Let me guess.
You sat down to work—finally—and suddenly:
- Your toddler needs a snack (even though they just ate).
- Your baby starts crying.
- Your husband yells from the other room asking where his socks are.
- Your Slack notification dings. Again.
And your carefully planned to-do list? It laughs in your face.
Welcome to the wild world of working from home with kids. It’s a juggling act, a circus, and sometimes a full-blown disaster… and yet somehow, you’re still getting it done.
Sort of.
I see you. I am you.
And I’m going to share what’s actually helped me work from home, raise babies, and keep the house from looking like a tornado hit a chicken coop.
Stop Trying to “Do It All” – Here’s What Actually Matters
Here’s the hard truth: you can’t do it all.
Not every dish will get washed. Not every email will get answered. Not every toy will be picked up (and that’s okay).
Instead, focus on your big three each day:
- One priority task for work
- One small win at home (like swapping out laundry or wiping a counter)
- One meaningful moment with your kids
That’s it. That’s the bar.
If you do more—great. But if that’s all you get done?
Mama, you’re still winning.
Create Rhythms, Not Rigid Schedules
Schedules break. Rhythms bend.
You don’t need your day mapped to the minute. Instead, think in time blocks with built-in wiggle room. These are a few “anchors” I use:
- Morning block (wake up, breakfast, morning chores)
- Midday block (play + quiet time/naps = focused work time)
- Late afternoon block (outside time, snacks, reset the house)
- Evening block (dinner, connection, wind-down)
Kids thrive on rhythm. You do too. Find yours, and lean into it.
Kid Entertainment Ideas That Don’t Involve You Every 30 Seconds
Yes, independent play is a thing. No, it’s not magic. But it is learnable.
Here are some easy, no-fuss ideas that keep my little ones happy while I work:
- Sensory bins: Dry rice, old measuring cups, plastic animals = 30+ mins of focused toddler play
- Color Sorting: Cups or bowls of different colors and puff balls, plastic dinos, whatever you have that coordinates with the bowls. Task them with putting each toy in it’s matching bowl.
- Frozen paint bags: Paint in a ziplock. Freeze. Let them smush it like little scientists
- “Planting”: Give them a tiny plastic flower pot and some dirt. Catch some sun while catching up on those emails.
- Water “kitchen”: Bowls, spoons, plastic dishes + a splash of water = endless pretend soup
- Toy rotation: Keep ⅔ of their toys out of reach. Rotate weekly to keep things “new”
- Playpen + podcast: Even little ones will vibe with a calming story podcast (or white noise!)
- Toniebox: Endless figurine options, fully toddler controlled, nearly indestructible. This music and story time speaker is one of my favorite alternatives to screen time!
And yes, sometimes screen time is the babysitter. I bless it. I use it. Zero guilt.
Work Smarter (Not More Hours)
You don’t need more time. You need to protect the time you’ve got.
Here’s how I make nap windows and 10-minute blocks actually work:
- The “Power Hour”: Work sprint during naps or quiet time. No distractions. No scrolling. Just the 1-2 tasks that matter most.
- Use timers: Pomodoro method (25 mins work / 5 min break). Set your kids up during the “on” time, then check on them during the break.
- Create a mobile office: Laptop + laundry basket = mobile desk. Work from the porch, playroom, or floor while your baby stacks blocks.
It’s not glamorous. But it works.
Protect Your Sanity (and Your Relationship)
It’s easy to snap at everyone when you’re drowning in crumbs, emails, and toddler tantrums.
So here’s how I keep my brain (and marriage) intact:
- Do a “Mom Reset”:
10 minutes alone. Coffee on the porch. Deep breaths in the bathroom. Anything that lets your nervous system chill. - Communicate clearly with your spouse:
“I need 30 minutes with no interruptions” works better than expecting him to read your mind. - Have a weekly check-in:
My husband and I do a 5-minute chat on Fridays:
“What worked this week? What didn’t? What do you need more of next week?”
Sometimes, the answer is just “I need you to not ask where your socks are.”
Build a Support System That Fits Your Life
You weren’t meant to do this alone. Not motherhood. Not working. Not keeping humans alive with a side of productivity.
Here’s what support can look like (even if you have no local village):
- Mom text threads or WhatsApp groups
- Digital coworking or accountability groups
- A grandma, neighbor, or sitter swap for an hour a week
- Asking your partner for one morning/afternoon/evening off. Every week. Non-negotiable.
It’s not weakness. It’s wisdom. Ask for help.
When All Else Fails—Lower the Bar (Then Lower It Again)
Some days, everything will go wrong.
The toddler throws a tantrum. The baby won’t nap. You didn’t get any work done.
That doesn’t mean you failed.
It means you’re living real life.
So here’s your checklist of “good enough” wins:
- Did the kids get fed? ✅
- Did you answer one work message? ✅
- Did you not completely lose your mind? ✅
- Did you cry in the pantry quietly instead of screaming? ✅ BONUS POINTS
Celebrate the small wins. They’re not small.
Final Thoughts: You’re Doing Better Than You Think
Working from home with kids isn’t about balance.
It’s about grace, grit, and lowering expectations without lowering your standards.
You’ve got this.
And when you don’t? I’ve got you.
Come say hi on Instagram and let me know what your chaos looks like today.
Because we’re all in this together—trying to work, raise humans, and keep the coffee hot.
Talk Soon,
Jennifer