“The days are long, but the years are short”- such a wonderful sentiment when you look back at your kids’ growth and remember, wistfully, of the early days…
Record scratch… but does that sentiment hold true when you are parenting teenagers? In. The. Summer? It’s hard enough just parenting teenagers- it requires a few extra doses of patience and grace- but what happens when you work from home and suddenly there are other people in the house? People that need answers to questions, arguments mediated, meals prepared, and transportation provided…or, people that just don’t know what to do with all of their free time? There are endless valuable resources teenagers’ mental health (as there should be), but don’t forget about YOUR mental health.
The divide between work and home is not always clear to the uninitiated teenager. Clear communication and boundaries are paramount to making this summer arrangement work, so that both your family and your work flourish. Some things to keep in mind to help everyone adjust:
- Carve out a “work space”- a home office, nook, or even a slice of the dining room table. Designating your space will signal to others in the house that you are “at work” and not available (except for emergencies, of course!). Noise-canceling headphones or a closed door can also be a visual cue to family members that you are busy with work.
- Communicate your work schedule, verbally and visually. Tell your family what your work hours are, especially if they change frequently, and communicate that calls and meetings are especially important. Work hours need to remain “quiet time”. Create a calendar that all family members can see that designates your work times and scheduled breaks. Communicate that working from home does help you to be flexible, that you are still working and that work is important. If questions can not wait, ask that they ask if it is a good time for you before bombarding you with questions and details.
- Establish tasks or chores for your family so that they can keep busy while helping you out at the same time.
- Create a schedule for the kids so they know they can bundle any questions or demands when you are “off the work clock”. Plan for rides and outings ahead of time. If your schedule (or theirs) changes, it should be communicated to everyone- it’s life, and everything doesn’t always go according to plan, but it helps to have a plan in place.
- Take breaks! You don’t have to be sequestered all day to do a good job. Connect with your family throughout the day for meals, or a quick conversation at the family “water cooler”.
With a little planning, and a lot of flexibility and patience, you CAN survive the summer with teens!
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