The Work-At-Home Conundrum

I've been sick these last few days, but I don't want to lag on posting. I decided to repost something I wrote the other day on the OC MOMS forum on OCRegister.com (slightly revised):

My career as a writer allows me the flexibility to work from home, a set-up that's allowed me the luxury of putting my boys in daycare no more than 10 hours a week, if that. I'm lucky, I realize. But working from home has its own set of challenges, am I right?

It's hard to find "quiet" time. And having an uninterrupted phone interview - forget it. I always have to preface any interview with "I work from home and I have a 2-year-old." And I often feel it takes me seven days to do what I otherwise could do in four.

Another unexpected obstacle is the struggle to convince my spouse that although I'm physically here, I'm working, and can't focus on keeping the house clean during the day. The boys make messes and I can't stay on top of it right away. I just can't work at Superwoman-like speed, doing everything my household and job requires day in and day out, or I'll burn out. And I do -- hence my current illness. (And a nanny isn't in the cards - too expensive).

My mom never worked so my perceptions of her are different than I believe my childrens' perceptions are of me. I recall a day when I was cleaning the house and told my 5-year-old, "Not right now, Mommy's working." He replied, "But Mommy, where is your computer?" Enough said.

I do try to take time out and do fun things. Like today, after I picked up my son from school, we went to a pizza place for pizza and milk, then made a quick trip to the Dollar Store. I couldn't do that if I worked in the newsroom full-time, and I'm so thankful I have the flexibility.

Work-at-home parents, how do you make working in a home office work for you?