I am, and have been for quite some time, a work-at-home mom, so working from home is not an altogether alien concept for me. But these aren’t ordinary times and the concept of working from home has drastically changed. I had a set yet flexible schedule. There was time set to go meet with clients and time set aside to work from home. This allowed me to be able to be available to my children as needed. But anything that was normal or routine has now been tossed out the window for us all.

My day has shifted nearly 180º - At the moment, and due to our new Pandemic, I am down many clients. Any prospective work and potential clients are no more. This is what happens when your clients are a part of the restaurant and hospitality industries. With my workload at a minimum I have more time, for better or worse, to focus on my children and my home.

As a single mom I am often overwhelmed but I have found a new definition of the word. We are a high risk family and I therefore must be diligent in disinfecting and cleaning. For the most-part we have been home-bound for close to two weeks. I have been to the grocery store, the pharmacy and the gas station. We have gone out for drives and walks. The older two have been to their prospective dorms and apartments to retrieve their belongings. As a result I have been cleaning and disinfecting around the clock. My hands look like those of a 90 year old. My washing machine, dryer and dishwasher seem to be running around the clock these days. With the washing of clothes, towels and sheets, comes stripping beds, making them and folding everything and putting them away. Yes they can all pitch in and help. I choose to wait until they go to their dad’s for the night because I can get into their rooms and really clean which is essential right now. A month from now I may, and likely will, feel differently.

I am also cooking three meals a day, and for the most part cleaning up after said three meals. I will start designating each kid with a meal as we spend more time at home, but I prefer to be the one to have access to the fridge and cabinets so that I can take stock of where things are and how much we have to lessen the need for frequent shopping. This isn’t the time to reach for the milk and find out none is left! This captain needs to make sure her ship is tightly run and in top shape. That said I needed to relax some house rules.

Mornings will be loosely rigid. By this I mean that we will get up, shower, get dressed and set up for school. I will have something for breakfast that the kids can eat at their leisure, something like the Apple Walnut Quick Bread that I posted here. The kids can get up walk around and take breaks. I have lunch ready by Noon or so that the kids can grab when they’re ready. This won’t be anything terribly complicated, mostly sandwiches and the like. By mid afternoon, once school is done, the kids can do what they want. Since I have two in college and I want to allow them the same freedom they’re used to when they are away at school, and yet comply to my rules. We’re in a condo so our space is limited and because of this I ask them to keep their spaces fairly neat and tidy. Because we are inside and likely for the long haul I am being a lot more lenient with regard to screen times. If my kids were younger, I likely would, but even my kids are hitting that screentime wall.

Creating Optimal at-home workspaces:

Have a quiet place at home where your kids can hunker down and work and participate in their online classrooms.

• If your bedroom or children’s bedrooms have desks, now’s the time to clear them off! Also clear away clutter which is extremely distracting.
  

• Think about converting your dining room table to a community workspace.
  Make sure there is adequate lighting.
  

• Make sure there is a comfortable seat, add cushions to chairs if necessary.
  

• Make sure all supplies are accessible so that once settled in to work, you don’t need to get up constantly and look around. This will help with overall productivity.
  The supplies may be (but aren’t limited to):
  Printer and paper, make sure that there’s enough ink and if not order more.
  Pens, paper, staples, paper clips, tape, chargers
  For younger kids - crayons, pencils, markers, erasers, pencil sharpeners, scissors, glue/glue sticks
  

• Have water and snacks on hand so people aren’t rummaging unnecessarily
  

• Create a soothing space, play some quiet background music, an aromatic candle or plug in your diffuser for a little aromatherapy
  

• Set aside time for breaks to help keep focused and refocus.

Following are some ideas and suggestions for you that work for us:

1. Establish a regular wake up time. Here it’s 9:00. This gives my middle schooler time to wake up, shower, put on a pair of clean PJs (!) and head over to the dining room table aka classroom by the time school starts. I can sit down and work next to him. His school hours are my work hours.
   

   (I was participating in an online pilates class at 10:00 but have to stop it at least temporarily to make sure that my kid is focused and ready to work.) My college kids have entirely different schedules and I am letting them handle their own schooling. When I am able I am sure to get outside and walk for about an hour or so, but 20-30 is perfectly fine.
   

2. I have breakfast and lunch made so the kids can grab and go as they need.
   

3. Once school is over I ask that they make their beds (especially now) and put away any dishes they have left out. They are free to go off and do whatever they want… within the confines of our 1,500 square foot condo unit!
   

4. I might ask for some help with regard to a small task around the house such as putting away their own laundry or taking out the garbage.
   

5. The afternoon is a free for all. I ask that they be quiet and respectful of each other so that I can continue working if I need to. (The quiet part, not so much!!)
   

6. These days dinner is usually served between 6-7 which is earlier than normal that the kids can eat when they are ready, however we have been eating together. I’ve done away with the formality of the dining room table and we are indeed eating together on the couch watching TV or a movie. I find that I’m not cooking formal meals, but those that are more comforting. The casual, comforting setting suits us. (I probably would not do this if I had little kids around!)

7. Kids must clean up after dinner. (And I clean up after them!)

My take:

• These are extraordinary and unprecedented times.

• We are all nervous and on edge and now is not the time to demand perfection or to nit-pick.

• Children are going to react, and possibly act out, in different ways.

• We need to be understanding and more accepting of their worries and feelings and let the little things slide.

• We are all on edge and act and react differently.

• We need to pick our battles now more than ever.

• We need to communicate - talk to them and listen to what they have to say.

• We need to not to try to do it all, and decide what’s most important. We can’t give our 100 % to working at home and be 100% available for online schooling.

• Give yourself a break from the kitchen. Even if you love cooking, take a day off. Order dinner to go and take advantage of your local restaurants and their curbside pickup or delivery options. I you can support a local restaurant once a week do so, if you can afford more, do!