Stephanie Foster: Owner, Operator, Person Who Does All the Work Around Here
Welcome to my corner of the internet! I’m Stephanie, the creator of Home With the Kids—a resource for stay-at-home and work-at-home parents navigating the daily chaos of raising kids, working from home, and wondering why we can’t find a quiet moment, even in the bathroom.
I’ve been working from home for over 20 years now, which in mom years, is about a century. It all started when I became a medical transcriptionist and came to realize there were a lot of questions about how to get started in this work-from-home gig. So, I created this website to share what I’d learned and to help others figure out how to make working from home work for them.
After five years of typing up medical reports for Medquist, Home With the Kids became successful enough to let me leave transcription behind and focus on helping other parents full-time. Trust me, the excitement of quitting that job and becoming my own boss was very real—there may have been celebratory dancing, but I promise there’s no video evidence.
Now, a little about my home life (as if there’s ever a line between work and home). I’m the mom of three kids—two are fully-grown and thriving in adulthood, and one is still in high school, proving that the teenage years are not for the faint of heart. But that’s not all—I’m also the proud mom of five cats who are convinced they own the place and demand snacks at all hours.
When I’m not managing kids or cats, I’m collecting dragons (one of the cats is convinced that they’re his family) and indulging my love for all things science fiction. When we bought our home, one of the key factors was how many bookshelves we could fit—some houses didn’t make the cut because they just didn’t have enough wall space for our growing library of over 1,000 books. (Priorities, right?) Luckily, the bookworm gene has been passed down to all the kids, as has the love of cats and many nerdy interests.
So, if you’re looking for tips on work-from-home jobs, managing the mayhem of parenting, saving money, or just some company on this wild ride of being a parent who works from home, you’re in the right place!
Welcome to the madness!
Brent Foster: Husband, Distraction, Distractor of Distractions
Brent doesn’t officially work for Home With the Kids, but he’s been an essential part of the behind-the-scenes team for years. He’s always been there to support Stephanie—sometimes by providing a welcome distraction (as any good husband should) and other times by helping to distract the other distractions.
The Covid pandemic nudged Brent into the remote work world, which led to a dramatic takeover of Stephanie’s home office. His job required a closed door to protect client privacy, so Stephanie kindly “donated” her office space. Now that he’s back to a hybrid work setup, Brent has kept the home office for himself—proof that possession really is nine-tenths of the law. This experience gave him a new level of appreciation for the joys and challenges of working from home, minus the chaos of small children since their kids are all older now.
Brent shares Stephanie’s love of science fiction, which may have been what brought them together in the first place. Their mutual passion for reading has definitely tested the strength of their bookshelves over the years, especially after a memorable trip to Powell’s City of Books in Portland, OR, where they might have needed an extra suitcase just for books.
When Brent isn’t reading or debating which sci-fi universe is superior, he’s cultivating a horde of cacti and succulents, turning their yard into a delightfully chaotic collection of desert beauty one plant at a time. He’s also the main enabler behind Stephanie’s ever-growing dragon collection, occasionally wondering aloud if they have room for “just one more” (spoiler: they always do).
Together, Brent and Stephanie enjoy exploring Renaissance Faires, dreaming up new projects for their home or garden, and, of course, continuing their quest to figure out how to fit more bookshelves into the house.
Kids: Inspirations, Distractions Extraordinaire
Let’s be honest—Home With the Kids wouldn’t exist without, well, the kids! They’ve been the best (and most unpredictable) reasons for Stephanie to work from home all these years. They’re incredible distractions, especially when school’s out, but what better excuse to have an at-home office than these three?
Growing up with a mom who works from home has been a unique adventure for them. They’ve always had a front-row seat to mom’s balancing act of running a home business and snack requests. While they’re not little anymore—two are now adults, and the youngest is navigating the wild world of high school—there are still days when “MOM!” is called out like a superhero signal. Because even when they’re older, there are moments when only mom will do.
Over the years, these three have tried just about every activity under the sun: martial arts, soccer, running, archery, theater, and Destination Imagination. From breaking boards to breaking a leg (in the theater sense, thankfully), they’ve kept life exciting, and there’s no doubt there are more adventures to come.
Melody Pond: Cat, Queen of the House, Executive in Charge of Goofing Off, Relaxing and Shedding Everywhere
Melody takes her job very seriously. She’s dedicated to her craft, which mostly involves rolling on the floor, meowing loudly, and causing enough of a scene to make sure everyone stops whatever they’re doing to pay attention to her. Should anyone dare to ignore Her Royal Highness, she’s not above grabbing a leg or delivering a delicate nip to a foot. If that doesn’t work, a firmer nip is sure to follow. The Queen must be obeyed!
Melody also keeps a vigilant eye on the company fish tank. While mere humans may find it relaxing to watch the fish swim around, Melody knows it’s a daily battle of wits. One of these days, she is certain she’ll outsmart that algae eater and finally catch it. Until then, she diligently works on her plan from the comfort of her favorite perch.
When she’s not eyeing the fish, Melody dreams of getting outside and catching all the birds. She talks to them through the window in what she thinks is an irresistibly charming manner, but oddly, the birds don’t seem to get the message. Perhaps they don’t understand her royal decree?
Melody has also taken it upon herself to be the foster mother of Storm and Drake. Not that they asked for it, but when you’re the self-appointed Queen of the House, sometimes you just make these decisions. Having never had kittens of her own, she decided they were close enough when they arrived. And when Melody makes a decision, there’s no turning back.
River Song: Cat, Executive in Charge of Being Underfoot
River takes great pride in her job of being perpetually underfoot. If you accidentally step on her, that’s your fault, not hers—she’s just doing her job! The fact that she was lurking in the darkest corner of the hallway has nothing to do with it. And yes, she will take it personally, thank you very much.
When she’s not busy plotting her next stealth move, River’s greatest joy comes from hunting down a toy and giving it the thrashing of a lifetime. She’s got a powerful pounce and a mean right hook, so woe to the hand that gets in the way of her prey. If you dare refuse to play with her when the mood strikes, you’re asking for trouble.
River is the foul-mouthed auntie of the feline part of the household. She will hiss at anyone, anytime, for any reason or none at all. But behind that coarse exterior is a heart of gold and it’s clear she loves her whole family… so long as they don’t annoy her.
River is a one-human cat through and through, and that human is most definitely not Stephanie—unless, of course, there are treats, a drink of water, or playtime involved. Despite her somewhat prickly demeanor, River does begrudgingly acknowledge Stephanie as her mom, though more in the “necessary evil” sense. Her real loyalty lies with her favorite human, and she looks absolutely heartbroken whenever he’s out of her line of sight, even if he’s only a few feet away.
Storm Rae Jon: Cat, Human Accountability Officer, Kitchen Supervisor
Storm Rae Jon—Storm for short—has one mission in life: to make sure no human ever forgets to pet her. She’s a firm believer that her real job is to get endless affection, not to let anyone work. If you think you’re going to focus on anything else, you’ve got another thing coming! She insists on long, luxurious brushing sessions and will loudly remind you of this whenever you dare to forget. She’s quite confident she speaks human fluently, and if you don’t understand, well, that’s on you.
Sweet as she is, Storm can be dramatic when it comes to her fellow felines. The other cats have learned to let the Storm rage on and make way when she comes barging in for food, toys, or attention. Despite her loud demands, she quickly surrenders at the first sign of a swat—only to test the limits and break through for another round a moment later.
When she’s not demanding cuddles or commandeering the food bowl, Storm is on the hunt for her favorite prey: grasshoppers. The humans are fully supportive of her bug-hunting ventures, as long as she keeps the chase contained to the catio. She goes out there anytime she can, no matter the weather. We can’t keep her in, though heaven knows we’ve tried. Sunshine, rain, even snow, she heads out to play. The cold doesn’t bother her anyway.
Drake: Cat Dragon, Productivity Disruptor
Drake firmly believes he’s part dragon on his mother’s side, which is why he flat-out rejected his original name, Tom Baker, in favor of something more draconic. As a proud member of his dragon family, Drake loves nothing more than napping by the fireplace, basking in the warmth with his draconic brethren. And when he wants something (which is always), his loud, distinctive voice can be heard echoing throughout the house, making his demands known to all.
Though he likes to think of himself as the top cat, everyone knows Drake is a softy at heart. He often teams up with Storm in a tag-team effort to ensure the humans don’t slack off in their petting duties. However, Drake has his own style—he’s not one for cuddling. Instead, he prefers to receive his affection on the move,wandering through the house and steadily leading humans toward the box of cat treats, hoping they’ll reward him with a little something to chase.
A bird-watching enthusiast, Drake spends countless hours gazing out the windows, convinced that one day his feline prowess will be so undeniable that a bird will simply surrender itself to him. Until then, he keeps a close watch and waits.
Drake has had a few run-ins with Human Resources regarding his tendency to strike his coworkers, both feline and human. But he maintains that, as a cat, he is not bound by the rules of Human Resources. He may be right.
S’more: Cat, Heat Seeker, Sleeping Powder, Possible Alien Operative
Do you need a nap? S’more is the cat for you. She’s an expert in human relaxation techniques and loves snuggling with a warm human more than anything else. Once she settles on you, you may as well clear your schedule—S’more has a way of making naps irresistible. Most cats can curl up and purr, but S’more has mastered the fine art of making humans take a nap, a skill unmatched by any other feline.
S’more is also very strict about how and when she receives affection. Petting must happen after she has settled into a spot or in one of her designated “rolling zones.” She has zero tolerance for unsolicited pets while she’s walking about, even from Stephanie, whom she has claimed as her personal territory. When she’s ready, she will summon her humans with a loud, insistent meow, usually in the dead of night, to her chosen rolling zone.
S’more has an uncanny ability to make her eyes gleam like lasers, often with no visible light source. We suspect she might not actually be a cat, but rather a cat-shaped body controlled by aliens. The tuft of fur that sticks up on her head? Clearly the entrance point for her extraterrestrial operators. Naturally, S’more denies these allegations, but isn’t that exactly what an alien would say?
With a love for warm weather and a low tolerance for anything below 70°F, S’more is happiest in the summer months, basking in the heat and plotting her next strategic nap attack. Just be prepared to answer her midnight call—or risk the glare of those mysterious laser eyes!