Your question is not trivial. It’s hard to get a rhythm and balance to doing this, especially with children at home. I don’t know if I mastered anything, really. I think if I had it mastered I could do it with ease and there is nothing easy about the WAHP juggle.

I just have to add my opinion, although it seems like you have had some awesome responses. I have 5 kiddos and for most of their lives I’ve been a WAHM. For most of that time, I also homeschooled them.

My youngest is around 19 months old; my oldest is 15–but she’s handicapped…as is my 13 year old. This is why I work at home.

I use the play pen to contain my son while I write when he’s up. Obviously, it’s not good for long stretches, but it works for a short while.

We play in the morning but then I need an hour to come up with ideas, surf the net, look for more freelance jobs, develop stories–you know. I put him in the portable play pen in the room where I work. I rotate the toys in his distration box. That helps to keep his interest.

Music also helps. I’ll give him some pots and pans and let him bang away to a kids music tape. BTW, I’ve learned to be able to work through anything!

If I have a huge story to write with lots of research or interviews to conduct, I may call in MIL or wait until the weekend when my husband is home so I can have some large blocks of time. After an OHMYGOSH experience with my oldest during a phone interview with a source I needed to quote in my article,(she came out of the bathroom and loudly announced she’d just gone potty and proceeded to go over ALL the details!) I only do interviews when my son is asleep or when I have a sitter.

I keep a word document open during the day so if I can get a few minutes of work done on the article, I’ll do it. I make sure to save it too!

I am choosy about the clients for whom I write. I avoid the “must adhere to deadline” bunch. I’ve never missed a deadline, but I don’t need that stress hoovering over me either.

I do most of my work when my son goes down for a nap or at night after all of the children are in bed.

Aurora – your discipline is inspiring! It really does help you see what’s coming and where you can fit it in, at least for me it does.

Dawne – great tips, I love that section of Target. You know what I wish I could pick up at the $1 spot? A pocket nanny – someone you can whip out for an hour to take baby on a stroll while you put the finishing touches on a piece :0) But the quiet of nap time is a writing parent’s dream!

Thank you Hazel! The options as a freelancer is really what drives me. I have regular columns and blogs, but the golden nuggets of “Can you write a 500 word article about…” is always a nice, fresh infusion of writing excitement.

Then I work when she goes down for nap and when they both go to sleep at 7:30 I’m back on the gig. If there is something that I have to get done when she’s up and busy, I’m lucky, my hubby works from home as well so we switch off from time to time.

Finally, when he can’t entertain her because he’s got work to finish, turning on the music channel on cable and sitting on the floor with my laptop does wonders. She dances to the music and feels I’m still there with her instead of at the desk working. Hope that helps!