We are now entering 5 + months of being ‘quarantined’ (I’m using quotes here because we are allowed to go out places, see people, etc.) However, my family and I are trying to limit our exposure as much as possible. We really only see a select group of people and usually in backyards where the option to socially distance is possible.
If you read my post about returning to work, you’ll know that my company began mandatory in-office days at least twice a week starting in July. I actually didn’t mind this, as I found I was able to get WAY more work done (obviously, I didn’t have a toddler glued to my side). Cam went back to daycare and was loving it, everyone seemed to be happier.
Then, the inevitable happened, someone had tested positive and the office was closed again for 2 weeks. Everyone was encouraged to get retested (which I did & I’m still negative). We were slated to return to work on the 22nd but then an e-mail went out that in-office days are no longer mandatory if you are uncomfortable doing so.
With this new bit of news, my husband and I spent a few days deciding on what we wanted to do. We had already paid for the full month of July for daycare and we had already lost out on 2 weeks. We made the decision to keep Cam home while I was waiting for my test results (I didn’t want to be THAT parent). He finished out the month of July and I was able to place a hold on our account.
Final Decision…
After taking a few days to think about things, we had decided to NOT send him back to daycare. We felt that it was exposing him unnecessarily because while we are extremely careful at home & with the people around us, I cannot say that for everyone else he would come in contact with while at daycare. My husband essentially left the final decision up to me…as I would be the one who’s day would be impacted by Cam being home all day long.
My time management skills are really being tested the last week, while we figure out our ‘new normal’. I’m beginning to hate that saying…However, if I had to make the decision again, I’m pretty confident I would keep him home again.
Yes, it is/will be challenging to get my job done but I wouldn’t trade this time with him for anything. I get to see him every single day and watch him grow whereas before, I was watching through photos daycare sent me.
I started a new schedule this week (our first full week at home) and will continue to try it out and fine-tune it. Below is what the schedule we are trying to keep to. It helps us all stay a little sane.
7:00AM – WAKE UP
Cameron has been waking up around 7:00AM lately, this has been great for us because it allows us to sleep in a bit. However, I do need to get in the habit of waking up earlier so that I can get actually get stuff done before he wakes up.
7:30AM-9:00AM
For the next 90 minutes or so, I get breakfast ready for myself and Cameron. While he’s eating, I normally jump on my computer and try to get ALL of my work e-mails read and planned out for the day. This is also when Cameron will watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, he’s still at that age where he doesn’t sit still for long but I’ve noticed he likes to hear Mickey in the background so I’ll usually have it on for background noise.
After breakfast is done, I will get Cameron dressed for the day (he’s a messy eater and I refuse to change him 100 times per day LOL).
9:00AM-10:00AM
For this hour or so, I let Cam do some independent play for a little bit while I get breakfast cleaned up and get us ready to go outside. I make sure that I have a snack bag packed with every type of snack this kid could want. I also make sure that we have ample drinks ready to go.
I will then get his stroller set up outside so that he can get in as soon we go out.
10:00AM-12:00PM – OUTSIDE TIME
This is the time that I take Cameron for a nice long walk, depending on how hot it is already. I like to go around the neighborhood for about 45 minutes to an hour just to get in my exercise. I pop on one of the podcasts I’m listening to lately and just go.
We’ll come back to the house and we’ll set up in the backyard until lunchtime. I’ll normally get my laptop & sit at our table to get a few more e-mails done before lunchtime.
12:00PM- 1:00PM – LUNCHTIME
I try to get the little dude set up for lunch around noon each day. Normally, he’ll eat some chicken nuggets and a side. His side dishes vary from day to day based on what he feels like eating. Sometimes it’ll be a banana or could be veggie straws. He’ll also be allowed to watch another Mickey episode or two before nap-time.
1:00PM-3:00PM – NAP TIME!
I try not to be one of those moms that counts down to nap time, however, some days this kid just needs to nap. During nap-time is when I get a bulk of my actual work done so if I’m particularly busy that day, I count down the minutes just so I can get started.
While Cam is napping, I’ll usually get my lunch together and eat while I’m getting some work done. I try not to let him sleep passed 3:00PM because then he’ll stay up later than he should.
3:00PM-6:00PM
This time of day is usually extremely flexible for us. Our activities depend on the weather most of the time. If it’s nice out, we’ll go back outside or if it’s too hot out, we’ll stay inside and play with his many, many toys.
6:00PM-7:00PM
I’ll normally start dinner around 6:00PM and we normally eat around 6:3o(ish). My husband sometimes doesn’t even finish working until 6PM, so we’re eating a tad later so that we can all eat together.
After dinner, Adam will take Cam into the basement for some play time, while I clean up a bit. This is normally their time to hang out a bit together and I’ll also jump back on my laptop & check my work emails.
8:00PM – BEDTIME
We start out bedtime routine around 8:00PM. We don’t give Cam a bath every day, but if it’s a bath day, that’ll happen around 7:30(ish) so that we’re done by 8:00PM.
My child has also recently started to stall at bedtime…he knows it’s getting towards the end of the day so he likes to prolong our routine for as long as possible.
I recently purchased a sleep training clock that is helping but he’s still slightly too young to understand what it does. Although, we work on it every day. He does get that when the light is red, it’s time for bed. A friend of mine also got the HATCH machine and has been loving it for her toddler.
AFTER BEDTIME
Once the babe has gone down for the night, it’s time for us to clean up from the day. I usually work on the kitchen while my husband takes the living room. While in the kitchen, I’ll clean up and set up for the next morning. Then, I’ll usually take a room in the house & clean for about 20 minutes. I try and do a different room every night so that by the weekend, it’s just a quick tidy up.
Once that is complete, I’ll normally go upstairs to my ‘office’ and complete any work that I couldn’t get to during normal hours.
Let me know in the comments what you guys are doing and how you are handling working from home while juggling a toddler!