Gearing Up For a Return to the Office? Here's How to Prep the Whole Family

Published on 10/4/2021 at 3:00 AM

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Moderna

It's been a weird couple of years. Our routines have been rocked, and our worlds have been rocked. And while we're not out of the pandemic woods just yet, for some, this fall signifies a return to some semblance of normalcy, particularly in the workplace. For those who have grown accustomed to the work-from-home life, this is a big shift — especially if you're juggling parenthood with a career.

The following tips are meant to ease the adjustment — for you, for your partner, and for your kids. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's that we can be adaptable. So lean into the change in routine, adjust as necessary, and look for the silver linings (they're there, promise!).

Meal Prep (or Have Your Meals Delivered)

Eliminating the commute portion of the workday frees up some space to make (or at least think about . . . ) what's for dinner. Once you're headed back into the office, planning and prepping the week's meals in advance can be a huge time and stress saver.

Meal delivery kits and grocery delivery services (like FreshDirect or Amazon Fresh) will also free up some time and headspace.

Do a Test Run

If parenting responsibilities like school drop-offs, homework help, or a baby's feeding schedule are about to change ownership to another parent or child-care provider, give the new routine a dry run before your new work schedule starts. This will ensure that all the details are covered and will likely elicit a different set of questions from the new "adult in charge" than simply trying to explain it would.

Ease Into It

In some workplaces, a day or two in the office is all that's expected when it comes to a return to "normal." If this isn't already the case for your employer, consider asking for a transitional phase where you'd ramp up to a Monday-Friday schedule rather than jumping all in at once. This will make the process feel less overwhelming to you and less daunting for kids who may be anxious about the change in their home lives.

Talk It Over

Whether you have toddlers or teens at home, give them some advance notice of a change in routine. Discuss how the changes will impact them, and reassure your kids that their needs will be taken care of. Address any concerns they may have, and reassure them that this is a good thing — a step toward normalcy.

Check In, but Don't Overdo It

Depending on your child or children's age(s) and how long the workday is, you may want to establish a regular check-in time. It may be a text or phone call after lunch or at the end of the school day. But try not to micromanage the adult in charge or hover over details that you can't control from your workplace. Trust that they've got it covered (and if not, you'll hear about it!), and save the quality time together for the end of the day.