Successfully Juggling Remote Work with Kids

I’m thankful my job is flexible, but even I have limits. Here’s how we navigated a week of no camps while I worked from home.

To say it isn’t daunting wouldn’t be accurate – however if you are good at creating structure and routine then anyone can implement these strategies to get through those weeks where its 24/7 with the kids. Here’s a look into our week and how we moved around my work meetings and their needs for activity, challenges, rest, and fun!

1. We started the day with a protein packed breakfast and then we got outside.
   • A simple breakfast for us: fruit, yogurt, toast OR fruit, half a bagel, eggs
   • Everyone gets ready – this means beds made, teeth brushed, and outfit on.
   • 1 mile at least of biking, walking, or scootering.
2. After we jump started our day we did ‘curriculum’ for us that looks like this and usually is about 1.5 hours:
   • Every summer I get them a new work book – I have them do a few pages at a time to keep them fresh
   • Puzzles! I either get puzzles off of amazon or sometimes another large box store if they are having a good deal on them.
   • Sensory bins. If you’ve seen me on social media you know I LOVE Young, Wild and Friedman. My kids are on their third bins and they love the themes.
   • Reading practice – this is more for E, but Z has been more interested in watching him. We use the classic Hooked on Phonics and it’s been great.
3. Free play. This might be in the backyard, it might be a playdate, it might be building a fort in the living room, or it might be lego kits. Here are a few of the latest lego kits we gave the kids:
   • Lego City – Police car
   • Lego Spidey & Friends
   • Lego Friends – Horse Show
   • Lego Moana
4. Lunch
   • A simple lunch for us is a sandwich, cheese stick, carrots, and granola bites or fruit bar.
   • We usually take a very short walk right after lunch to get the post lunch wiggles out this is usually no more than 10-15 minutes,
5. Quiet time
   • The kids are past napping the majority of the time, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have in our room quiet time to create calm, peace, and a sense of refresh.
6. Free Play
   • By this point in the day my work day is over, so we usually hit the playground with our friends as long as the weather is favorable.

After this we head into evening routine and while exhausted, we all usually feel good about the day and what we did and maybe didn’t do. I am grateful for the ability to work with them home, but I am also ready for the season of camp!