When your job is to stay home and take care of the children, which is an enormous undertaking, your husband probably feels that the daily chores are your responsibility, which is a fair assessment.  But, add starting your own business into the equation and a new arrangement must be made for the sake of sanity. When you work from home, you are technically working three jobs:  Taking care and chauffeuring the children during the day, conducting business from your home whenever you can and the dreaded night shift of dealing with any needs the children may have during the wee hours.

In order to avoid friction and arguments that will arise from the stress and exhaustion you will inevitably feel, you and your husband will need to discuss your needs and help around the house.  Here are some tips on how to approach the subject with your significant (& soon to be helpful) other.

• Don’t have the conversation right when your husband walks in from a long day at work.  There is a good chance he may tune you out and words may be exchanged.  Choose the timing of this discussion wisely, perhaps on a weekend or after the children have gone to sleep.
• Let him know that you are physically and mentally exhausted and need some of the everyday jobs to be handled by him. Explain that you both work and although you may not be commuting to an office, the stress level and exhaustion of the day are equal.
• Decide what tasks could be done by your husband that would take the burden off you.  Whether it is bathing the children at night, putting them to bed or taking the night shift a few times a week, taking some of the load off of you will make you more productive in all aspects of life during the day and more pleasant for your husband when he walks in the door after work.

More Quick Tips:
Business Telephone Calls	Proper Introductions
Email Etiquette	Business Meetings in the Home
Are You Busy?	Life In Your Home Office
Unexpected Payments: To Accept or Not to Accept	When Your Healthy Home/Work Life Balance Is In Jeopardy
Dealing with Difficult People	Equal Share
Returning Phone Calls	Handling  Little Awkward Situations
Call Waiting Etiquette	Should I Take The Blame?
Networking Dilemma	It’s Not Your Job Title That Is Important….