full time.

They may do it for a variety of reasons-one being to earn extra money for her self and the family. She may also do it for the psychological benefits of doing something other than being a full-time home-maker and mother.

She wants to work and have something that is all her and nothing to do with the rest of the family. It helps remind her that she is an individual.

Scheduling

It may take some finagling for a parent to get used to working at home. Usually work time is divided from family or leisure time. A parent may care for their children simultaneously while doing tasks or projects.

However, since it is like a regular job it may be better for the parent to do this while the kids are at school. Sometimes if the significant other is home at the same time, this person can care for the children, or work can sometimes be done while the children are asleep.