How often do your kids beg you to work from home? With most workplaces returning to the office, it can be hard to explain to your kids that the work they used to do around them now needs to be done in the office.
Pre-COVID, families with children had a routine where they would go their separate ways after the morning rush and then get back together in the evening when the parents got home from work. But the pandemic has changed this routine so much that it has pushed the pre-pandemic reality aside in our minds, especially for kids. With both parents working from home, kids, especially those under the age of seven, have gotten used to having their parents around all day. And we can’t blame them! Many kids who spent most of their formative years close to their parents are now starting to expect them to be there all the time. What’s more, they’re pestering their parents to “be with them.” work remotely“Can I work from home today?” “If you can’t work from home, take a day off!” “Can you pick me up from the bus stop today?” “Can you come early today?” And when these demands are not met, they get annoyed and throw tantrums. Many of us want our kids to naturally remember the pre-pandemic times when parents went to work and “work from home” was not expected. But perceptions have changed. Kids have started to believe that their parents should be there for them and that it is acceptable for them to leave their laptops and attend to their needs. They have the false perception that laptops are part of the household and parents have to juggle the two.
There has been a huge difference in Indian households. While fathers can lock themselves away in their rooms while working from home, mothers are running around preparing snacks and meals for the kids, managing meetings while making sure the kids don't get into trouble, turning the camera on and off during meetings, keeping the kids quiet and strict with them not to come inside the house during meetings. But what about the mothers? This tedious tightrope walk between household chores and work responsibilities leaves mothers feeling guilty – guilty that they are neglecting their children's needs for the sake of work and under pressure to excel in their professional roles without being criticised for being a mother. As a result, mothers often feel inadequate in both areas.
It's common to see working moms using their bathroom breaks to take care of their kids. In that short time, they can quickly give instructions to grandparents (or housekeepers), calm a tantrum, or remind a kid about swimming lessons. Taking these personal calls while sitting at a desk can come across as unprofessional.
I hope that my children will soon understand the complexities of their mother's professional life. The demands of the job can make it difficult, if not impossible, to separate work and home life. But with family support, it is possible to create a more harmonious environment in which both work and personal responsibilities are respected and effectively managed.
