I was going through the fridge and freezer this morning, chucking “out-of-date half-eaten yogurt containers and planning next week’s meals based on stuff that needs to be used up.

It hit me how much less time I have, working outside the home as compared to when I worked from my home.

Years ago when my own children were young, instead of returning to my position as a kindergarten teacher, I had decided to operate a home daycare.

I guess I had a well-ordered schedule with established routines for the children as well as for myself.  In addition to my own 3 children (1 was in 3rd grade, 1 starting kindergarten and my youngest was only 10 months old), I took care of 5 teacher’s children (ages 8 months to 4 years) every day.  I also had a lovely kitchen garden in season and shelves of canned and preserved fruits, veggies and jams.  I baked bread with the children at least twice a week (they each got their own piece of dough to knead, bake and take home to share with their families…in tomorrow’s blog I’ll include the BEST bread recipe ever…at least my children always thought so).  I never bought a Christmas or birthday gift…I crafted everything.

Now, although I only work 3 days a week outside my house, my children are grown with families of their own, and I’ve traded my hat as daycare provider for that of writer of parenting and children’s picture books, I find I have LESS time than before.  Is it that I am older and have less energy?  Am I less organized than I was before?  Or does life become more complicated even though it seems it should be more simple.

I know it is different for everyone…each person’s situation and personality dictate how they feel about working from home or outside the home.

What is your experience?  Better to work at home?  Or better to work outside the home?