Lessons from Supernanny

Sorry, more on reality TV. I enjoy watching Supernanny because it often makes me feel like I am doing a not so bad job of raising my kids!

Last night's episode was about a work-at-home mom who was trying to get a new cookie making business off the ground with twin 5-year olds and a 3-year old at home. While a nanny on a television show certainly isn't a work/family expert, she did provide some clear and useful guidance that is worth sharing.

Basically she suggested adding some structure and boundaries to the mom's work responsibilities. Often moms and dads that want to work from home put little thought into when they are going to work and how that will affect their time with their children. Work requires thought and concentration in order to do it well. Kids also require focused attention. Many pursue working at home in order to better manage their family while gaining income. But, if your family suffers from you working, you may be better off working outside of the home.

In the show last night, mom was distracted by her cookie making responsibilities. She was often busy baking or working online, and the kids who were starving for attention began acting out.

Supernanny sat down with both parents and worked out a schedule where mom had sufficient time to dedicate to her business while her husband took care of the kids. It was going to require a lot more effort on both of their parts, but the result was focused attention on both work and kids.