Unwell children are a worry for parents at the best of times. It’s never nice to think of your little one suffering. But, things get worse if both you and your partner are in full-time employment. Given that your little one will want nothing more than to snuggle up safe at home, one of you will inevitably have to take time out of the office.
In the majority of cases, bosses are understanding about family needs. While they might not be able to give you the time off, the chances are they’ll at least allow you to work remotely. The issue there, of course, is that you’ll have no choice but to juggle a million things at once. As well as providing much-needed care, you’ll have to keep your workday afloat. And, that’s no easy task. Lucky for you, there are a few ways you can ensure you get this right. Let’s look at what they are.
Find a way to keep your child happy
Obviously, you’re going to need to check on your little one through the day. But, you also need to focus on your jobs. So, find a way to keep your child happy (if that’s at all possible) and occupied while you work. This could mean putting on their favorite film or letting them play with your phone. You might even want to buy them a book they can get stuck into. Either way, knowing they’re occupied can go some way towards helping you get your head down.
Make use of tech to stay in touch
Though you’re working from home, it’s essential you stay in touch with the office. This helps you keep on top of incoming tasks, as well as putting your boss’ mind at ease. So, be sure to make yourself available at all times using whichever tech your office relies on. That may mean logging on to programs like Skype or Google hangouts and messaging colleagues often. Or, if your company use landline text messaging services like those offered by Text Better, you’ll need to make use of these. Send email text messages on a regular basis so your boss knows your progress. However you do it, you need to ensure you prove that you’re trustworthy here. Otherwise, you’re sure to struggle next time sickness strikes.
Make a plan to ensure you get everything done
Given that your boss is trusting you to get your work done, it’s essential you’re as productive here as you would be in the office. That’s not easy when you have to stop every hour or so to check your child. But, by making a plan at the start of the day, you should be able to put your time to the best use. When you have a timeline to work towards, you’d be amazed how much more you get done. And, your boss might well be amazed too. At least, that’s the plan. Just like that, the disaster of sickness won’t seem so bad after all.
This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.