Dress: La Maison Talulah (On Sale for 50%) // Bag: Neely & Chloe // Necklace: Child of Wild
What strange times we are in my friends. I know that this situation has many of us in positions that we never thought possible. Many are really struggling in financial, emotional, and even spiritual ways. Know that my heart goes out to each and every one of you. And you really are in my thoughts and prayers.
I have tried to remain grateful for all that I do have at this time, but that isn’t to say there have been some slight set backs or schedule changes. We by no means have it all together over here. And every day presents a new set of challenges. But I wanted to try to share a few things we have been doing to make working at home with a toddler a little more manageable.
First, I wanted to preface this by saying that my husband works from home. This has been the case for over a year, but he usually travels multiple times a month. Obviously, he is home for the time being, which means we are both attempting to manage working full time with a two year old at home. And honestly, there are some days that it goes smoothly and others that are full of a lot more Netflix. But I am hoping that these small ideas may help any of you who are in a position of working from home with a little one.
1. Set Designated Breakfast and Lunch Times
Something that we have honestly struggled with as parents is bedtime and meal times. Being working parents it was easy to get trapped in late night cuddles, late mornings, and random meal times (especially with my husband usually tackling all of this alone while I am at work). We are lucky to have such a flexible little one, but we realized as parents that we were needing a little more structure and routine.
During this time, I am making it a priority to make more of a schedule. And that means setting a real bedtime, nap time, and meal times. Since we are both home, I am on breakfast duty and my husband does lunch. A lot of mommas I know are great at this already. But if you are a working mom that isn’t used to this, give yourself some flexibility and grace to work on a rhythm or routine.
2. Plan What You Will Do During Naps
During the day, I will make a mental note of what I want to accomplish while he is napping. Maybe that is squeezing in as much work as possible, a quick tidy up, or simply taking a time out for mom. But deciding ahead of time what you will do will make you more productive or keep you from “wasting” your time doing something that could be accomplished while they are awake.
3. Get Them Outside to Burn Energy
If your little one is really driving you crazy, get outside or go for a walk. I usually let Oliver run or even walk ahead of me so he burns off that extra energy. Sometimes we do this twice a day if needed. I find after he comes back he has burned off some energy and will sit and watch a show or play more focused after. We also have a screened lanai area that we leave the sliding door open to so he can go in and out as he pleases. The outdoor area is locked, so we know he is safe. That way we are able to sit somewhere in the house comfortably where we can see him, but he is playing nicely outdoors.
4. Give Yourself Grace with the TV
Remember that this time will eventually pass. If your little one is watching more TV than usual, it will be okay. We are all balancing and managing a variety of roles and emotions. So give yourself some grace and know that it will not kill them to watch a little extra tv. We have tried to keep some of it educational. But we are NOT perfect. My husband especially loves to indulge him with superhero shows that he is probably too young to be watching. But a few his favorites on Amazon are Leap Frog movies, Super Wings, and Bubble Guppies.
I would also love to learn any tips and suggestions from my other mommas who are balancing these roles as well!
Thanks so much for reading. Stay safe!
*These photos were taken almost two months ago. We are currently staying home.