YES....I work from home.

NO....it's not a cake walk.

Yes...I work from home....NO, that doesn't mean that everything is easy. Yes..I can work in my pajamas....NO that's not always by choice....somedays I just haven't had a free moment to change my clothes yet because I am so busy. Yes...I can go for a run on my lunch break.....NO that's not everyday because most days I don't even take a lunch. Yes...I'm here when my kids get off the bus....NO that doesn't mean I get to sit down and do their homework with them right away. Yes...I can switch laundry over, start dinner, and grab a package when the UPS guy rings the doorbell....NO that doesn't mean that when my kids are sick and home from school that I can easily take care of them and properly tend to their needs AND do my job with the care that it deserves.

In fact...working from home is not a "cake walk" as it would seem to many. Is my morning commute short and rather stress-free? Probably, compared to most. But before I log in, I have made sure both of my kids are up, showered, dressed, fed, lunches packed, and to school on time. Then I come back and jump into helping REAL families, REAL people, who have REAL goals, hurdles, and issues. And do I do it from home? YES. I do it alongside an AMAZING team of hard-working, intelligent, and brilliant people who band together to support our clients from hundreds of miles away. We deal with the same people who get angry, say hateful things, share successes, and give praise when earned. However, we don't get to look them in the eye and use the power of touch and body language to put them at ease and build meaningful relationships with them. We do it through the power of words and actions. We don't have to go to a physical 4-walled building, sit under horrible florescent lights, and wait in anticipation for quitting time for us to do our job and exceed expectations. We're so freaking good, we can do it without even leaving the house.

I'm tired of people thinking that because I work from home that being in the same living space counts as "quality time" with my husband. There are days that I hardly leave my office, let alone share a hug and a kiss with him until almost bedtime. So forgive us if we opt to do something together where we can look into each other's eyes and talk about each other's day. Sharing physical space with someone DOES NOT mean that you are spending conscious, focused, meaningful time together doing the things that you both enjoy that provide a foundation for your relationship. I'm repulsed by people who think because they work from an actual physical office and that because I work from home I should be able to take care of anything that comes up at home or with the family all on my own. It is visible proof that they actually don't know shit.

Granted, there are some work from home occupations that don't require undivided focus and "out-of-the-box" thinking. However, even if I were offered a chance to do that, I wouldn't change what I do for anything. Why? Because I am closer to my teammates than a lot of people I've worked next to in an actual office. We are spread out across the country and that means we work harder than most to support, encourage, and care for each other. I would trust ANY of them in most any situation versus some people I've shared a physical office with. The company I work for cares for EVERYONE from our clients, team members, regional directors, and city directors. Our CEO sits in on EVERY weekly meeting with the directors across the nation. I get a "virtual hand slap" if I log in after hours and I'm told to go spend time with my family. We share fitness challenges, holiday parties, and friendships better than most. We also have expectations everyday, goals, and challenges that we are expected to meet, beat, and exceed. And we DO.

So next time judgement jumps to, "Oh, well she works from home....," stop to think. It's NOT easy. It's NOT "well she can take care of the kids when their sick AND still get her job done." It's NOT just sitting in front of a computer all day. It is NOT living stress-free each work day while wearing fluffy slippers and eating bon-bons. It IS hard work, it IS creative problem-solving, it IS creating success for families, students, and clients that are seeking it. It IS building relationships through effective listening and communication. It IS creating trust without the advantage of human touch and eye-to-eye contact. It IS something I am damn proud of.  So before weighing the level of stress, importance, or hard work involved with one job next to mine, come sit behind me for a day and see and do what I do. Then you have an even playing field. Choosing to assume that one knows all the ins and outs of working from home because of what is seen on TV and portrayed by various media outlets is merely evidence of chosen ignorance. It's ascribing to a certain naiveté because choosing to ask questions and educate oneself is just more difficult and it might shed light on things you were hoping weren't true. It's the number one reason that working from home is probably not the best option for those folks.