Well, do you remember the first Jurassic Park where the girl is trying to reboot the computer system and the raptor is trying to break in? Well it’s sort of like that. I’ll be busy working, or on a conference call (one time Z knew I was on a call with a Partner and she came in and asked for Mini Eggs knowing I would just give them to her so that she would leave – clever girl) and I’ll have these 2 little raptors trying to break in to ask for a snack, or to sing me a song, or to ask for a hug. Sometimes I’ll go very still and quiet and hope that they don’t hear me or smell the fear, and other times Z will open my office door and they’ll swarm me together and there’s not much I can do to avoid their little hands full of peanut butter. Other times they’re as good as gold and very quiet playing together in the playroom which is when as a parent, you really start to worry because you know that they’re up to no good – we have a few very nice pieces of artwork on our walls and furniture to prove that point. Overall, I have been VERY lucky because my husband Jordan, has taken on the majority of the parenting during the day and now that it’s starting to get nicer out he takes them to the park or to play in the backyard which has been lovely so I can’t really complain. However, I think the hardest part has been to go from Mama one minute to Talia the next. As much as I hated the LRT sometimes, those daily 2 hours of commuting also gave me time to switch roles and relax. I could read, listen to music or just sit in glorious silence. Now when my workday is done, I walk out and immediately I’m being torn in a million different directions and somehow usually end up wearing a tiara or fairy wings and building a castle while trying to cook dinner. I just keep telling myself the days are long, but the years are short, and I just appreciate the fact that we’re all safe and healthy together in this circus we call home.

Overall, my mantra through all of this was to go with the flow. We were supposed to have 9 weddings this year and almost all have been postponed until next year and although I was sad about it, I’m also enjoying the time free of any outside obligations. Instead of having extracurricular activities, parties, weddings etc, we are just focusing on being a family. We spend time outside and get excited when the ice cream truck sings his song and comes to our house (he knows he has an easy sale here), we cuddle up on the couch and watch movies, we try different recipes and we just embrace the calm.  Although this has been a terrible time for many, I also think it was the reset we all needed. As Ferris Bueller once said “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it”. 

Tips for working from home with kids:

1.       Stay Organized – Easier said than done but that has been very important to successfully working from home. Each week I make a list of everything I want to get done so I know that I’m staying on track. It’s a list that ebbs and flows as I add things to it or scratch things off, but it’s been crucial. Sometimes that might mean spending some time working after the kids go to bed or waking up early to work, but that’s the beauty of right now – you have the ability to be flexible and it is something I really appreciate about EY.

2.       Make time for yourself – Like I said, going from Mama to work mode back to Mama mode is hard, especially when you’re mostly stuck in your house. So, to keep a bit of sanity, Jord and I give each other a night off each week to do whatever we want without kids. On Thursdays, I go for walks or have friends over for social distancing chats; I even started a blog that I’m pretty sure only my Mom reads but that’s ok. These nights off have been a game changer that I HIGHLY recommend.

3.       Pinterest is your friend – they have a ton of craft ideas and neat things to do. One night I got some construction paper and prepared a dozen crafts for Jord to do with the kids. I also went to the dollar store and bought a lot of craft stuff including tons of stickers which are always a hit.

4.       Do not fear the IPAD – YouTube kids has changed our lives. It’s nice to be able to give them technology when we need to do something or need a break. I’ve also set up a little corner in my office with a blanket and a pillow in case they want to come in and just read or watch tv near me.

5.       Listen to your kids – They’re going through a heck of a time right now with all of these changes. They miss their friends and family; they miss school and they miss all the fun stuff you used to be able to do together. If they need the extra cuddles or if they want to sleep in your bed, I say let them be little. If all else fails, make sure you have a lot of snacks because a hangry kid is a scary kid.

6.       Plan things to do things with each kid individually – Z and I love to bake together so we try and do that every few days (she is a pro at banana bread) and then we drop them off at people’s houses – we call it Z’s Bakery! It gives us a chance to do something together and spread a little kindness to those we love the most. E and I love to sit on our front step and watch the cars go by (before Covid 19 she barely knew her colors and now she’s almost a champ) and wave at everyone walking by, especially those with puppies!

Good Luck to all the parents out there, and may the odds be ever in your favor!