10 Things You Should Never Say to a Work at Home Mom

As a work at home mom, I get plenty of questions about what I do. Most people are polite and curious, but inevitably, you’ll come across someone who pushes your buttons about your work. Here are some of the questions/comments that I’ve encountered that you should never say to a work at home mom.

1. What do you do all day?

I work, just like you do. In addition to doing our jobs, many of us spend hours each week looking for clients, marketing our services, organizing work schedules, tracking income and expenses and more. We do everything that needs to be done to run a business.

2. I’d get so bored staying at home all the time.

Many work-at-home parents leave the house for meetings, networking or just for a change of scenery. You don’t have to stay in your house all day. In fact, socializing is important to preventing burnout. But if you think that you’d be bored working at home, don’t do it. Simple as that.

3. I’d love to work in my pajamas and get paid for it.

So would I! That would be totally amazing. But not getting dressed for the day is one of the biggest productivity killers of all. Most work at home parents get up, shower and get dressed just as if we were headed to the office. Okay, maybe we’re wearing jeans and t-shirts (or yoga pants and hoodies), but we’re not all sporting bedheads and flannel pjs.

4. You get paid for that?

Yes. I get paid to write, just as millions of people have in years and centuries past.

5. What do you do with your child all day?

We play, do chores, read stories, craft and cook during work breaks. But not all work-at-home parents take care of their kids while they’re working. Some hire sitters. Really, every parent is different.

6. How do you keep up with the house, laundry and cooking?

I don’t. I can’t keep up with everything all the time. Thankfully, I have a helpful husband who pitches in with the housework, laundry and cooking despite working a full-time job outside of the home.

7. You must love sleeping in every day.

Does anyone with young children get to sleep in? I don’t think that’s even possible until they hit the teenage years. Today, I’m going on two hours of sleep, not by my own choice, but because my son only slept for three hours last night and hasn’t been able to fall asleep since. There’s still work and parenting to be done.

8. How do you make a living just working a few hours a week?

Hahaha! If anyone tells you that he or she makes a living working just a few hours a week, beware! That person is likely a scam artist. My workweek ranges from 30-50 hours, and believe me, I’m not getting rich.

9. It must be great to not have to stick to a schedule.

Some people can work that way, but I can’t. Without a schedule and a plan, I flitter from one thing to another, never accomplishing much. Many work-at-home moms and dads have set business hours to establish work/life boundaries.

10. Hook me up with whatever you’re doing!

Sorry. It’s not that easy. You have to look for clients and work-from-home jobs just like everyone else. It takes some people months to find a gig—some more than a year. Just because you find an opportunity doesn’t mean that you’ll get it.

Have you ever had any strange or rude questions about what you do for a living? Share them in the comments!

For more work at home tips, check out the posts below!