Working From Home: The Glamour Of It All

Today I had a latte delivered to my office. My parents are visiting and they were kind enough to play gopher for me. As I sipped my medium low-fat-caramel-latte I realized that I never do this. I never drink fancy coffee while I am working anymore. Never.  I miss it. I love my $4 coffees. Sue me.

I never go to lunch with a friend either.  I eat Trader Joe's Chinese chicken salad at my desk.

Happy hour? Not even close. That isn't to say I don't pour myself a generous glass of wine come six o'clock, but I drink it in my kitchen with a backdrop of children demanding dinner and fighting over the Ipad. It isn't quiet the same as hanging out at the local pub and gossiping with your coworkers over beers and wings.

Nobody stops by my office for a quick chat. Well that isn't entirely true, but the conversation is usually about lost shoes, diaper rash or the injustice of our television rules.

I work in yoga pants and t-shirts. I often don't shower until 4pm. Closets full of cute shoes and skirts go unworn.

At one point in my life I had an office with the view of downtown Denver. It was tidy, and quiet. The only sounds were people talking in low, respectful voices to one-another. Now I share my work space with a litter box and a cluttered closet and listen to our lovely nanny try to negotiate through the temper-tantrums downstairs.






















No, I don't have a commute. I am so lucky that often times I hang up from my last call of the day, and walk down the stairs to be immediately greeted with World War Three between the boys and cat puke in the kitchen. Forget about time to unwind.

Yes, yes, I am terribly lucky to have the flexibility to work from home. It is convenient and allows me to attend school conferences, doctor appointments and even workout. I don't have to worry about the expense of the commute or flat ironing my hair every morning. Given the sheer value of time when running a household of five, this is a true blessing. But I wouldn't be Rachel if I didn't complain, and the truth is, working from home has it's downsides.

Perhaps someday I'll be back in the "real world." Perhaps someday I'll have lunch with coworkers and wear grownup clothes again. For today, I am just loving on my latte.