How to Work From Home with a Toddler
Since V usually goes to Montessori, I am left to finish work without any distractions. However, on days that she is sick, I'm reminded why it was so hard to have her at home before she started at daycare and then Montessori.
I'm instantly transported back to those days when I was in California and in Germany, before I was able to enroll her in Kita (German term for a daycare). I had to try and juggle keeping her entertained and me sane. Those days were hard. Actually, there are no adjectives in the English language to adequately describe the challenges of having your child(ren) with you 24 hours a day.
So how did I do it? And how do I do it now?
1. Make a Plan
I know it's hard to think about a plan, when you hardly have the time to brush your teeth. But planning will mean the difference between you seriously contemplating severing your left ear in the Yellow House, and getting work done all the while adequately spending quality time with your kid.
Plans can include everything from the amount of time your child is left alone to play in their rooms with their toys to lunchtimes and colouring times.
Now, I try to not give into just letting V have my smartphone if she'll be quiet for mommy for about 20 hours. Somedays this is easier to do than others.
But again, raising children is a marathon and not a sprint. Remember that.
2. Playdates are, quite literally, the advent of fire or the wheel (meaning that they're a godsend!)
At first when I had my daughter, I didn't really feel like going outside. The only adults that I interacted with were my family and her father. This, of course, led to me feeling pretty down and frustrated. I kept this going until my mom sat me down and gave me some advice. She told me that it wasn't healthy for me to only take care of my baby all day long. This was, of course, during the time that I was on my pseudo-maternity leave (aka I was between jobs).
So what did I do? When I started at my new job, I got to know the parent's of the kids that my little girl seemed to be friends with. And when I moved to Germany and now here in Ireland, I did and still do the same thing.
Oh, and before I started working in Germany, I arranged playdates by spending time at my local "spielzimmers" (which are indoor playgrounds). Spielzimmers are great because you can let your kid run wild, while you drink coffee, eat cake, and get to know other parents. It's kind of like a Starbucks for the entire family.
But I digress. The point is, however you are able to get a playdate, the important thing is that you get one. This way you have an opportunity to switch up (ie drop the kids off at each other's homes so that your children could play, and you bandage and treat your battle wounds, in preparation for the next struggle with your respective toddlers.).
3. Alternate between playtime and work time
Now depending upon how old your child is, this works well. If your child is anything like mine, at first they won't like this. They want you to give them all your attention. But once you're able to implement this type of schedule, they will start to get used to it.
How do you get everything you need to get done with a child in tow? Any good ideas that I'm missing? Leave your comments below.
Remember, it takes a village...
