Offices are overrated

14th August 2007

posted in Work-Life Balance, WAHMs, Working Moms, Mom Friendly Companies, Flexible Work Arrangements |

Did I mention that I’m working “remotely” this entire week? Like, really remotely. Like, so remote that when I ran out of facial moisturizer yesterday and went to the local grocery store to buy some more they didn’t have my favorite Aveeno one. My nanny had to go out of town (again!) and since I really have no back up child care, I thought I’d piggyback on my parents vacation. I’m paying them in love and gratitude. And a cute kid. Don’t we all work on our vacations, anyway?

To accomodate my shift in plans, my parents have basically turned their house into a mini-Kinkos. I’ve got wireless internet, a brand new speakerphone for my conference calls, a better view than in Chicago, and a fancy color printer. I mean seriously, this is Jewish guilt at it’s worst. (My mother’s already asked me if I can do this again next summer.)

It’s weeks like this when working from home actually works that I wonder if I really do need a big fancy office. Then I read this which totally makes me fume over my 40-minute commute. But, I’ve honestly never been all that keen about working from home. It’s a terrific luxury that I have, but it’s not my first choice. I like getting dressed (ask me if I’ve worn anything but sweats for the past 2 days), I hate hearing my son laugh and not being able to play with him, and I can only watch “The Hills” on mute for so long. I mean, what are the benefits of working from home when you can’t even enjoy a good Heidi/ LC cat fight?

But, I’d be lying if I didn’t say working remotely has its perks. I get to sit by the lake during lunch, take a walk on the beach in the morning and dip my toes in the water at sunset. Then again, it’s not like you guys can see what I’m looking at because my cell phone won’t send picture text messages from up here.

[insert beautiful beach photo]

[caption: How’s your view of the cubicle looking?]

One can only be so plugged in, I guess.

Tags: working from home, working remotely, WAHM

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1 On August 14th, 2007, Jamie said:

I hear ya. (Although I’d love to see that beautiful beach photo!)

It’s very nice to have the option of telecommuting, but it’s not always what it cracks up to be. I telecommute from home half the week and love it. I still go in to the office four mornings a week, which gives me enough face time with co-workers. Plus, I like to get dressed in something other than sweats and ratty old t-shirts!

2 On August 14th, 2007, BirdieRoark said:

I love (and hate) working from home.

I never feel like I get enough done when I work from home, but I am so glad that I have the option. I’m about to demand (yes, I no longer ask) a new schedule now that D is going to preschool three days a week.

3 On August 14th, 2007, cordelia525 said:

Oh I don’t have enough self-discipline to work at home.

4 On August 14th, 2007, High Heeled Mama said:

I used to have a home office and it certainly had its advantages (I totally could hide my morning sickness and take a nap whenever I needed to during that first trimester b/c no one could see whether I was there with the phone turned off or “at a meeting”) but it also had disadvantages (no office manager, no copy machine, no stop-by-my-office-with-a-valid-request-that-turns-into-a-40-minute-gossip-session-about-our-colleagues- meeting).

Of course the view of my backyard doesn’t sound nearly as tempting as your current locale!

5 On August 14th, 2007, Emily said: