Do you work at home to be near your young children, but struggle with dividing your focus between the job and family? Do you feel isolated from other adults? Do you miss the comradery of working in an office?

In spaces all over the world, people participate in "coworking," or working independently while sharing an office space. Coworking particularly suits telecommuters, freelancers and start-ups. While providing all the benefits of a traditional office – printers, copiers, a kitchen, conference rooms – the real benefits are the intangible connections made between people. A few spaces like Third Door in the UK and the Bean Work Play Café in Decatur, Georgia are combining coworking and childcare.  Work can be much more enjoyable and productive knowing that your child is receiving the attention of a childcare provider just down the hall.

Imagine the coworking lifestyle: an open room of laid-back professionals working on graphic design, software development, copy writing, etc. A city-planner is breastfeeding on a sofa and chatting with a non-profit consultant during her coffee break. In a nearby room, your infant plays with a musical instrument while supervised by an enthusiastic childcare provider. At lunchtime, a parent support group gathers for a potluck. After hours, a meeting room holds a workshop on search engine optimization.

Imagine a community of parents raising their children together. Working mothers and stay-at-home dads are embraced as whole individuals and are supported in their choices. All participants would feel a greater sense of place, a connection to their neighborhood and their neighbors.

My first question is -- why isn’t this happening here already!? My follow-up questions are below. Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete the survey. Your participation will help me bring coworking and childcare to Seattle.


Thank you!
--Jessie Rymph
purpleraincoats.wordpress.com