Three Things To Help You Survive the Lockdown as a Working Parent
July 27, 2020
Many Australian working parents are now facing a set of challenges as they juggle job and family responsibilities during the coronavirus pandemic. They simply want to know how to survive the lockdown as a working parent. The government ended its emergency childcare package last week and today, more and more parents especially moms are expressing and sharing their frustrations with their fellow mums in Facebook’s private forums.
If you’ve been home for weeks now with your kids, you are most probably having a hard time finding joy in parenthood with all the messes, whining, and lack of privacy. Working from home as a parent during a pandemic is indeed a challenge.
But we found three things that might help you survive the lockdown as a working parent.
Have Your Own Space
Isolation at home with the kids may not be an ideal situation for any working parent especially if you do not have access to any outdoor space, or simply can’t find any quiet space to work at. But “space” doesn’t always have to be physical – mental space can work too. You can keep the kids busy by asking them to read a book, draw, exercise, or chat with their friends on Zoom. You might find it helpful to create a schedule and a time allowance for the kids to speak with their friends uninterrupted in their own room. Since routines typically change on a day-to-day basis, it’s good to give yourself some flexibility when working or doing house chores. You may also want to consider going for a run or walk at least an hour or two each day with the kids – of course, make sure that everyone is aware of the meaning of social distancing. Allowing yourself to get some fresh air, exercise, and a change of scenery is so important if you want to survive the lockdown as a working parent.
Look for the Silver Lining
To survive the lockdown as a working parent, it always helps to look for the positives of a difficult situation. One of the best things this lockdown has brought is that it gave you heaps of time with your kids. At some point, they’re not going to want to hang out with you anymore so take advantage of this time to play and talk to them. If you’re stressed about homeschooling, try to make it as fun as possible by encouraging them to help you do house chores, cooking, gardening, and maybe even helping you with your work – these life skills may actually be more helpful than forcing them to learn long-divisions.
“While it feels mentally more depressing, I think we know better now to stress less, drop those expectations for being a worker, parent, carer, teacher, and cleaner all at once. Let the kids have fun, we’ll wear pyjamas (no bras) and spend more time doing nothing during the weekend!” Irene Becker, working mom, and co-founder of 99aupairs said on her most recent Facebook post. That was a great tip for so many of us.
Knowing When and Where To Get Support
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. It’s best to find support if you feel like you can’t handle juggling work and childcare anymore or if you’re feeling anxious about the current situation. You can survive the lockdown as a working parent with the help of your loved ones and/or people who are an expert on the things you need help with.
If you or anyone you know needs help, these amazing hotlines are there for anyone to get in touch with:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- QLife on 1800 184 527
If you need in-home care for your loved ones, you can register to our platform at 99aupairs.au to start looking for an Au Pair/Carer who is available to help immediately. We know it’s a difficult time for everyone and we want to make it easier, faster, and affordable for you to find the help you need, so we’re offering a 50% discount on our platform’s Premium Membership. Just enter the code 99aupairs50 upon your registration. We also have resources to help you screen your Au Pair such as our blog on How Do Host Families Interview Au Pairs?