working at home & getting no respect
By snivelbec
@snivelbec (135)
United States
January 8, 2007 10:20am CST
Whether it's tooling around myLot (which, obviously, I do) or running a retail website from your diningroom table (which I do), I notice a lack of respect and understanding of just how much time and focus working from home takes. Yes, I'm at home when I work but what I do involves much administrative work (descriptions, picture taking, web site maintenance, marketing) as well as filling orders (unfortunately, not as much of that as I'd like), and now tax documentation will be coming up as well. Yet I get up early and frantically try to limit my online time when my spouse is around 'cause I know it takes time away from him and I know he resents it sometimes. Likewise, with my extended family, my life seems to be regarded as 'easily interruptable' and 'aways available' because I just stay at home all the time. I dream of putting aside around 3-4 uninterrupted hours every day, telling folks that I am "at the office" and uninterruptable. Can this be done? Oh sure, of course it can but frankly, I dread the misunderstanding and resentment which will probably come up. How do I (and how do YOU, for the folks out there in the same boat) get those close to you to understand that you take your job - though it may not be generating full-time income RIGHT NOW - seriously? And get them to understand that anything which generates income can be considered a job; whether it's selling on Ebay, running a website in your jammies, or contributing to myLot?
11 people like this
78 responses
@gadituzair (985)
• Pakistan
8 Jan 07
No,absolutely not,i think now the wrld is changing rapidly and i think the coming dedace will have an impact on this traditional offices too,all offices will be remote and nearly all workers will be working from home,so u just dont worry,basically the ethics are different when u r working from home!!
@Bharat_Don (210)
• India
9 Jan 07
I totally agree with this that in future all the offices are going to be remote and the people will be doing all their work from office. I think that one is more comfortable to work from home rather working from offices
@swasti (1157)
• India
8 Jan 07
well anybody who works from home is considered as equal to not working at all. the fact is that the one who works or stays at home has the maximum number of work and also neevr ending work . but everybody else cannot accept it. We cant make them realise that this kind of work really needs time to spend . it is ofcourse hard for us to convince them. in my case we have an unlimited access to broadband. so i tell them that i should not waste money .instead i can do something and getting money is much better.
howmuch ever home work we have it is never ending ,,,though peole believe that we have all tiem in the world.
3 people like this
@Junig1 (300)
• Barbados
8 Jan 07
It's sad that you are not getting the support you would like. Have you expressed your concerns to your husband one on one? Working at home or any where for that matter is a JOB - your time should be respected. Do you have a designated place in your home that you call your office? If not do that. Sometimes we think too much of others and not ourselves, but we are unhappy it will frustrate us more to always sacrifice and yet feel unfulfilled. If you were at an outside office they wouldn't come and interrupt you as they please, so they shouldn't now. Sometimes you have to speak your peace respectfully but firmly. I think you should also make a plan of you time and have a written shedule, put it up or give it to the 'disturbers' let them know you have your work schedule and you wish not to be disturbed, if you don't they will just continue to take you for granted, good luck:-)
@classy56 (2880)
• United States
8 Jan 07
i go through the same thing with my family members.my hubby dont say much.its other family members who dont relize this is my work an i tell them do not call me from 5am - 2pm because im busy on pc.they are just jealouse because their wifes cant sit at home an earn money.{a job a job} i dont care were you work at. home- office- factory. just plain tell them to leave you alone an let you do your work
3 people like this
@mgr1987 (689)
• India
8 Jan 07
well,generally people think that house wives don't have any work to do except cooking and maintaining the house.they don't realise that they are the base of any relationship.even though if they earn from home,they used to make fun of it.don't care about those fools.as for your problem,whether it might be your extended family or any relation,be bold to say that you work for a company through internet and tell that you'll call them after your working hours(just fix a time and tell to everybody that you should not be interrupted during your working hour).
3 people like this
@tiff_2045 (5)
• United States
9 Jan 07
I think that being a housewife and mother is one of the hardest jobs that you could imagine.Anybody who dosen't have any kids or responsabilities has completely no idea some days i think i'd rather dig ditches ha ha!!
3 people like this
@gigarange (1165)
• United States
8 Jan 07
I understand what you mean snivelbec. I am also working at home and I am having a hrad time managing my time doing the necessary things I need to do online (related to my job) and giving my family good times. People would think I have all the time in the world because I am staying at home but my..believe me, I am having a hard time budgeting my time too.
3 people like this
@snivelbec (135)
• United States
8 Jan 07
Thanks. At least I know now I'm not the only one having the problem. Sometimes it's difficult, too, to move from 'worker mentality' to..say, 'mommy mentality' or 'wife mentality.' It takes almost a physical effort, even though you may just be sitting there. The focus required, and the time budgeting as you mentioned, is incredible. I feel a little better so thanks!
3 people like this
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
9 Jan 07
To be honest it took my husband a very long time to cometo terms that I wanted to work from home so I can be with my kids and still try to earn some money as well. when I first started mylot it really pi$$ed him off cause I was spending too much time online at mylot. Once I actually got paid and he saw the mylot payment in my paypal account he felt a little better about me working here on mlyot. We have come to an agreement tho. Once we get cable internet again I can basically be on mylot as often as I want as long as I get the house hold chores done. I tend to slack off on those a little. I agreed. Since I have dial-up internet right now I really have to limit my internet time to mostly in the afternoon and evening which is ok as long as I can do si without interuption and that is where he plays the kids. My husband and I try to have time for us on the weekends when we are both readily availavle for eachother without the kids.
1 person likes this
@micheller (1365)
• United States
8 Jan 07
Maybe one day you can tell them to come spend the day over at your house. Show them everything you do and let them watch you do it so that they can see how hard you work everyday to make an income over the internet. People just think that people who work over the internet and stay at home has a easy job, but it's really not easy. It takes alot of time and effort.
3 people like this
@salome23 (43)
• United States
9 Jan 07
I am also a work from home person with constant interuptions, whether by my husband, daughter, or grandchildren. I am not a morning person so my husband and daughter have the computer,in the afternoon I try to work 5 hours,tending to my online stores, listing,web pics,site maintenance, and packing sold items waiting to be mailed.I break away from my computer to prepare dinner for the family,and I work for a couple of more hours..I have to force myself to break away or else I would be on the computer working every single minute that was how it was in the begining.You have to pace youself and set your priorities,and you definitly have to set time for your husband, because like I chose to work at home so that I could spend more time with the family.For other people set a recorded message stating that you are not accepting calls within this timeframe, and to please call when your off work.
1 person likes this
@myneniprudhvi (127)
• India
9 Jan 07
yes i am too not getting any respect at home as i earn money in mylot.
1 person likes this
@glasser3 (354)
• Hibbing, Minnesota
9 Jan 07
well basicly what id suggest is you just tell them "look this is my choice of work and i need the time to make this into a full time income so please dont call me between the hours of __ and __ as ill be working" and take it seriously set a schedule and work those hours and if you have to just ignore the calls or what ever unless you know its an emergancy or something. And remember your not being rude because these people would not call you at work if you worked in an office some where.
1 person likes this
@s_ritesh20 (222)
• India
9 Jan 07
i think so u r quite right i am facing same problem here.
i am doing little bite diffrent work.
i am doing fundamental analysis for my client but my family do not motivate me.
they are not ready to except it as work
@volatile (204)
• United States
10 Jan 07
It all depends on what you actually do online as your "job" as well as what your motivations are for trying to work at home. If you are a young person and want to work online because you want to "be your own boss" because you don't want to live by a schedule and be run by managers and companies...then that person is selling theirselves short and will receive some ridicule. Then, of course, there are circumstances where you can't work outside the home (disability, work at home mom, etc.) where this is the only option for you to help your family make ends meet. I'm sure anyone can respect that.
@usmcprincess (299)
• United States
9 Jan 07
I work at my home as a Nanny. I watch 3 to 5 children at one time. But every time that I am asked what I do I say that I am a stay at home nanny, and I get told "oh" my wife used to do that but she got a BETTER job!! How can you judge that her job is better than mine? I love what I do. I have also been told by my doctor of all people that being a nanny is not a real job never mind that i do it at home. I run around all day like a chicken with my head cut off. I just say well I get paid just like you do and I help families that need child care.
@graydana (9)
• United States
9 Jan 07
You obvisouly have alot going on for you! WOW! Some people don't understand that if you don't have a 9-5 office job, or go out and get dirty Monday-Friday you don't have a "job". When in all reality being a mother is a "job", being a wife is a "job". I am a homemaker with 2 kids (a 10 month old and a 5 1/2 year old) And I feel like I have 2 "jobs". Maybe if you take the person you are trying to prove yourself to bring them to your house, have them do (or help) you or even just show them what you have to do daily, and have them stay with you for a week. Then maybe they will understand then! If you do something and in return you make or earn money Honey that is your "J O B". I'm not sure who you are refeering to but have you thought about why you would even have to prove yourself? In life you "Have To Do What You Have To Do" to make money and just live life. Sounds to me you are a strong person with a lot of will and energy!! Keep up the hard "WORK"
DMG
@monica2475 (6)
• United States
10 Jan 07
I completely understand you snivelbec! Because I work from home friends and family think that they can drop by unexpected, call whatever. I have even been told "well since you dont work" lol. It is very aggravating not to get the respect. They do not think about the obstacles.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
12 Jan 07
It'ms important that business hours are set, and you stick to those constantly. You have to be firm with your family and friends when working at home and let them know that between this time and this time, you are not to be bothered because you are working. Eventually, they will understand that you ARE working and that you do actually make money from home, whether or not they believe it.
