Cathy Eng | Hybrid Mom

Being a work-at-home mother can be hectic and stressful at times, especially with multiple children under school age, but I find the rewards are sweet when I get to the end of the day and realize I met two major deadlines and got to spend the entire day with my amazing kids. I have found that the key to working from home with little ones is time management, prioritization and preparation.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to keep a strict schedule when young children are involved. Because fevers, play dates and sugar rushes can easily throw a child's schedule way out of whack, they often end up telling you when they are going nap, eat, and bathe. This type of living is hard for control freaks such as me, but that is one of the great things about having children; they end up wearing you down until you give up some of that self-defeating control. That is actually a good thing and often serves as a lesson in patience. Accepting this reality is part of the process.

That being said, it is still essential to have a general schedule to follow if you want to get anything done. Here are some good ways to stay organized while being flexible, so you can be there for your kids and your clients.