Summer break. That magical time of year when you get to soak up your children and the sun! Wait . . . that’s not right. Summer break, take two: That crazy time of year when work-from-home (WFH) parents are grappling for a shred of sanity or a single morning without someone melting down.
With four kids ages eight and under, surviving the elementary and daycare schedules with a full-time job is hard enough. Throw in summer camp inconsistencies and we’re toeing the line of impossible. Fortunately, my husband and I both work fully remote. That is, until he is off on an onsite and suddenly I am trying to hold down the house, the kids, the dog, and my work responsibilities. So what are we supposed to do? Well, the only thing we can: survive and advance.
As it is with all the things, it would be great if we could be in two places at once, but that’s just not reality. Even with an advanced degree in juggling, a minor in calendaring, and a concentration in color-coding, something’s bound to be missed. So for us, we have found it is best to decide what can be missed–and protect our time for those things that can’t be. This looks different for everyone, but here’s what is working for me (and might work for you, too!).
Seven Things You Can Do to Survive Your WFH Summer
Be upfront with your boss.
I know I am very fortunate in this, but I have a boss who gets it! I am upfront with her about my kids’ schedules; I mark any time I will be out of pocket on our team calendar, so she knows why my responses are delayed.
Block focus time.
My husband and I rotate who does morning drop off, and whoever is doing it takes all the kids (even if they are going to be at home that day). This gives one of us 45 minutes of uninterrupted work time, and I am always amazed at what I can get done in this time. Especially when it is first thing in the morning, and I am not being blown up by Teams messages yet!
Calendar like you’re paid for it.
I am diligent about keeping all camp pick-up and drop-off times, appointments, field trips, and attention-required meetings on a shared calendar with my husband. Any work meetings that require my active participation go onto this calendar as well.
We use our shared iPhone calendars and I cannot stress this enough: add the alerts! If your kid needs to bring a white shirt for tie-dye day, you want a reminder the morning of–even if you already have it in the backpack, set the reminder and confirm again! The meltdown that ensues if they are “the only kid who didn’t have one” is not worth the risk.
Have a conflict? Plan something special.
When my husband and I have competing meetings while the kids are home, we plan for a “viewing” of a favorite show or movie. We do our best to make this special. This usually means setting them up with stadium seating (courtesy of their nugget play furniture) and providing them with popcorn and treats.
Get outside whenever you can.
When I have a meeting that doesn’t require me to be on camera, I use the opportunity to get the kids outside. Answering emails while they run around the park is a nice break for all of us!
Mix things up.
We rotate the toys and art supplies that are available to them. This helps them to stay consistent with how their school schedule works!
Have literal boundaries.
I have designated the office as an invite-only space. This helps prevent our kids from bursting through the door while on video with a less understanding audience.
Some Things Your Kids Can Do, Too
That said, the work to survive a WFH summer shouldn’t all lie with the default parent! It’s time to set some expectations with your kids.
Start with a gentle reminder that summer break is not a three-month vacation.
. . . at least, not in this house. I always reinforce that while they’re free from schoolwork, mom and dad are not free from the work that pays for all the things.
Ask them to come up with ways they can contribute.
Having your kids invested in the decision-making helps ensure everyone gets the most of the summer. I make sure that their ideas are suitable for their ages and then we come up with a fun way to rotate who does what so that I don’t have to hear the dreaded, “But why do I always have to do that?!”
Here are a few things our kids have self-identified as ways to help in the morning:
- Making their own beds
- Preparing/serving breakfast
- Loading/unloading the dishwasher
- Feeding the dog
At the end of the day, summer WFH survival is just that–survival! Figure out where you can be flexible to protect your own peace. Whether it’s leveraging shared calendars, enforcing quiet times, or getting your kids to step it up, every little effort adds up. You’ll be surprised at the sweet memories you make along the way.
