Written by: Beri Gebrehiwot

Hey, Mamas! Several weeks into our new lives under quarantine orders, and a lot of us are still doing some trial and error to find a balance and routine that works for us during this time.

I just want to give a HUGE shout-out to all the parents who are working from home with kids...especially those who are doing it alone! YOU, are the real MVPs.

Here are a few tips that might be helpful while working from home with kids:

Create routine and schedule:

+Stick to your regular work and school schedules. That means, bed times and wake up times should be the same and consistent every day of the week (at least M-F). 
+Create an agenda for the day that will give you and the kids something to look forward to. Kids need direction and consistency- not knowing what is coming next or what to expect from the day can cause them to act out.
+Make the schedule light and fun, with a mixture of playtime activities, exercise and learning. 
+Don’t forget to schedule a little me-time for yourself, whatever that may look like right now.

Schedule breaks with your kids:

+Try to take stretch breaks, walk breaks, snack breaks, lunch breaks together with your kids.
+This not only helps break up the day, but gives you lots of check-in time & bonding time with your kids.

Dedicate a workspace:

+This will help make it “feel” like you’re going to the office.
+Designate a work space for the kids too, so they can separate their play area from their school work area. This will also help them get in the mindset of going to school as they report to the same place at the same time.

Give yourself grace:

+Remember that no one has all the right answers for this new way of life, so be easy on yourself.
+There will be lots of trial and error, so don’t be afraid to keep trying new approaches with your daily schedule.
+Being lenient with screen time during this time does not make you a bad mom- do what you have to do, Mama. There are a ton of educational programs out there to choose from right now.
+Having a spotless house shouldn’t be on your list of concerns, but I understand it’s necessary- perhaps delegating chores to the kids as part of their daily schedule would help. There’s no better time than now to teach your kids those domestic skills ;)
+Every day is a new day to try it again, so give yourself the grace to do so. Take the time to reflect at the end of the day or week to see what has been working or not working for your family and plan your routine accordingly.

Bonus: Take car rides to enjoy a different scenery, bike rides around the neighborhood, baking and cook together as a family, take on projects that you typically wouldn’t have time for with your kids, allow your kids to dive into a subject of their interest- whether superheroes or animals- and let them teach you about what they’re learning and discovering.

For us, we dove into the world of Pokemon with our 5 year old, and I’m happy to report that we’re well on our way to becoming Pokemon masters, haha! It brings my son so much joy to be able to learn this with him, aaaannnnd it gives us all something new to do and discover as a family.

I would love to hear from you and how working from home and homeschooling is going for you. What is working or not working for you all?

Also, here is what is helping me personally stay sane from day to day…