My computer desk is placed in the living room. Right next to the TV and where my kids hang around all day long when they are not sleeping. It has been this way after our second child was born. There has to be an adult around to keep an eye on our two kids. No way I could afford to isolate myself for more than 10 minutes away from the kids. This is where I work and it is the worst working condition you could ever put yourself in. Noise isn’t what bothers me. In fact, I could focus perfectly well no matter how noisy a place I’m in. What distracts me most are the kids. Especially when they cry. I can concentrate with the TV blasting away or a blender right next to me or a room full of people chatting loudly. But not when my kids cry. And fuck me, my kids fight all the time and they only way they’d stop is one starts crying. If you think working from home is cool, sure it is. That is before you start having kids. Then you’ll appreciate how bloody good working in an office was, even if you used to work out of a boring cubicle.