For those who don’t know what working from home is, here’s the definition: working from the comfort of your own home, with a hot cup of coffee, in exceptional peace and quiet. Working from home also lets us spend more time with our kids. (Just kidding...)
Actually, that’s what I thought before I went into lockdown. I had it all wrong! Before, I used to envy people who worked from home and could spend their days with their kids 24 hours a day. For the past four weeks, my perspective has changed completely! Here’s my new definition: you work from the comfort of your home, in your pajamas, with a beanie on your head, and no makeup. That part, I love it. On the other hand, my home is constantly a mess because my little monsters have nothing better to do all day than make a mess.
My floor is dirty, my walls are covered in little handprints, not to mention the completely empty pantry because all they do is eat to keep themselves entertained. We just put a latch on it so they’ll stop helping themselves (little trick). A hot cup of coffee? We can do without it. Unless I reheat it 10 times in the microwave. That is, if I don’t forget it in there (at night I open the microwave and find my coffee waiting impatiently for me). Between conference calls, I’m managing meltdowns and playing police. In short, peace and quiet are no longer part of my daily life. To be honest, I miss my office! I love my kids, but working from home and being a stay-at-home mom definitely isn’t for me! Ask my boyfriend if he’d be interested in being a stay-at-home dad! (Haha, I already know the answer.) I was impatient with my kids, stressed out, and at my wits’ end by the end of each day. It wasn’t human!
In short, things had to change. A few days ago, I promised myself I’d make a point of enjoying it. I had to figure out a way not to go crazy. So, since making that decision, I’ve been taking the time to drink my coffee in the morning, right there with my kids (emails can wait a few minutes). I take the time to listen to my daughter tell me how much fun she had playing outside and to try to understand my son when he explains that he peed in the potty.
I take the time to praise my kids, give them a kiss, and let them sit on my lap during a video conference—it’s so important! Since then, I’ve felt more at peace. I also take the time to have lunch with them and put them down for their naps… When I’m at my wits’ end, I even take the time to go for a 20- to 30-minute run to clear my head.
I don’t work my full 40 hours a week as if I were at my desk. Anyway, working from home with two kids, a dog, a cat, and a boyfriend, that would be unrealistic. I do my best, and that’s what counts. I encourage everyone who’s “stuck” like me to do the same. Take the time—no matter how you do it—but take the time to navigate this lockdown and working from home with a sense of calm so you don’t go crazy. Let’s not give up—everything will be okay!