Why working at home suits me fine.

• Author: Capellaro, Catherine
• Position: FIRST PERSON SINGULAR - Essay

MEMO TO MARISSA MAYER @YAHOO: Your new telecommuting ban is a big disappointment to working morns like me.

As you may have heard, Mayer recently announced that starting in June, all of Yahoo's workers will be required to work in the office. Yahoo's edict set off a firestorm of criticism and a long-overdue debate about the benefits of working from home.

I'm worried that Yahoo's prominent decision will encourage other companies to follow suit. (Best Buy already has.) That would not be good for working parents, who depend on flexible arrangements to try to keep work and parenting in balance.

As a working mom and longtime teleworker, I'm offended at the suggestion that I and other parents who've found some semblance of balance from telecommuting are less innovative or creative.

From the moment Mother Nature blessed my husband and me with twins, I've been innovating like crazy, trying to keep it all together.

That's why it's so galling to hear Mayer, whose salary The New York Times estimates will exceed $117 million in the next five years, scolding telecommuters for shirking their corporate duties. Mayer recently gave birth to her first child, and was back at work after two weeks; she had a nursery installed next to her office.

One in four U.S. workers logs in some time from home, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. I understand that companies like Yahoo depend on some amount of face-to-face interaction to make that corporate magic happen. And Yahoo is struggling--hence the desperate effort to call in the troops. Of course, it's a good idea to make sure all workers are meeting their goals and contributing to the effort. But an industry leader like Yahoo should be able to harness technology to keep its people connected. A blanket decision like the one the company just handed down elevates office culture while denigrating the need for family-friendly policies.

As I juggle multiple tasks for a variety of clients, I know I'm lucky to be able to roll out of bed to my computer. I save money on gas, transportation, food, and clothes. I take walks to clear my head. And I save time, too, the most precious commodity in a culture where overscheduled, frantic parents scramble for quality time with their offspring.

My husband and I have made it a priority to have someone at home when our sons--who are now thirteen--get home from school. We've gone from holding their hands to and from our neighborhood schools, to greeting hosts of lanky eighth...