Check out an article my husband wrote after our Christmas vacation in Mexico. It says it all. http://www.smallbizpipeline.com/59200021

When I began freelancing, my dog would put her head on my lap about 4 to ask for dinner. I'd rub her ears and tell her it was too early, but eventually started feeding her. Pretty soon she was coming in at 3:30, then 3. If I succumb too early, then she gets hungry for breakfast before the sun comes up. I have to hold her off. It is distracting . . . but better than the guy who comes into your office and plops down to chat when you are on a deadline.

Working as a freelancer has advantages. No meetings that have zip to do with your work. No politics, gossiping or back stabbing. No hassles about being late or scheduling vacations. No wasting time getting dressed up. No being a slave to the clock.

Working from home has a few drawbacks and takes discipline, but it is definitely worth it. Dealing with office bureaucracy not only wastes precious minutes, it zaps your soul . . . and you need positive energy to be fresh. It's easy to stay in touch with colleagues by email, although it's a good idea to schedule lunches or just stop by to keep up the human side. Being chained to a desk for eight or nine hours is taxing. Now I can break up my time and go to the gym or or do errands or take a walk with my dog. The break gets my body moving and wakes up the mind as well. It makes me more productive in the end.

About seven years ago, I left the corporate halls of the marketing agency world to consult and coach from my home. I could never go back. I am more relaxed, more productive for my clients and have the added benefit of my children actually recognizing me.

I do nearly all of my commerce through web sites and email. Acrobat 7 Pro makes even proofing and final art a snap. Moreover, after walking away from maintaining staff and buildings for years, I am enjoying actually being able to keep some of the money!

For me, there has been no downside.

R.G. Smith

I have to agree with the article about telecommuting. My husband was promoted and transfered out of state last winter, and I thought I'd have to find a new position. Fortunately, the company I work for didn't want to lose my services so through instant messaging, teleconferencing (we'd like to vidoe conferencing) and mass e-mail, I keep current and work the 8-5.

I do, however, miss keeping the office separate from home. Though it's great to wash laundry at my leisure, I miss the good ol' feeling of walking through the front door to sanctuary.

Sincerely, Candi Teachman.

Many of us have spent years walking a tightrope, trying to balance work and family. Working at home can be wonderful! It can also be the absolute pits, especially if you have small children at home.
Over the last 15 years, some things haven't changed. Most mornings I just put the blinders on and forge ahead. I'm pretty good at getting a cup of coffee without even seeing the dirty dishes from the night before.
Carefully sidestepping the vacuum cleaner, without spilling a drop of coffee, I meander down the hall. It's tough, though, to climb over the mountain of dirty laundry because the hamper lives right outside of my office.
Ten years ago, life was very different. I was married. The kids were 8 and 12. Working at home was ideal for me. I could work and still be there for the kids. Then again, maybe I should say: I could work in spite of being there for them. It felt good-like I was really in control-when someone asked how many hours I worked. I'd say, "Oh, it's depends on what else is going on in my life." They'd just eat it up!
Writing requires a certain amount of concentration, which was easily undermined by the kids' fighting, doorbells ringing, and the zillion "Can Heidi come play?" phone calls I answered weekly.
Life was wonderful when there are no half days or holidays from school, my ex wasn't on one of his clean-the-house kicks, and we'd been invited out to dinner or there were leftovers to zap.
Things went along pretty well during the school year. I'd write during school hours. I felt productive. Once the kids got home, Mom's Taxi was usually on the move. Summer, on the other hand, was hell . . . writing-wise, at least. While nothing is more important to me than the kids, that need to write does somersaults inside me if it's not let out. For three months, I did what I could and tried to keep my frustrations to a minimum. The "Don't Knock Unless You're Bleeding" sign on my office door had little effect. My mantra became: They're only young once, they're only young once...
I usually write when it's quiet, so noise is distracting. When I worked in the newsroom, I got used to noise. Once back home, though, I soon needed quiet again.
Face it: Kids equal noise. Earplugs helped drown out Heidi's TV and Ryan's guitar practice, but nothing buffered their fighting. And nothing got me more uptight-it still does. And they know it.
Working at home is the ultimate in flextime. For me, it began out of necessity, rather than desire. If I got up at 5 a.m, I could put a full day in before Ryan got home at 2. "If" was the operative word here.
No matter how much I work, it never seems like I'm doing enough. When I started logging my time, it amazed me. I thought I worked a fraction of the time I actually do. I'd kick myself on the days when I had four billable hours, yet manage to ignore the 12-hour days.
I chuckle when I think about using a webcam through my computer. Fortunately, none of my clients have ever asked to speak to me that way. I try to picture how professional I'd look, in my jammies, frantically waving my arms and throwing empty film canisters at my squabbling children, while interviewing the governor. Her Honor may be envisioning me in a suit and heels, but we know better, don't we?

Sandy Hershelman
http://www.sandyhershelman.com
hershelman@olympus.net

I've just recently become a self-employed home office business owner. Since March, I've been working from my former living room, which is now a comfortably decorated office with two large windows. For the past 16 years, I worked in windowless offices made comfortable only by extinguishing the overhead flourescent lights and using numerous lamps.

In the spring, I was able to throw open the windows, allowing a fresh breeze to waft through the house while listening to several birds as they were feeding outside. One of my three cats, who I have temporarily given the name "Office Cat" or "Art Cat," is almost always present, begging for a rub and not only keeping me company but providing plently of free entertainment as well.

Only my twenty-year-old daughter remains in the house with my wife (who works outside of the home) and me, and she stays busy attending college and being social. I've been able to have healthy lunches prepared at home with my daughter on most days. Otherwise, I'm virtually alone most of the day, and that's just fine with me. No interruptions. I can actually focus on one project without distractions.

All of this may be different this coming winter, with long, gray, cloudy days. But we've just added another cat who doesn't really get along with the incumbents, so there's even more free entertainment ahead.

So, are there downsides to working at home?