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Original poster

Be honest. Who worked from home while also having their DC their over Easter hols?

218 replies

Whatsgoingonwithmyhead · 15/04/2024 08:34

Less of DC’s classmates at camps and a lot of the parents very vague about their plans.

Just wondering how common it is for people to WFH whilst also looking after their kids in the school hols these days ?

Did you do this? How old are your DC and did you get a proper days work done?

I used a mixture of camps & grandparents. Appreciate I’m fortunate to have local, helpful grandparents and I earn enough to pay for camps. I also took some annual leave. My DC is 5 and super active so no way could I work with her there!

Just interested. Not judging anyone. School holidays are long, money is tight and not everyone has family help so appreciate covering school holidays is a huge headache for lots of families

Edited to say I note the typo in the title before someone leaps on me about it!

OP posts:
ladykale · 15/04/2024 08:36

It's relatively easy if kids are over 8 to be honest, and easy to do your job properly too. Different if they are 7 are under

K0OLA1D · 15/04/2024 08:37

Me. Like I do every holiday.

We don't need to go into the office more than once on half term weeks if you don't need to either.

SulkySeagull · 15/04/2024 08:37

Mine are 7.5, and were in camps til 3pm and then at home with me for the last couple of working hours, which was fine as they were knackered so just watched tv (and raided the snack cupboard)

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Quartz2208 · 15/04/2024 08:37

Freelance here so no set hours or a boss to appease just project work but now they are 15 and 11 it’s easy to do younger it was harder

LauderSyme · 15/04/2024 08:41

Your language is rather odd. Why would this be a parent's guilty secret?

Shock horror, person with child rearing responsibilities needs to earn money. You perplex me.

MiddleParking · 15/04/2024 08:43

What does ‘vague about their plans’ mean? What were they saying?!

Original poster
Whatsgoingonwithmyhead · 15/04/2024 08:45

@LauderSyme i suppose my language envisages someone who’s not really supposed to be WFH with kids there. Obviously someone who is self-employed can do what they please.

OP posts:
saveforthat · 15/04/2024 08:45

LauderSyme · 15/04/2024 08:41

Your language is rather odd. Why would this be a parent's guilty secret?

Shock horror, person with child rearing responsibilities needs to earn money. You perplex me.

Because it's extremely irresponsible and usually against company policy to look after young children whilst being paid to work. Older children who can entertain themselves and be trusted not to burn the house down, fine.

DelurkingAJ · 15/04/2024 08:48

Half a day, agreed with my manager. DSs are 11 and 8. But DH is a teacher so usually never (he was in for Inset). I slogged that morning (as frankly I needed to get a full day’s work in, or try to!).

Mimrr · 15/04/2024 08:52

People don’t feel guilty enough in my work. There are a couple of men who announce in meetings that they might be distracted as they have their toddler there. Then think it’s cute when the child climbs up or yells during a meeting.

Workawayxx · 15/04/2024 08:53

I did with my year 7 for a day each week (I work 3 and grandparents took him one day per week and I had 1 day per week off). Tbh even at just 12 it’s not ideal and my concentration is affected a bit. I do check emails and things on days off so work arent short changed overall and my boss knows so I don’t feel guilty but can see the impact it has.

Neodymium · 15/04/2024 08:53

My husband works from home half the week. Last year she was 10 and unwell one day that he was meant to be in the office. She wasn’t that unwell just a bit of a temp and sore throat. He asked to work from home instead and they said no if he’s caring for her he can’t also work. Abit stupid if you ask me, a baby or toddler I’d understand but not a 10 year old who is just going to spend the day in bed watching tv. He didn’t even have to make her food as I’d already done lunchboxes.

Needanewname42 · 15/04/2024 08:59

ladykale · 15/04/2024 08:36

It's relatively easy if kids are over 8 to be honest, and easy to do your job properly too. Different if they are 7 are under

Agreed 8 plus is probably fine. Too young to be completely responsible for themselves and deal with emergency but old enough to be to doing their own thing.

However it also depends on whats round them can they get out to play independently and also if they're are 2 or more if they bicker and fight. I don't think I could cope trying to concentrate with a squabble in the background.

seehiding · 15/04/2024 09:00

It's not something I do, mine are 2 and 6 so they need supervision and stimulation. We had a week family holiday so both on AL, then I took AL for the rest of the holiday and took them for days out. In the summer the eldest goes to summer camps, she really looks forward to doing different activity camps like drama, ballet and gymnastics and she'd miss out on a lot if she was stuck at home on her own (youngest in nursery).

Monkeybutt1 · 15/04/2024 09:02

I have an 11 year old, he went to camps a couple of days and then sat on a screen when he got home! For the other days I just took the afternoons off, so he slept in and generally had a chilled morning whilst I worked and then we did stuff in the afternoons.

Gizlotsmum · 15/04/2024 09:04

I did for most days ( took some leave as well) but my kids are 12 and 15 so completely capable of being ignored all day whilst I work. It does mean they can’t watch telly downstairs but they have their own rooms. 15yr old was revising lost of the time and 12 yr old playing on Xbox, not the best parenting, they also walked into town, amused themselves in the garden etc. I wouldn’t have done it before this year . I went into the office one day and they were fine.

Jmaho · 15/04/2024 09:05

I had a week off but for the other week my 6 year old went to holiday club but my 3 others stayed at home. We both work from home
They're 14, 12 and 10. The older 2 don't wake up until very late and the 10 year old plays computer and goes out with friends just on our street or the next street or they go between each others houses. Play football go on bikes, trampoline etc. We do offer the option of football club but he's in year 6 now and it's often full of much younger children so he'd rather be at home.
The only time they need us is for food so are no bother at all
The older 2 often go out so we arrange and drop off in our lunch hour then pick up when we've finished.
As long as the youngest is at club we can work without any problems

mollyfolk · 15/04/2024 09:06

I did a bit. They were in a camp and then got home around 3pm and they watched telly until I finished at 4.30pm. It wasn’t a secret though - my manager also has children so we often speak about our juggling plans.

I can work fine with my older two but my 5 year old is usually somewhere else.

TomeTome · 15/04/2024 09:07

I can’t see why it would be an issue in every job. Easier if you have an enclosed garden and it’s sunny but most children don’t need constant interaction with adults. If they do surely you can make up hours in the evening?

Disturbia81 · 15/04/2024 09:09

My boys dad wfm and has them, I thought that was normal. Why pay for care when someone is around? And who can afford that!

spriots · 15/04/2024 09:16

No. This holidays we took annual leave but usually we do a mix of that and holiday clubs.

Mine are young (4+7) and very active.

Our jobs involve lots of online meetings including external ones

We can afford holiday clubs and there are plenty of nice ones near us.

I usually book early for early bird discount (10-20%), get tax-free childcare (20%), sibling discount (5%) so I don't find it much more expensive than wraparound care TBH

When the kids are a bit older - say 6&9, we may look at some of the 9-3 type clubs with them being home afterwards but really that would be guided by whether they are keen to do those clubs.

SallyWD · 15/04/2024 09:18

Yes and my boss knew about it. It's acceptable in our organisation.

Cosycover · 15/04/2024 09:22

I do this all the holidays. Bar the odd day I need to be out the house.

I don't really have a choice tbh. I have no childcare anymore. I did when I took the job though and it was much easier.

DrRichardWebber · 15/04/2024 09:22

I had my 6 year old with me for 1 day. It was totally fine as she loves just sitting and drawing/pottering with her toys. Plus she spent the rest of the time doing fun activities so she was tired anyway.

TokyoSushi · 15/04/2024 09:26

Yes, but mine are 11 & 13, and my work is very flexible so not an issue.