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Original poster

If you can WFH and get a reasonable amount of work done with your child present

46 replies

Ohmygoshposh · 13/12/2022 14:38

….what age is your child??

(obviously I don’t plan to WFH with child present if there’s any way of avoiding it, just as we all know school holidays are much longer than annual leave entitlement, and there aren’t always clubs available (eg there are no local holiday clubs operating over Xmas) and not everyone has family or friends that can ask for childcare, and you know, sometimes needs must)

OP posts:
GerbilsForever24 · 13/12/2022 14:41

I find it very difficult but can just about get some work done for a day or two at a time if DD is home - she's 7. She's also very independent. But before that, it was almost impossible as the constant whining about being bored or needing a drink or can't reach the toy on the shelf etc was constant.

popandchoc · 13/12/2022 14:41

I have been able to do work with my eldest around since she was around 10 but younger one i can't. I only really do a couple of hours every couple of days as only at home two days a week.

Wronglane · 13/12/2022 14:41

Mine is 7 and I find it easy now. I’d say from 6 is easy. 5 is manageable. Just need lots of iPad/ TV!

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Families
AriettyHomily · 13/12/2022 14:43

I can now but they're 11 and keep each other occupied. It's explicitly not allowed in my contract though so it's only by exception.

whattodo1975 · 13/12/2022 14:43

Mine are 5 & 7 and are fine after i pick them up from school until 5pm when i finish WFH. In the Holidays though they would go crackers at home all day with me sat working, to the extent id probably not get that much done.

Cahveeare · 13/12/2022 14:44

5 is ok for a couple of hours. It helps if you’re happy to let them watch tv and play on a tablet though.

HereForTheFreeLunch · 13/12/2022 14:48

Since the youngest turned 10. They can entertain themselves as well as get their own exercise so not bouncing off the walls.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 13/12/2022 14:50

I can't get any- MUM! -thing done when- MUUUUUM! - DS(7) is there. The- MUUUUUM! THERE'S WATER ALL OVER THE FLOOR! -interruptions melt my- MUUUUUM! IT'S ALRIGHT! - head and prevent - IT'S ACTUALLY JUST A DRIP! - me wor- MUM! WHY DOES PELE HAVE NO BALLON D'OR? -king.

astronewt · 13/12/2022 14:51

My 8yo is at home sick right now. It's pretty doable with him as he reads/watches TV/chills quietly. It's much harder with the 4yo. We only do it when called on - for regular days we have an after-school nanny.

RadFad · 13/12/2022 14:51

DH works fine with DD who is 7 at home. He's been doing most Monday's in school holidays with her at home since she was 5. Tv/iPad used and he sets up activities at kitchen table and works whilst she does them. He uses his hour break to spend proper time with her.

We use holiday clubs and annual leave on the other days.

From Easter holidays next year he'll have to manage it with DD who is 3 as she will move to preschool. She can't go to holiday club until at actual school. Hoping it won't be too bad and he has flexibility to do catch up work in evening.

He manages to work ok if she is off sick from nursery and it is his turn to be with her. He chooses to carry on working and not take carers, just makes his manager aware.

lndnbrdge91 · 13/12/2022 14:52

Over 8 with an expectation that they will watch too much tv. It's used as a last resort as I can get work done but it's not much fun for them.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 13/12/2022 14:53

14 and 12

MoanySloney · 13/12/2022 14:55

Depends entirely on the child. Mine are 7 and 9. I could manage a day or two when they're off sick from school and I do have them home for an hour or so at the end of the school day until DH gets home.

Mine are quite happy to play alone or with each other.

I struggle with it but I have other issues about compartmentalising my life. So feel like I can't be 'mum' at work or 'work me' when kids are present.

FunctionalSkills · 13/12/2022 14:58

I so need one of these wfh jobs!

solemnlyswearuptonogood · 13/12/2022 15:00

I can't with my 11 year old as she needs constant attention, but my 10 year old is fine! He was off school due to snow yesterday and happily kept himself occupied all day. 11 year old's school was open, thankfully, as I was dreading her being here all day

Floralnomad · 13/12/2022 15:01

A friend of mine has an 8 & 6 yr old and when they have to have them at home they write them a list with times and the kids just follow it ie 9-10 homework , 10-11 playing in the garden , 11-12 iPad etc. I think it would only work with relatively well behaved kids .

callingeveryone · 13/12/2022 15:15

14 and 16. I think they prefer it if I am working as I can't limit their screen time.

HappySonHappyMum · 13/12/2022 15:33

I worked from home from after 12 weeks maternity leave when my DS was born 21 years ago. Granted it was part time - 4 hours a day - but I was able to work round his naps and when I was super busy I worked in the evening once he was in bed. I didn't even take maternity leave with my DD four years later I just carried on fitting things in as and when I could. Once they were both at school I worked during school hours and it's got easier and easier. I've always been there for them for school related stuff which has been brilliant. BUT it takes a huge amount of discipline. You need to be supremely organised to make it work and be able to compartmentalise all the things in every part of your life. It's been hard work but I wouldn't change a thing. It's benefitted both my DCs as they have watched me work for all of their young lives and have had first hand experience of seeing how work pays the bills but they've had the day to day support of an ever present parent.

randomsabreuse · 13/12/2022 15:40

How long is a good kids' film, around 90 minutes x2 with both. Maybe a couple of 30 minute slots with the tablet.

Older one (7) reckon I could juggle in a full day if I let her on the tablet plus gave her a tonne of paper and drawing stuff.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 13/12/2022 15:45

In the lockdown I managed 25 hours a week with 2 kids aged 7 and 5.
We had breakfast in the morning. Then they were under orders to play quietly upstairs until lunchtime.
I did home schooling/playing with them in the afternoons. And spent time catching up with work over the weekends.
It was tough but doable.
I decided to Home Ed my eldest permanently as he was doing better at home. So we kept that arrangement up for a while.
In the end I did quit work, however, as I wanted a bit more time to take him to clubs and give him a more rounded experience of life.

Itsthewhitehat · 13/12/2022 15:54

Ds had just turned 9 when the pandemic started and was fairly ok then. Now, I wouldn’t know he was here.

I do let him know if do have a meeting just incase he wanders in. But he doesn’t usually just listens from the landing to see if I am talking to anyone and texts me if it’s urgent

SirChenjins · 13/12/2022 15:57

16 - but I've been able to work hybridly since he was about 8 or 9.

InTheFutilityRoomEatingBiscuits · 13/12/2022 15:58

I’ve done it for years and they have been every age between 1 week and 17 years.

MistyFrequencies · 13/12/2022 16:00

5 with a fuckload of TV. And she still managed to tell a whole online meeting that she had done a poo.

bluechameleon · 13/12/2022 16:23

8 year old is ok for a couple of hours, 4 year old maybe an hour if he is on screens, much less if playing. If I have to do longer then I break it up with giving them attention for an hour then leaving them to it for an hour or so, and make up the hours in the evening/before they get up the next morning.