18 month old WFH/childcare

[MrsLeclerc]

I have a chronic illness and am in the ‘vulnerable’ group so should be social distancing as much as possible. However my workplace is still discussing whether we can work from home.

My parents look after my 18month old DS but are over 70 so now shouldn’t be looking after him while I work.

DH is still expected to go into the office as normal. No WFH option yet.

If I somehow can WFH I’ll have an active 18 month old to look after. It was suggested I work after he goes to bed. Honestly I don’t think I can manage a 13 hour shift of child rearing followed by an evening/night of office work. But it seems like we’re in this for the long run so if I want to get paid and have a job I a few months I’ll have to find a way.

I’m not sure what to do in the short term: carry on going to the office, let parents have DS as they don’t see why he couldn’t stay with them or contact work to try to push WFH.

Any advice on what I should be doing or how to entertain a toddler for more than 30 seconds?

Push work, 3 babies have been confirmed with Cv19 today.

I'm in a similar position. WFH as of today, DPs office potentially WFH in the future but they're still unsure how to get their systems to work. DD will be 1 in a few days and I have no idea how I (or we, if DP does start WFH) will get anything done. DD is just starting to stand up/try to walk so wants constant help and encouragement. She will play by herself for 2 mins before she wants someone to play with her. At the moment she goes to nursery for 3 days a week but they seem pretty certain they will be closing soon due to staff shortages.

I don't have any advice, but just wanted to let you know that you're not alone! I'm sure there are thousands of people worried about this right now!

Sorry I meant to add - would push work as I don't think your DS should be with GPs at the moment!

I think your dp should share the burden, so either you work mornings and he afternoons and you both finish up in the evenings or you do a day each. Treat it as you would any other fine DS didn't have childcare.

@missyelloww it’s so stressful trying to imagine working with newly mobile children isn’t it! DS is really well behaved but if I open my laptop he’s immediately there trying to see what I’m doing and pushing buttons. He will tolerate about 15/20 mins in his playpen then he has a meltdown.

I’m going to get in touch with work and see what the WFH situation is today.

Unfortunately DH’s job needs special equipment to WFH that they don’t have at the moment. He is fantastic at sharing the tasks at home but he won’t have the option to be here.

I might well end up asking to take dependants leave until I can get the work situation sorted.

Similar situation here. I am still expected to go in next week, but I am reluctant to send kids to school and think my childminder will let me down anyway. Myself and DP want to do shifts as I can WFH, but can't with my youngest around, so he needs looking after. His is work are on board with him going in where possible, but my employer seem unlikely to accept this right now. I just hope there is some decision by the government that forces their hand to be more flexible. If they are flexible they get me doing the jobs of 4 people. If they are not, then I can't work. I'm not sure why they desire the latter over the former.

What do you usually do if your parents are unable to provide childcare for whatever reason (illness / other)? Do you have no emergency childcare options (nanny / babysitter / etc)? Is it always you who takes time off work to do the childcare or do you share it with DH?

We don't use family for childcare, DS goes to nursery. But if DS is not well enough for nursery, DH and I will share the time off work. We'll do the same if nursery closes. I'm considering other childcare options - emergency nanny/babysitter - but it depends on availability as a local agency is right prioritising childcare for NHS workers.

*rightly

I have a 3 year old, his nursery just closed and I’m WFH (senior in my organisation).

Am at the moment working while he watches TV, I’ll stop work at noon for two hours, then pick up for two hours, then put in 4-5 hours when he goes to bed at 7.30.

It’s awful but needs must.

I'm self-employed and work during DD's nap times and once she's in bed. It depends if they can be flexible with the number of hours you do, if you are productive in a reduced number. I probably do around four hours a day, four or five times a week, and that's enough got me to get a lot done as when I'm working I just work with zero distractions!

@Mrhodgeymaheg I agree. I’m hoping tonight’s Boris briefing gives me something to work with.

@AnotherEmma I’ve been back from mat leave for a few months and we haven’t needed emergency childcare yet. But the plan was for DH’s family to step in if needed (Parents and sisters) but that’s not an option now due to health reasons. DH and I share the childcare, just happens to be that I’ve worked for my employer longer so get more benefits and they are a bit more flexible than his.

DS gets up at 6am has a nap of an hour and a bit at lunch time and bedtime is done by 7.30/8. I could do maybe a full hour during his nap but the rest would have to be after he went to bed.

He’s 18 months old so he wouldn’t sit quietly watching TV even if I wanted him to (which I really don’t!).