People work from home for a variety of reasons, including lower business expenses, personal health limitations, eliminating commuting, or to have a more flexible schedule.
While some remote workers opt for childcare outside the home, others integrate child rearing into their working time and workspace.
Societal changes in the 1800s, such as compulsory education and the Industrial Revolution, made working from home with children around less common.
Among the long-traditional groups of WAHPs are those professionals in private practice with home offices such as physicians, therapists, music teachers and tutors.
In 2008, WAHM Magazine, a digital magazine, was established specifically for work-at-home parents, designed to address the issues of the complete lifestyle of work-at-home parents regardless of field or industry, and has a mission to validate, empower, encourage, educate and support WAHPs in their personal, professional and lifestyle goals.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, many parents have to juggle paid employment and full-time daycare, which is likely to limit their productivity and the anticipated benefits of working from home.
[needs update] However, changes in technology and firm culture have increased the likelihood of working from home arrangements being made available to parents, particularly mothers.