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You are here: Home / Momlife / Being a Full-Time Work-From-Home Parent: How I Do It

Being a Full-Time Work-From-Home Parent: How I Do It

April 26, 2018 By Kari Leave a Comment

Tips for how to be an efficient work-from-home parent, why I transitioned careers, and a few working mamas you need to follow!

work from home parent-1

I thought I knew “busy”. Then, we had a baby and I started a business. Now I really know busy! In a recent interview on That’s So Maven! podcast (listen here), Host Andrea Beca asked me to describe my typical day. I blanked. Maybe because, like many of you, my day-to-day is rarely ever the same (isn’t that a beautiful thing?). After giving it some thought, I wanted to give you a little insight into our daily life, and how I work to run a thriving business while being a stay-at-home mom.

work from home parent-2On Me: Wild Tee | On Wyatt: Hoodie | Beanie | Shoes (different colour)

First, a bit of history on how I came to be a blogger and stylist. When our son Wyatt was just ten days old, I got a call from my boss at the radio station I was working at, telling me the show I had been part of for the past five years had been cancelled. My co-host was fired, but I was assured I would have a job to return to after my maternity leave. Amid my New Mom Fog, I was unexpectedly dealing with uncertainty in my career. The original plan was to take a six-month mat leave, but after hearing this news, I extended that to a year. I would later find out that my proposed new role at the station wasn’t even close to comparable to my previous position. So, instead of returning to radio, I negotiated a buy-out. I had always known one day I would start a lifestyle blog but the question had always been when. This struck me as a perfect time. I could be at home with our son and start my own thing!

I spent six months researching and building my site with Mike Johnston of CMS Critic and The Kitchen Magpie, and officially launched KariSkelton.com in February 2017. In the meantime, thanks to a Snapchat tutorial I did on organizing Wyatt’s closet, the styling side of my business began to grow. (I now work with personal shopping clients and style fashion shows.)

work from home parent-3My work tasks consist of writing, editing, taking photos, pitching companies, coordinating on collaborations and projects, managing the business side of my blog, meeting with styling clients for closet edits and personal shops, styling fashion shows, emcee’ing events, and giving presentations on what I do. I don’t have a personal assistant. I don’t have an agent…but I do have a pretty kick-ass support system, and that is key.

I definitely don’t have it figured out yet, but I’ve created a bit of a structure (and a few boundaries) that have allowed me to be as efficient as possible while still being present with our son. Please steal some of these ideas (below) if you need them!

work from home parent-4On Wyatt: Locals Tee | Camo Joggers | Grey Beanie

Scheduling:

  • I devote at least a few hours every week to managing schedules (yes, I also schedule my time to schedule my time #TypeA). For me, this is the number one thing that keeps the ship running smoothly (or at least not crashing into the shore). I’m not talking about penciling in a few things. I’m talking about reviewing the fine details of our week, month, and year. Everything from meetings and workouts to dog walks, buying birthday presents, and who’s relieving who from parenting duty and when. Personal time, friend time, family time, time as a couple – it’s all in the calendar. I even schedule downtime and free days where there’s no schedule. I know this doesn’t seem very romantic, but because my husband also has a very demanding career, we HAVE to do this.

Work in the Daytime:

  • I try to do my writing in the daytime when my brain is fresh. We have occasional care for two hours, twice a week, so this is when I write with no distractions. I also fit work in when Wyatt naps and when Ryan hangs with Wyatt after he’s done work. When I first started my blog, my plan was to work in the evenings after we put him to bed, but by the time 7:45pm hits I’m pooped! (A combo of getting old and being a parent.) If there are no events on in the evening, I plan simple tasks like projects around the house, editing photos, or relaxing and watching TV.

Get Picky With Projects & People:

  • I only choose partnerships I totally love. There’s only so much time, so I carefully curate the work I take, and the companies I team up with. Have the same high standards for your relationships. Spend time with those you truly enjoy being around. Our hours are precious!

work from home parent-5

Work Errands Are Adventures:

  • If there’s a day I need to run around picking up product for photo shoots, or anything work-related, I try to turn it into an adventure for Wyatt. I build up the excitement and make sure we’re having fun and talking about all the things we see while we’re out. The task may take me a bit longer but at least he’s getting something out of it too, instead of just sitting in cart waiting for me to be done.

Time Savers:

  • Look for little ways to simplify and save time. If you’re spending six hours a week cleaning your house, consider hiring a cleaner to free up that time to work or spend time with family. I try to make sure all of our tasks, errands, classes, etc are in the morning to avoid rush-hour traffic in the afternoon. It may seem silly but it saves us 45 minutes to an hour a day! If I have a spare minute in the evening, I will write out text messages and email responses and send them in the morning.

work from home parent-6On Wyatt: Grey & Camo Hoodie | Antlers Harems | Grey Beanie

 

Take Breaks & Focus

  • Schedule days off. When you’re an entrepreneur, it’s easy to work all the time but you have to shut it off. I make sure we have highlights in our calendar that force me to stop working. To be honest, I struggle with this. I’m still learning how to manage my time in this role. A tip I snagged from Instagram recently: Set an alarm for one hour and for that hour there’s no checking your phone or opening your computer. This allows me to focus on the task at hand. Doing the dishes takes way longer than it should when you’re stopping to scroll through your phone every five minutes. Focus.

Morning Fitness:

  • Wake up and workout! (Just me. The boys still sleep.) Now, before you roll your eyes at my chipper “up and at ‘er” attitude, know that I don’t do this every day, but I try to three times a week. For me, feeling healthy and strong affects all aspects of my life. I feel like I’m happier, and therefore a better mom, partner, friend, and businesswoman. I have more energy to handle everything. I love getting in that workout before the day truly starts. By 7:00 am, I feel already ahead of my game. I’m exercised, I’ve consumed a litre of water (yay!), and I’ve listened to the news on my way to the gym, so I have a basic grasp on what’s happening in our world. I get myself ready and get our bags packed for the day (if we’re headed somewhere), or I sit and have a moment to myself with my coffee and tend to my social media or emails. (Also: sometimes I say forget it and stay in bed.)

work from home parent-7

On Me: Dogs Sweatshirt On Wyatt: Dogs Tee | Antler Beanie (similar)

 

All Photos: Lorraine Marie for Yeg Inspired Magazine

 

I hope you can take away something from this that will make your business and/or your life easier and more enjoyable! I would love to hear any tips you may have! Comment below and watch the thread for tips from other work-from-home parents! Also, be sure to pop in to my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more fashion and parenting-related conversations.

 

Here are a few other working mamas I love to follow:

work from home parent-8

  1. Lauren Hahn | 2. The Momoirs | 3. Honey & Betts | 4. Chandeliers & Champagne | 5. Justine Ma | 6. Northern Style Exposure | 7. Inspired By Lynne

 

Don’t forget to ‘Pin’ this for later!

 

Work From Home Parent-9

 

Other posts you’ll love:

  • Six Truths From My First Year of Blogging
  • Involving Little Ones in Big Days: Raising Nice Humans
  • Toddler Misbehaving: How to Deal

 

xx

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kariskelton

Lifestylist + Blogger: KariSkelton.com
Mom to Wyatt, Moses🐾 + Monroe🐾
Babe on the way! (06/22)
❤ @ryanjespersen
motherhood | style | recipes 👇

Kari Skelton | Motherhood
when you feel like you've hit your max bump but th when you feel like you've hit your max bump but there's still nine weeks to go. 😳

It's truly amazing what our bodies can do. 💛

#31weeks #sunsoutbumpsout #beachball
Life update. ❤ I’ll be keeping this piece of Life update. ❤

I’ll be keeping this piece of art forever. Wyatt painted this for me back in January, when I was isolated with Covid. I taped it up on the wall beside the bed during my stay in our guest room. If you zoom in, you’ll see me in the front with the big baby belly. (Wyatt calls me ‘big belly’ these days!)

Rainbows represent promise, hope, and new beginnings. 

It's been a rough past few weeks for our family, hence my absence online. Thank you so much for your messages of love, concern, and support. They mean so much to us. I know I share a lot with you on here, but I’m not going to get into details this time. Just know we're doing alright. Junebug is great (and kicking and rolling around non-stop!), Wyatt is awesome per usual, and Ryan and I are rock solid.

I had to take a break from work. My main focus has always been (and will
always be) protecting the peace, health, and well-being of our family unit. 

Social media can be a beautiful place where connection and inspiration happens. Unfortunately, it can also foster hurtful and harmful attacks. I’ve learned so much over these past few weeks, and have deeply reflected on my presence and future plans online. I’ll share more soon, but for now, I just wanted to check in, say a sincere thanks, and let you know we’re all good. ❤️
The moment I found out. September 22, 2021. I’ll The moment I found out. September 22, 2021. I’ll be honest - the first trimester wasn’t great. There were moments of joy (like this one) but it was filled with anxiety, scary moments, and a few hurdles. 

🤰I’m playing catchup on some pregnancy blog posts but I wanted to make sure this was up, especially for those who have been following our journey. 

👉 Head on over to KariSkelton.com for ‘Pregnancy Q&A: The First Trimester’ where I get into all of it. Link is in my bio.

❔️Please ask any questions. That’s the whole reason why I share about this. I believe sharing our experiences and personal stories helps all of us feel less alone and often validates what we’re going through. 

(If you can believe it, I took a video of the exact moment I found out but it disappeared from my files. Poof! Gone.💨 Of all the videos to lose…. 🙈 But very happy to have this photo).

#pregnancystories #motherhoodrising #motherhoodunites #Canadianblogger #Canadianmom
Contest Closed. Congrats to our winner @michelle_q Contest Closed. Congrats to our winner @michelle_quay! Thanks to all of you for entering! ❤

➡️ Giveaway! To celebrate @fresonbros first birthday tomorrow (Saturday, March 5), we’re giving away a $250 Freson Bros. GC! 🥳

You’re invited to pop down to the party between 11-5 to celebrate with us! 🎉There’s birthday torte, a whole bunch of perks, specialty tastings, and additional in-store giveaways, including a beautiful Camp Chef XT Wood Pellet Grill! 🙆‍♀️

To enter our $250 GC Giveaway:

👉 Make sure you follow me @kariskelton and @fresonbros.

👉 Like this post.

👉 tag some friends who would love this!

✨️ Bonus entry: Head to KariSkelton.com and leave a comment on my ‘Freson Bros. Turns One’ blog post (make sure to add your IG handle in that comment so we know who you are). 

*This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only and is in no way endorsed or supported by Instagram. The winner must be able to pick up the $250 gift card prize at Freson Bros. Edmonton 5139 Mullen Rd. Contest closes Friday, March 4 at 11:59 pm MST. The winner will be announced on this post before 9 a.m MST Saturday, March 5. 

🚨*PLEASE watch out for impersonation accounts that unfortunately sometimes pop up during giveaways. I will only reach out to you via DM from my account (@kariskelton) to confirm your win and then we’ll coordinate details via email only.
Load More… Follow on Instagram

kariskelton

Lifestylist + Blogger: KariSkelton.com
Mom to Wyatt, Moses🐾 + Monroe🐾
Babe on the way! (06/22)
❤ @ryanjespersen
motherhood | style | recipes 👇

Kari Skelton | Motherhood
when you feel like you've hit your max bump but th when you feel like you've hit your max bump but there's still nine weeks to go. 😳

It's truly amazing what our bodies can do. 💛

#31weeks #sunsoutbumpsout #beachball
Life update. ❤ I’ll be keeping this piece of Life update. ❤

I’ll be keeping this piece of art forever. Wyatt painted this for me back in January, when I was isolated with Covid. I taped it up on the wall beside the bed during my stay in our guest room. If you zoom in, you’ll see me in the front with the big baby belly. (Wyatt calls me ‘big belly’ these days!)

Rainbows represent promise, hope, and new beginnings. 

It's been a rough past few weeks for our family, hence my absence online. Thank you so much for your messages of love, concern, and support. They mean so much to us. I know I share a lot with you on here, but I’m not going to get into details this time. Just know we're doing alright. Junebug is great (and kicking and rolling around non-stop!), Wyatt is awesome per usual, and Ryan and I are rock solid.

I had to take a break from work. My main focus has always been (and will
always be) protecting the peace, health, and well-being of our family unit. 

Social media can be a beautiful place where connection and inspiration happens. Unfortunately, it can also foster hurtful and harmful attacks. I’ve learned so much over these past few weeks, and have deeply reflected on my presence and future plans online. I’ll share more soon, but for now, I just wanted to check in, say a sincere thanks, and let you know we’re all good. ❤️
The moment I found out. September 22, 2021. I’ll The moment I found out. September 22, 2021. I’ll be honest - the first trimester wasn’t great. There were moments of joy (like this one) but it was filled with anxiety, scary moments, and a few hurdles. 

🤰I’m playing catchup on some pregnancy blog posts but I wanted to make sure this was up, especially for those who have been following our journey. 

👉 Head on over to KariSkelton.com for ‘Pregnancy Q&A: The First Trimester’ where I get into all of it. Link is in my bio.

❔️Please ask any questions. That’s the whole reason why I share about this. I believe sharing our experiences and personal stories helps all of us feel less alone and often validates what we’re going through. 

(If you can believe it, I took a video of the exact moment I found out but it disappeared from my files. Poof! Gone.💨 Of all the videos to lose…. 🙈 But very happy to have this photo).

#pregnancystories #motherhoodrising #motherhoodunites #Canadianblogger #Canadianmom
Contest Closed. Congrats to our winner @michelle_q Contest Closed. Congrats to our winner @michelle_quay! Thanks to all of you for entering! ❤

➡️ Giveaway! To celebrate @fresonbros first birthday tomorrow (Saturday, March 5), we’re giving away a $250 Freson Bros. GC! 🥳

You’re invited to pop down to the party between 11-5 to celebrate with us! 🎉There’s birthday torte, a whole bunch of perks, specialty tastings, and additional in-store giveaways, including a beautiful Camp Chef XT Wood Pellet Grill! 🙆‍♀️

To enter our $250 GC Giveaway:

👉 Make sure you follow me @kariskelton and @fresonbros.

👉 Like this post.

👉 tag some friends who would love this!

✨️ Bonus entry: Head to KariSkelton.com and leave a comment on my ‘Freson Bros. Turns One’ blog post (make sure to add your IG handle in that comment so we know who you are). 

*This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only and is in no way endorsed or supported by Instagram. The winner must be able to pick up the $250 gift card prize at Freson Bros. Edmonton 5139 Mullen Rd. Contest closes Friday, March 4 at 11:59 pm MST. The winner will be announced on this post before 9 a.m MST Saturday, March 5. 

🚨*PLEASE watch out for impersonation accounts that unfortunately sometimes pop up during giveaways. I will only reach out to you via DM from my account (@kariskelton) to confirm your win and then we’ll coordinate details via email only.
Load More… Follow on Instagram

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