When you're juggling business and family under the same roof, you never know what the day will bring. We can't free you of snow days, sick days or other frustrating setbacks, but we can help you be better prepared for them. These tricks will help you easily regroup when surprises happen and keep you from falling too far behind in your work.

Build a Safety Net into Your Work Schedule
Be prepared for the unexpected by building extra time into your deadlines whenever possible. Push yourself to get a project done a bit earlier than it's due. That way, if something derails you along the way, you'll still get the job done in time. And don't make a habit of working right down to the wire; it's downright dangerous.

Plan Ahead for Holidays and Vacations
Note kids' school vacations and holidays far in advance on your calendar so you can adjust your schedule to accommodate any upcoming changes in routine. Perhaps you'll need to lighten your workload during those periods or delegate some of your work to an employee or a trusted colleague. And don't wait till the first day of summer to line up camp or a mother's helper for the kids. Start thinking about this now. Few women have the luxury of closing down shop for the entire summer just because the kids are home.

Have Loads of Backups
A mompreneur can never have too many contingency plans. Before a crisis hits, think about other times you might get your work done. Will you be able to work before the kids get up? Can you pull a few late-nighters in the office without falling asleep at your desk? Do you have some alternative child care you can call into action in a pinch? Having these solutions in place ahead of time helps you stay calm and collected when problems inevitably occur.

Snatch Windows of Opportunity
Have small, simple jobs on hand that can easily be picked up and put down again. For example, perhaps you can add up business expenses while snuggling on the sofa watching Teletubbies with your sniffly toddler. Or you can answer email while snowbound kids watch a video. Sneak in phone calls or complex projects while kids (hopefully!) nap. Most importantly, don't despair. Think of how much worse it would be if you worked outside the home. This crisis will pass, and you'll appreciate the flexibility you had to shepherd your kids (and your business) through the rough spots.