Quite often this is something I don't have time to do but recently the opportunity arose.

I found myself given a moment to stop and consider the big questions from my roof top after my four year old moved the ladder. 

As I sat up there for a while sans phone or anything to throw on the neighbour’s roof, I thought of so many things I hadn't had the chance to ponder before.

Things like how was I going to get down and what possible threat I could make that would bring the boy back with the ladder.

I wondered what happened to those negotiator skills I used to have and could I fashion some kind of abseiling kit from the television antenna cable?

I know MacGyver would be all over that. Then it hit me.

This working from home thing is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Had I been working in an office, I probably wouldn’t be sitting on the roof pondering why I didn’t call in a professional, and does Bear Grylls really drink his own pee?

Sure working from home has a lot of good points like no commute, no takeaway lunches, everyday is casual Friday and you can work around the school run but I’m beginning to wonder if I am losing the ability to communicate with adults.

Working from home is also isolated, even if you have a mischievous four year old at home.

He is not a very good proof reader or project collaborator, and quite often I find myself doing all the work, plus he grabs all the attention at meetings.

But, I am saving lots of money on child care, right?!

If I need to have a meeting with someone I can have it in a nice little coffee shop, and eat cake instead of staff room biscuits.

I can play whatever music I like and I don't catch the office cold. Sounds great doesn't it?

However, motivation and procrastination become a problem.

One moves out and the other moves in. This happens because we need the company of other humans to keep us in check.

You need someone to say every now and then: "You know cleaning out the fridge isn't going to help get that work done". 

There's no Monday morning tea break chats about what you did on the weekend with co-workers, besides, you probably spent it catching up on the work you didn't do because you were distracted by cleaning the kitchen.

It seems the argument for working from home comes up even on both sides.

So what did I learn from all this?

Well, first and foremost no home maintenance is to be attempted while the smallest boy is around.

Second, put the phone in my pocket before climbing on rooftops. 

Third, I learnt that all choices come with an upside and a downside, we just have to be grateful for the good and accept the bad, and do our best to make it not so hard on ourselves.

You’re probably wondering how I got down? Well as it is with most small boys they’re motivated by food, and the promise of cookies got me the ladder back.