Amy J. Bennett

Extraordinary Faith for Everyday Life

Work Shift: Review and Giveaway

by

3dworkshiftcover

Ten years ago today I was two months into my first temporary telecommuting arrangement with my employer.  Scott had just moved Columbia for his first work assignment with the Highway Patrol in June of 2002 and in July, Emma and I moved with him, willing to say goodbye to my job in Charlotte.  

Whatever project I was working on saved my job as my manager let me lug a desktop to Columbia to finish it from home.  The rest, as they say, is history.  I’m writing this from my home computer, just 30 minutes before I’ll switch over to my work laptop for the day.  When I would be commuting up to an hour, I get to squeeze things in like blogging and doing laundry.

Ten years ago I was the only professional mom I knew working from home.  Other telecommuters existed but they were few and far between and usually they were folks that had a dedicated office at the house and had other arrangements for their kids during work hours. 

For good or bad, my kids have grown up with me at home, busy at my laptop for the bulk of the day.  My coworkers call them “office-trained”.  Scott’s schedule and family help has been key for us making it all work.  So far I look back and it’s been ideal for all of us.

As technology has grown in the past ten years, so has telecommuting.   Little did I know as the years went by, that there were thousands of others mothers jostling for their own work at home arrangement in a myriad of ways.  All I knew was our little family was doing everything we could to make it all work.  My friend Anne is another one of those mothers that was carving out a new work arrangement for her family.

Anne has written her story, my story (I’m in a book!) and a dozen other mother’s stories in her new book Work Shift: How to Create a Better Blend of Work, Life, and Family. Anne describes the shift of work life from a wide lens, giving history all the way before Industrial Revolution.  I was surprised to see that my hustle and bustle of working from home was just a small slice of the Internet Revolution fall-out and a larger group of mothers trying to make it all blend a little better.

If you’re a mother that’s already working or thinking about going back to work and want a better picture of how to make it all work at home with your family, I can’t recommend Work Shift enough.  Anne tells the stories of those of us already doing it and gives you tips on how to make it work for you.

I’d love to give a copy of Work Shift.  Leave a comment for each of these and I’ll draw a random name with random.org on Friday for a FREE copy of Work Shift:

Required

  1. Leave a comment telling me how you blend work and family—or if you don’t and want to!

Optional

  1. Enter a comment if you follow me on Twitter
  2. Enter a comment if you subscribe to Permission to Peruse

Good luck!

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED!  Amy, you are the winner!

workshiftgiveawaywinner

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I’ve been working from home since my oldest son was born almost 8 years ago. It was part time up until last January when I went back full time. Both of my boys are in school so I work from the minute my husband takes them to school (7:30AM) until I pick them up (3PM). I am SO THANKFUL that I have the opportunity to do something I enjoy AND be in full mom-mode when they’re home. I know I would benefit from this book. Thanks for the opportunity.
    The Carolina Clipper recently posted…Harlem Globetrotters – Discount TicketsMy Profile

  4. Both Matt and I juggle work, home, ministry and kids. We try to find ways to help each other out, making sure we both find time to get work done but also very important to us is being present for the kids. I’m curious about the book!

  7. I’m working on giving myself transition time (20-30 minutes after kids head to school, and 20-30 minutes before they come home) to give my kids/work my full attention.

  8. I’m still trying to find my groove 2 years after becoming a mom. I hope to start working from home a few days a week. Luckily, with my recent job change, I have that opportunity but am just working out the logistics at this point (waiting on my work-issued laptop). The hubster does a lot of housework for me since he’s not working right now and my mom keeps Winston three days a week. I still cook and do some housework but I must say, I love spending time with my guys more than a clean house. I’m lucky that MK fills in the gaps on laundry and dishes. I know things will only get crazier when Win is older. Would love to win the book!
    Leann recently posted…Frugal Friday: Saving on UtilitiesMy Profile

  12. I work 8-3 outside of the home but my husband doesn’t have to be at work until 10 so he drops our daughter off to me then and she “works” with me (church admin). Sometime I’d love to be able to do work from home – this book looks like a great resource.

  13. I try to get my phone calls in during my toddler’s nap. Or maybe I should say I plan to. Many times other things seem to take precedence…and then I don’t make money because I have no appointments!

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