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Original poster

Do you wfh with your kids present?

46 replies

Mumof1boyy · 20/03/2023 20:55

Our son is in nursery 4 days a week, my mum has him 1 day!

Currently can’t afford to go part time and drop a day :( it’d cost more monthly for me to lose that day a week pay than the nursery fee (as me and DH split the nursery fees of course)

but I did wonder after someone on my team mentioned, do you have your child/children while you wfh?

Our manager is more than fine with her having this set up. He’s 2 her child

mY only apprehension is my son is 15mo. About to walk but VERY active even when he’s taking steps he’s kind of jogging! He is a live wire and zips about everywhere and our downstairs is open plan🤦🏻‍♀️ so do I wait and would it be a bit more manageable when he’s a little older?

tips advice stories please! Would love to be able to cut a cost if we could and have him home with us :)

OP posts:

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MsCunk · 20/03/2023 21:58

I used to do this when my youngest was 2 (long before covid and wfh became normalised). I would buy a new little toy, make a snack box, and sit him in the room with me while I worked and he played. It felt like I was doing a half arsed job in every aspect of my life and it was a relief when he got into nursery. Do not recommend.

purplefacemask · 20/03/2023 22:02

Found that I could only really focus/be productive when DC turned 11!

DragonbornMum · 20/03/2023 22:05

Mine will be 2 this summer, and I could not fathom having him home while I work. I can't even get my laptop out to do anything without him coming over and trying to press buttons 🤦‍♀️

Never mind all the attention and general care he needs. No way. Not happening.

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PollyDarton1 · 20/03/2023 22:10

I do but DS is 6, and I've been WFH since he was 4. It's only for a couple of hours after school, before he attended school he would only be at home if unwell/childminder was closed.

I couldn't have done it with a child any younger than 2.5-3, he was in nursery/grandparents.

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 20/03/2023 22:15

4EyesandBigThighs · 20/03/2023 21:38

I work from home with my 1 year old, 4 days a week, sometimes 3 as my mum occasionally had him once a week.

My employers were very lenient from the beginning. I was asked about childcare in my interview when I applied with them.. and was told not to worry and that they’re happy for me to work from home with the kids there.
I take my lunch whenever he needs feeding, and I take breaks throughout the day to make myself a cuppa, get him a snack, read a book ect.

Around Christmas time I’m told to log on and just leave my phone on in case we get a call, but otherwise to just go about my normal day.

I do however think that if my job requires more physical focus for a period of time I would struggle.

Right now I just take calls with him in the room, if he’s particularly chatty I apologise for the background noise - no one’s ever been offended by hearing him in the background, and I’ve found since covid a lot more people are working from home with the kids. I hear a few kids in the background of calls 😂

My older toddler goes to nursery during term time, she stays home during half term. Im
about to put DS into nursery once a week so he can start socialising with babies his age will I think will benefit him.

I put DD into nursery at 9 months old, 5 days a week. She thrived, completely. But it’s been really nice having DS home with me for longer. It’s nice we get a little bit of one-to-one time while DD is at nursery too.

What kind of job is this?!

Snugglemonkey · 20/03/2023 22:17

No. Not unless my partner is watching them. Even during lockdown, only one of us ever worked at a time.

Tinkeytonkoldfruit · 20/03/2023 22:20

For a couple of hours once or twice a week after school and the odd day during school holidays but she's 7 super sensible and able to entertain herself.

Tailfeather · 20/03/2023 22:27

I think it would either be unfair on your child or unfair on your work. Depends who is getting the most attention.

Soontobemumof2x · 20/03/2023 22:27

I have a 1 year old who is currently in nursery 4 days a week. The other day she's not in her dad has her at home. I need to work in the other room if they don't go out otherwise she just wants up constantly and wants me. So I'd definitely not recommend it if they're really small as they need your undivided attention.

Deathbyfluffy · 20/03/2023 22:33

Not at all - if I found anyone on my team was doing this I’d have to report it to HR.
They're there to work, not babysit - and need to find childcare to suit.

AliasGrape · 20/03/2023 22:33

Had to pick my 2 year old up at lunchtime after she was sick. Tried for a little bit to get on with stuff whilst sitting next to her on the sofa but just wasn’t happening, she just wanted cuddles, so gave up and finished my work after she’d gone to bed this evening. Luckily my job is pretty flexible in that I can do that for some (not all) of the work I need to do, and as long as it all gets done nobody is really keeping track (there’s no ‘logging on’ or anything anyway).

On a normal day when she’s not ill, bouncing off the walls and demanding I either play shop or provide snacks on a constant loop there’s no way on earth I could do it.

The odd time if it’s not one of my working days but I just need to check/ send an email or do a quick task I might be able to get away with sticking her in front of Bluey for ten minutes, but to actually do a day’s work definitely not.

yogaretreat · 20/03/2023 22:46

I was freelance and worked 16 hours over 7 days around my son from him being 5 months old, I found this easy as he was chilled out and slept a lot. When he got older he had a two hour nap over lunch. I am very fast and efficient at my job but I couldn't have done a huge amount more than this. It's impossible to do a full working day.

Yellowdays · 20/03/2023 23:04

I worked at home when my dd were small for part of the time, and I was bloody busy. No way could I have cared for a small child simultaneously.

mackthepony · 20/03/2023 23:11

Not with a toddler, no way.

Mine are 6 and 9 and I would do as long as I didn't have anything urgent

GlassBunion · 20/03/2023 23:17

Crack on with looking after your child while wfh but don't berate me when I phone you up to discuss changes to my insurance policy ( yes, this happened) and I get shirty with you when your child disturbs you and asks you for food.

I was actually asked to ' hang on a minute' while she sorted snacks for her child.
The kind person in me would have said 'ok, no problem.' Alas I was on my very short lunch break.

4EyesandBigThighs · 21/03/2023 09:26

@CanIAskAnotherStupidQuestion @RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime

I just work for a small local company; I’ve been really, really lucky in all honesty - hence why I try not to take the piss.

The funny thing is, I have a qualification in, and used to work in healthcare.. but I quit when my first was born, my job now pays almost double what my old job did and doesn’t require a HE qualification.

I count my lucky stars every day as I know how hard it is trying to go back to work after children.

Nc252525673 · 21/03/2023 10:30

I've got flashbacks to lockdown.....

I do an hour or two with my reception age DC if I needed to (if after school club is closed for example) but it's not great as he gets shoved in front of the TV with a plate of snacks. I've got a toddler as well and it would be impossible with her, I can't even make a quick phone call without her interrupting.

BelindaBears · 21/03/2023 10:35

No, it’s a fucking nightmare, I get nothing done, and my contract doesn’t allow it either (rightly so imo). DD is 5.

IsAGirlMumma · 21/03/2023 10:42

I've had my almost 2 yr old home for 2 days when she was poorly. Though day 2 she was fine but couldn't go in till the following day. My work was fine with this. It was stressful for me. I didn't take a lunch break to make up for not getting as much done as normal. I wouldn't want to do it regularly. Though I think I could possibly do the odd day with my 4 yr old at home.

gemloving · 21/03/2023 10:57

@Leafytrees fully agree. You will never be able to do either job well.

I'd rather do both well, parenting when I can focus on my child, work when I focus on work.

Overthebow · 21/03/2023 11:03

Occasional when she’s sick, but absolutely not in n a permanent basis. My DC is an active 2 year old, there’s no way she would sit quietly whilst I’m working l and she wants constant attention. It’s not fair on DC or work to wfh with them there.

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