Raising a kid while managing a home business is tough, especially during a pandemic when you’re pretty much stuck at home. Many think it’s easier to just send your child to daycare, but for some parents, staying home might feel more rewarding or necessary. Let’s walk through what a typical day looks like for two stay-at-home parents who also run a side business.
Here’s why understanding the reality of working and parenting from home is important:
1. It’s way harder than it seems to balance work and childcare at home.
2. Sharing the stories of stay-at-home dads (who make up 3% of this group) is vital because their experiences can be quite different.
3. Every baby is unique, so what works for one family might not work for another.
4. The global pandemic has added extra layers of complexity to parenting and working from home.
Statistics show that the number of dual full-time working parents has risen significantly over the decades. My partner and I decided against joining that statistic because we wanted both the closeness with our son and the intellectual stimulation that comes from running our own business.
Working from home cuts out commuting and reduces interruptions, allowing for more efficient work—what might take all day at an office can often be completed in just a few hours at home. Yet, the pandemic has thrown many families into the deep end of work-from-home parenting, which is a juggling act of immense proportions.
Parenting while working from home presents unique challenges:
1. Safety: When you have a baby or toddler around, you have to be vigilant all the time. It only takes a moment for accidents to happen.
2. Attention: It’s almost impossible to give your work and your child full attention simultaneously. For example, I might be able to read something on my phone while my baby plays next to me, but more demanding tasks are out of the question.
3. Loss of Independence: Your daily schedule becomes unpredictable, dictated by your child’s needs—feeding, naps, and doctor appointments.
4. Constant Exhaustion: Lack of sleep significantly affects your mental and physical health. As new parents, the constant wake-ups during the night can feel like a series of all-nighters.
5. Empathy for Your Child’s Discomfort: It’s hard not to feel stressed or upset when your baby is crying and you’re trying to figure out what’s wrong.
Despite these challenges, having a partner can make things easier. We split responsibilities to ensure that everything needed for our family and business is handled efficiently. For example, I take on more external business roles and child care during certain parts of the day, while my partner manages operations and nighttime baby duties.
The reality is that stay-at-home parenting, especially when combined with work, might be one of the hardest jobs around, often comparable to a full-time job that would earn a significant salary if it were paid. Managing this every day really puts into perspective the dedication and hard work involved in raising a child and maintaining a career from home.
