If you work(Ed) from home

[gibbinator]

Probably school age. My 3yr old is good about leaving me be for 10mins so I can write an email, but that's really the max time without Interruption

[Deleted]

Hmm, I don't know. My kids (3 and 16 mos definitely no). I can't even imagine this at kindergarten either. I'm hoping by the time they are 2nd grade maybe they can come home and get a snack and settle in while I work an extra hour (school is out at 230 and I work to 330). But I have no idea. I think it will depend on the kids.

[redheadbaker]

School age, I would guess. Even then, maybe not 1st grade, either. Depends on the kid.

[lishie]

I think it would be difficult for kindergarten, but I think there's a good chance you'd be able to have your child with you after school next year, as it should be a relatively short time period from school ending until the end of your work day.

[zarapipe]

Not kindergarden. Probably 2nd? What time does gradeschool end?

[savan]

This is totally child and work dependent. I also work at home until around 4 p.m. My kids are going into 1st and 3rd grade this year and we still very much need after school care. My 8 year old did come home sick one day last year and I was able to continue working, but I could not guarantee that would happen every single day. It would never work for my 6 year old. She is way too needy. We intend to keep them in care for all of elementary school.

[halfpint]

Yeah, I don't know. I have an almost-two-year old, so definitely not there yet

[catwithspots]

Do you have the option for AM or PM kinder or full Kinder? I found the afternoons tend to require more work interaction/concentration than the morning. In the mornings, I start work and respond/clear emails while they sleep in until 8am. It leaves the afternoon open for calls, etc.

[jeaniebueller]

Aug 5, 2015 10:43:57 GMT -5 @natariru said:

Totally kid-dependent.

This. For DS, I could probably have him at home entertaining himself for an hour or two while I worked and he is going into first.

[anna7602]

Not any time soon. DD is 7 (going into second grade). If I have a pressing deadline, I can park her in front of a movie or get her to do something else while I take care of something on the computer every once in a while or while I have a conference call, but consistently? No way. I try to wrap up my work day before she gets home from school or hire an afternoon sitter if I know I have something major going on. It's not fair to her or to my work to expect her to entertain herself every day for a few hours when she comes home from school. 

The real cost-savings came when she started public school full-time, in kindergarten. That was 5 days/week that I could work until 4pm without paying a nanny or preschool. If there was anything I couldn't get done by 4, I went back to it after she was in bed for the night, but for the most part, my schedule worked out really well that year. Then I had a baby the summer after DD finished K and am back to square one with childcare costs. 

[kershnic]

My concern would be even after you child is able to not bug you for the several hours a day that you need to be working while she's home, is she doing the things you want her to be doing (socializing, exercising, getting homework done, etc.)?

[drloretta]

DD is 5 and it still isn't manageable. She always wants me to play with her. Our plan is to continue to either have someone pick her up and entertain her at home until I'm done, or have her stay in aftercare.

[cinco]

1st/2nd for us. Kindergarten was a big transition for my two. It wasn't their best age.
ETA: I had young kindergartners (Summer bdays), and I think that makes a difference in my answer.

[rbp]

Babysitters cost $20/hour?

[ECB]

DS is 6 and about to go into 1st grade.  I could probably have him home with me occasionally and have him be o.k.  And in thinking about it more - he gets off the bus about 3:20.  I work until 4:15.  So for an hour a day?  We could probably swing it, actually.  Give him a snack, let him watch TV for a bit to decompress. 

Where you're at - looking at 4 hours a day - nope, no way.  One day here and there, maybe.  But DS, even at 6, would get BORED having to entertain himself for 4 hours every afternoon.

So MAYBE next year once she's in full day school?? 

[quickstepstar]

DD1&2 can entertain themselves for ~1-2 hours now (going into 2nd grade), and I think they were able to since they were 6-ish? DD3, not so much! She is only 3 though, so I imagine it will take her longer.

[cjeanette]

I can't imagine my 7 or 10 year old leaving me alone enough to concentrate on work. I mean, they might for days then one day just bug the crap out of me. Or constantly fight with each other.

[redheadk]

Not me, but my sis can work from home with my niece there. Niece is 8. Niece typically has a nanny but it works for short periods of time. It probably helps that she's the only child there, no siblings to argue with, and great at entertaining herself.

[mrslisa]

I work at home. My kids are 8,7,5, and 2. The older three are fine while I am working. The oldest one is super responsible and will make them food and look after everyone. I work upstairs and they play downstairs. My mom is here watching them while I work but if I didn't have the 2 year old or if she has an appointment and can't come, they are fine on their own.

[hocus2]

I WAH and my older child was in K from 8:20 to 2:20. She did got to after school and I think it was the correct decision. I had her here about 3-5 days over the year without care and while she did fine it was because she mostly watch TV or played in my office while I did more administrative type work. It wasn't really the best type of parenting or working if you know what I mean.

[robot]

DD1 (age 5, entering K) - I dunno, like 12? I can see how it's kid/personality dependent. She's talkative and needy. Occasionally she's home sick, and the only way I can work is for her to watch tv the entire time. Which is ok when she's sick, but wouldn't be ok every day. So...basically I think it'll be a few more years..