I’m a cliché. A 30-something mom, with two kids at home, for whom “the thought of not having a flexible schedule bums me out.” So, I took control of my life and joined the ranks of the self-employed, giving up my secure, corporate job in journalism to become a freelance writer.

In my experience, one thing has made this possible: my iPad. Today’s technological advances are a game-changer for parents that work from home. Tablets and smartphones afford the flexibility to keep on top of your work from anywhere, something every parent knows is essential when you combine active children with an unpredictable schedule.

The following apps have made the iPad indispensable to my workflow during times I couldn’t be at my desk, and, as a bonus, my ally in managing my family of four.