Working Around Kids

By Kate Duggan

Tips and tricks for getting stuff done without losing your rag

I was wondering what to write about this month, then my daughter was off school sick on Monday and my son was sent home today. Working around kids is rarely easy. I’d like to say I’m an expert after lockdown, but I’d be lying. Nevertheless, here are my top tips (and those of friends, family and good old Google) for getting stuff done when you have children at home. First off, cut the guilt. If you need to let them have screen-time for a few hours or eat half a packet of choc biscuits, it’s OK. As I type this, my son is watching a gamer (who has a toe-curlingly annoying screechy voice) on YouTube, while simultaneously playing Minecraft on his tablet. I am in another room trying to block out his cries of ‘OMGEEEEEEEEE you guyyyyys!!!’ Share the load. If you have a partner, discuss how you’re going to split childcare. If one of you really can’t take responsibility during the day, make sure they take over the cooking, bedtime routine and so on in the evening, so the other person can catch up with work. Focus on quality, not quantity. Try to carve out portions of your day when you can give your child undivided attention. You’ll likely be rewarded with at least an hour or so of peace to work in afterwards, which is usually worth more than three hours of constantly interrupted work. Set up activities that your child can do alone. That could mean anything from stickers, colouring books and craft sets to a second-hand Lego kit. Ideally, go for activities that don’t create too much mess so you’re not storing up stress for later. For future sick days, you might want to organise an emergency kit of activities. I have never been that organised, but a friend swears by it. Prioritise. Take a look at your to-do list and prioritise the most important tasks for when your child is occupied. Are there meetings you can move? Are there deadlines you can extend? You may also want to create an email auto-responder, to explain that you’re working around children. Prepare snacks. Depending on your child’s age, it could be worth preparing a few snacks for your child to help themselves to. Do what works for you. Some people love schedules; others loathe them. Parents of young children might need to work in the same room as them; others may feel able to decamp to the garage. Don’t be a martyr. Know when to walk away from work. Whether you’re handcrafting gift baskets to sell on Etsy or trying to answer a gazillion emails, don’t be afraid to admit defeat, especially if your child is actually ill and really does need your attention. Most clients/co-workers/employers will understand. If they don’t, they’re not worth trying to keep happy.