Working With Kids Under Foot

Today’s a holiday and I’m stuck in the office working while my kids entertain themselves. It’s times like today that could cause a parent to feel extreme guilt and anguish.

But you know what I’ve learned over the years? Working from home doesn’t mean that I can always pick and choose when I work. But I can take mini-breaks and those mini-breaks can be quite fun!

If you work from home, or if you have tons of work to do around the house, and your kids are out of school for the day, here are a couple of things you can do to get what you need accomplished while still meeting your deadlines.

A. Make a nice hot breakfast, then call everyone to the table. At the table, explain what your day is going to look like and what you’d like the kids to do while you work. Then spend the rest of breakfast telling jokes, sharing stories, or talking about life.

B. Take a break every hour—even a short, five minute break can let your kids know that you’re thinking of them. Breaks can be anything from, a tummy tickle for younger children, dancing to a song for toddlers, coloring a page in a coloring book with tweens, or playing one video game with teenagers.

C. Eat lunch together. Can you take an hour or two to get out of the house? If so, pack a lunch and head down to the park for a game of catch and a meal. If it’s too cold outside, go to a sit down restaurant.

D. Involve your kids. If there’s something your kids can do to help you get done faster, don’t hesitate to ask for their help. Explain that with a little help on their part, you can get done faster, leaving more time to play and hang out.

Whatever you do, don’t beat yourself up because you have to work and they’re off. Sometimes, life doesn’t always give us what we want. By showing your children that responsibilities are important, you’re helping them develop good work ethics. And by showing them how to take breaks, you’re helping them learn the importance of balancing life’s many tasks, thus preventing undue stress.