TheraPlay4Kids Guest Speaker Series:
How to Work and Parent Effectively — and Simultaneously
Katie Conroy with Advice Mine
Katie Conroy enjoys writing and created advicemine.com where she shares advice from her experiences, education & research. She particularly enjoys writing about lifestyle topics and created the website to share advice she has learned through experience, education and research.
Working from home often means that while you’re physically present for your kids, you aren’t always 100 percent available. A bit of preplanning can allow you to balance both your professional work obligations with your family's needs in a fulfilling way.
Set a Schedule
Every parent knows creating and sticking to a schedule can be tricky when you're trying to work and raise a family, however, some effort is better than no effort, so make a reasonable attempt to create some boundaries and timeframes that you can collectively try to stick to. In other words, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, have a plan, but be flexible. This might mean committing to working before your kids get up or after they go to school or to bed, or employing the help of an adult housemate or an outside caregiver for a certain time of day. This approach allows you to schedule non-negotiable time for things like meetings or client calls.
Involve the Kids
If your kids are old enough to understand that you need undisturbed time to work, make them your helpers. For example, you can make a game out of being quiet for a certain period of time, helping with household chores, or even working quietly alongside you with their own projects, whether that's school work, reading, or crafting. Remember, you’re setting an example for them about what a strong work ethic looks like, and helping them understand the different types of responsibilities adults have. According to Real Simple, having a plan and a strategy in place benefits everyone.
Make it a Game
You can get even younger kids’ buy-ins with games or other age-appropriate activities. For example, get a fun animal-shaped timer and show them how to set it for different increments. For instance, set a timer for 20 minutes and let your child know when they hear the ding, you can both get up for a snack or to read a quick story. This will help them understand that even though you're working, you're still there for them, and will take regular breaks during the day to do whatever they want, whether it's a quick puzzle, a favorite snack, or just snuggle time.
When You're Available, Be Present
Kids can sense when you’re not 100 percent present for them. Many parents have tried to create a work-life balance in which they check their phones or work on laptops while the kids are playing or otherwise engaged. Chances are the “work” is interrupted with shouts of, “watch me, mom!” and in the end, neither the child nor your work gets the attention it deserves. Don't be apologetic about working when you need to - grown-ups have jobs, and kids can understand that. When you're available, be completely available and give your full attention and active participation.
Make Weekends Special
When you have large chunks of time available, like nights and weekends, carve out some degree of time for self-care, but also look for ways to devote time and energy to family bonding. Get away from screens and into the great outdoors by having a scavenger hunt, or going hiking or camping. Run a talent show in your living room. Attend a socially distanced outdoor concert, play frisbee or badminton, or volunteer together at an animal shelter or food bank. These are wonderful opportunities to demonstrate your values, tune into your kids, and tune out from work.
Balancing work and home, or even being a full-time stay-at-home parent, requires a lot of creativity, patience, and finesse. Prioritize work and home responsibilities as much as possible and look for every opportunity to create meaningful time to interact with your kids.
For More Information on Katie Conroy and Advice Mine:
Website: Advice Mine
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Katie Conroy and Advice Mine
