Work at home parent

Friday, April 23, 2010 at 2:03PM

by Michelle Staley

Our son had his adenoids taken out a couple of weeks ago. With our early struggles with Ty being on oxygen 24/7 I was excited to be getting this issue taken care of as well. I am pleased to say that he has recovered nicely and only polished off a couple of boxes of Popsicles while doing so! The day of his surgery all he wanted was either his daddy or myself to hold him on the couch and didn’t want us doing anything else.

One of the pros of working from home. I can always burn the mid-night oil on those days and still get done what I need to for my business.

The second day after the surgery he was getting a little bit back to his five year old self. I had a million things to get accomplished or at least it felt that way, but Ty wasn’t having it! He wanted my undivided attention! I however needed to get some work done at a decent time that day. While I was trying to work on deadlines in my home office I kept getting interrupted by my sweet curly haired redhead. He wanted this and wanted that, wanting me to watch movies with him, play with him you name it. His last request was to build a tent in the living room.

Now, I’m a fun Mommy but I am also the type of person that doesn’t like her house out of order, especially the front room! (I know what your thinking…get over it you have a child now!) haha

The idea of a tent smack dab in the middle of my living room wasn’t the most appealing thing to me but I knew I would be making my son one happy camper if I helped him build one.



I proceeded to build the biggest tent/fort you have ever seen. It stretched clear across my living room and into the dining room where I eventually moved my laptop for the rest of the week! My son was so excited! He kept jumping up and down in his Buzz Lightyear PJ’s saying:

“I love my tent, thank you Momma!” My son played in that tent for the next three days.

He watched movies on his DVD player, played with toys, napped and ate a few of those Popsicles I had mentioned earlier all under a huge canopy of blankets and sheets. I did have people stop by that week to see how Ty was doing. My living room was a disaster zone and there was no place for them to sit, but I was OK with it after all! Just seeing that huge smile on my kiddo’s face was so worth it!

I also ended up taking my laptop into the tent a couple of times so that I could hang out with him and work at the same time.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is “Where else could I get away with talking to VP’s of corporations at the same time I’m in my sweats, under the big top otherwise known as Ty’s Fortress”! One the many reasons I love being blessed enough to run my Busy Breather empire from home!

About Michelle Staley:

I am first and foremost a “Mommy” and “Wife,” but I have an entrepreneurial spirit that finds expression in the running of my business out of my home.

That entrepreneurial spirit started when I was 10 when I drove a tractor for my dad on the northeastern plains in Colorado. After high school and college, despite a degree in Fashion Merchandising, I found myself working in the Hazardous Materials industry–not my dream job, but it gave me a good work ethic!

After our son was born, I had to quit that industry and I haven’t looked back since! Even though being your own boss can be difficult at times, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I get to be at home with my son and at the same time do something I love and am passionate about, as well as making a difference in this world by helping others!