Work-at-Home Parent Key Terms

Key terms for parents who want to work from home

By J. Stoltzfus, writer/programmer LOCAL CITIZEN

These days, a lot of folks with children are headed toward a specific pinnacle of the multi-tasking world: working from home. Work-at-home parents manage children, a home and a job all at the same time, every day of the week. There are many specific challenges that a work-at-home parent faces. Knowing a lot about the fundamentals of this kind of entrepreneurship will help those involved get a better grip on potential success.

Work/life balance

This term doesn't just apply to work-at-home parents, but it is often especially relevant to their lives. The work/life balance just means juggling parenthood and a career. Many mothers do that with conventional jobs away from home, and work-at-home parents face particular challenges.
Try: Get more on the Work/Life Balance at WorkLifeBalance.com.

Short-term offices and conference rooms

One good resource for a work-at-home parent, or anyone operating out of his or her home, is knowing where local short- term offices or conference rooms are located. These handy temporary solutions provide a place to meet potential clients, supply reps or anyone else who may have a bearing on a home-based business.
Try: Find out more about conference room options from Fedex for meeting the need for a short-term office away from home.

Home schooling

The alternative of home schooling children allows parents to function as caregiver, breadwinner and educator all in one. Many rural children are home schooled, but with an increasingly diverse work force, home schooling may be a popular option for other groups, such as work-at-home parents.
Try: Find out more about home schooling at HomeSchool.com.

In-home child care options

Another big factor for work-at-home partents is in-home child care or other options for when children are too young for school. Hiring a nanny or sitter can be an efficient solution.
Try: Read up about in home child care and the hiring of nannies or sitters at Family Education.

Virtual office

The virtual office is a term that has been getting a lot of coverage in recent years, and it means using technology and resources to create a better "first impression" for callers and let the business focus on doing work rather than administrative tasks.
Try: Find out more about virtual office at AllBusiness.com. Get more virtual office setup guides for useful virtual phone solutions from Phone.com.