So, I work from home many hours a day, or at least I try to. But I also have three 5yo kids (yes, triplets, two girls and a boy) which are awfully noisy. The wife doesn't make it any easier. Not only they have a bold, high pitched voice (I hope they can use it for sing one day), but they also shout many times a day while playing or fighting. So, either happy or angry they're noisy. Their normal speech is already loud. I can hear them from the sidewalk as well when I'm getting home. I talked to their teacher in the kinder garden and asked her if she thought it was normal they were so loud and she told me they were the quieter in their class . I was hoping an interchange with two deaf mute cute girls, but they were already reserved for the next two years, by other desperate parents. I have a little home-office in a room, which has a door, which I keep closed all the time. But I hear everybody like if they were behind of me. My house is made with concrete blocks, not wood like in the USA. The door is metal filled by some wood and other isolator materials. I tried by putting a sort of sealer on the door, made with foam. It reduced the noise like 5% at most I tried headphones as well. The music could not cover their voices. Unless I crank it all, but then I can't concentrate because the music and sometimes I found me dancing in the corridor in underwear, and could not remember how I got there. There are noise cancelling headphones. I have three sets... one for each kid. It makes it worse, now when they use it they have to speak LOUDER because they can't hear each other. I've tried other techniques, but none of them can keep the children quiet, regardless how hard and fast I throw the set to them, they always sort the hit out. The cord was too thin to keep them tied, it broke so easy. I also tried using them myself, one above the other, but no matter how much sshshshsh sound they produced, they could not cancel the kids noises. The last thing was pointing the speakers to the home stereo mic, so I could crank it up and told hush them at 150db, the result was a big "peeeeeeeee" noise that put me deaf a couple of days. On the bright side, it was not too bad. Someone recommend me an attitude change. I thought it was a good idea. So, I gather the kids together and tried to explain the thing, but all started wrong when they asked "what's attitude"? I've heard sometimes the dogs can be taken to the vet to surgery so they don't bark that loud. I suppose that's prohibited for the wife and children, even in Mexico. Now, seriously, What do you recommend me to do? I need quiet to be productive !
Sounds tough to work and concentrate. If you own the home and don't mind spending money, there are ways to soundproof. There are special insulation's available for sound, but it is expensive. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=soundproofing+a+room&btnG=Google+Search A quick, cheap (But possible unattractive) fix is to hang thick carpeting on the wall and door where the sound comes through. If necessary hang several layers. I used to be in a rock band and we used carpeting to insulate our practice area. You can also use those cardboard egg cartons, and affix them to walls. Alternately you could buy a roll of duct tape and cover the kids mouths 8 hours a day
stop giving the wife any money till you get peace, and she'll shut the kids up. god that advice from a woman lol