Wfh and struggling

The two days working from home are becoming a struggle the older he's getting. Mostly because I work during his awake hours so he's slumped over a tablet and phone as I don't have much time to spend with him Struggling as to how to go forward, if I cut my hours I'll lose pay and financially we cannot right now but at same time he has hard time at nursery as he's being torn away from his gadgets in the morning... I'm sure that's what it is as he was fine before and I blame myself. I really don't know how to tackle this so just a rant as I need my job but also wana do right by him.. feeling like the worst mother ever..
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I totally understand where you're coming from. I wfh 2 days a week with my LO. Managed to get her into nursery for a Monday but it was an 11 month wait so she was 2 when she started going. It's so hard because when she's with me all she wants is my attention. It got worse after 18 months and in the last couple of weeks she's dropped her naps. She's a good kid but I feel constantly guilty. Today she's home with me instead of the grandparents because of heavy snow. I can't put her in nursery for more days simply because they don't have the space and other nurseries are too far from us ans childminders are currently fully booked! I don't have answers but I am in the same place. X

I’ll be black and white about it his - Book him into a nursery and he will just have to get on with it. You need to work (which you are clearly not doing) and he needs far more attention than from an iPad. In the long run it’s better for everyone. If he cries for his gadgets then let him.he will get over it. He will learn so much more in those 2 days at nursery then he ever will from you while you are “working” and trying to split your attention. You are not a bad mum - like all of us - you are trying to do too much. He needs to go to nursery so you can concentrate. I don’t know how anyone can work from home with kids :-( well I do, they don’t work!!!

@Francesca correct. I agree - wfh and childcare at home never ever works. I have on the odd occasion taken care of my child whilst working and it is a cluster f*** and this is why mine goes 5 days a week. Changed from childminder to preschool as financially helped navigate the rising expenses but it to be done. And I feel for all the women who have to make these tough choices. 😔 and I never understand how parents manage school hours. Absolutely tough for working parents. We are at that age, where after school clubs are not available. So we pretty much juggling after she comes home at 3pm - which includes no screen time. Tough tough - I cry some days ....

I wouldn’t work if I have had to have my son at home. He is very needy and I would rather spend time with him. My son goes to a childminder when I am working because started when he was 1

@Francesca he goes nursery 3 days a week and the other two I have him at home as financially cannot afford to have him there for 5 or to not work full time. Catch 22

@Maria yh he goes 3 days I just can't have him in there for 5 or currently drop my hours so just struggling with a work around x

Yes it’s tricky. Maybe look for a better paid job - so same pay less hours?

@Francesca Do these even exist for over 40k! 🫠

Are there ways you can reduce monthly costs so you can work a day less or add a day in nursery? Write down all your outgoings, do you need all subscriptions/ phone / tv, can you check on compare sites to reduce monthly bills/ insurances etc. Can you temporarily reduce pension contributions or can you make some extra money by selling old things from your little one or other? The older they get the more funded hours so you just need to find savings for a certain period to make it work.. I agree with the others that I could never work from home with my little one there..

Can you do longer work hours on the nursery days and juggle the non nursery days? Eg. working a couple of hours early before the LO wakes and while your other half gets him ready, working through nap time, partners lunch break (assuming they work from home too) and then make up some hours in the evening. It's tiring but that's how we juggle any sick days. You could even try going to a stay and play or small softplay where you don't have to follow him round and then setting up your laptop to work there

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