Working From Home + School Holidays = Panic. Help!

[reluctantfarmerswife]

Hey everyone, this is my first ever Mumsnet post, but I'm a long-time lurker. I have a 5-year-old boy, and I work full-time from home. I'm self-employed, so I can control when I work, but as my husband is a farmer, and it's their busiest time of year, I'm getting really worried about the upcoming school holiday.

My little boy gets REALLY upset when I get my laptop out to work, and of course being 5, he can't stop himself saying "Mummy, mummy, mummy!" every five seconds. I end up feeling massively guilty for working, and I just wondered how other WFH mums are handling the holidays.

I don't have a lot of family around to help out. His school is running a holiday camp, and although he loves it when he's there, it's a battle and tears to get him there in the first place. So again, massive mum guilt. Plus, it doesn't help that it's AT school, so he sees it as going TO school.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

You survive. As best you can you have a structure for the day, 9-11am are work hours when Mummy works and you play on your own nicely at 11-2 we have lunch and play /do something fun. 2-4 he can have screen time watch some tv. Etc etc. you get up early to work while he sleeps, you work when he’s done to bed. You take any childcare offer you get. It’s tough but it’s doable at 5 . He might get upset but if he knows he has allocated time then maybe he would settle? I know dads busy but he does need to chip in, are there not any times he could take him with him to feed the animals etc?

I really think you should be looking at Dad too.

I can completely understand you. When I had a problem like yours, I started to think what I can buy for my son that he could waste his energy, have fun. I found indoor playgrounds, Swedish walls for kids, also furniture inspired by Montessori. Honestly, it was the best purchase, my little boy is busy while I am working