Remote work with 3yo is driving me insane

Dec 61 min read

Anyone else struggling with this setup? I'm in a 2BR apartment in Austin and my daughter's daycare has been closed for 2 weeks due to flooding. I work in tech (SaaS sales), so I'm on calls most of the day. My wife works 9-5 at a law firm downtown.

This morning I had to mute myself THREE times during a demo call because my kid was screaming about cereal. My manager laughed it off but I could feel the embarrassment burning. How do you all handle zoom calls with young kids around? Is there actually a solution here or am I just supposed to accept this is my life for the next few years?

12 comments162 views

Comments(12)

RRandy S.RegularDec 6

The Austin flooding hit a lot of people. Have you checked if your company has emergency WFH coverage or if they'd let you work out of an office or coffee shop for these 2 weeks? Might be worth asking.

RRick H.RegularDec 6

YouTube educational videos feel like a cop-out until you're literally in your third Zoom call of the day and your daughter is destroying your apartment. Then they feel like a lifeline. Use them guilt-free.

HHenry M.RegularDec 6

The daycare flooding thing sucks but this is temporary - might help mentally to think 'this is a 2 week sprint not a lifestyle.' Have you tried explaining to your team what's going on so they're aware calls might have chaos?

CChad R.RegularDec 8

Honestly I'd ask your manager about shifting to async communication just for this period if your company is cool with it. Not every meeting needs to be live.

LLuke N.RegularDec 6

We did something similar during COVID - I told clients my mornings (8-11am) were locked for my kid's routine and offered afternoon calls instead. Most didn't care and actually respected the boundaries more.

BBob M.RegularDec 7

Daycare closed for 2 weeks due to flooding must be brutal. Do you have someone (parent, partner, friend) who can take her for like 6 hours some days just to buy you work time? Even if it costs money it might be worth it.

SSteve B.RegularDec 7

Put her in your home office with a specific 'quiet time box' of stuff she can only access during your calls. Rotates the toys so they feel new when you need 30 mins of silence.

RRandy B.RegularDec 7

Yeah dude SaaS sales on Zoom calls while your 3yo is home is the actual nightmare. Can you split your calls between early morning before she wakes and late afternoon when she's tired? That's how I'm surviving this.

CCarl W.RegularDec 8

Noise-cancelling headphones + iPad apps keep my 3yo occupied for maybe 90 mins max. After that you're just managing expectations. Tell your clients upfront that daycare is closed, one early meeting got interrupted, they'll understand.

SSam Y.RegularDec 7

lol 2BR apartment in Austin with a 3yo and daily calls is basically psychological warfare. Your company got flood insurance though? That'd cover daycare reimbursement potentially?

MMatt D.RegularDec 8

Outdoor daycamp or community center activities for a few hours a day might actually be cheaper than the stress this is causing you right now. Just a thought.

TThomas H.RegularDec 8

2 weeks straight with a 3yo while trying to do SaaS calls sounds like actual hell. Are you getting any backup help or is your wife handling her own job stuff too?