In 2020, we all learned that working from home is a lot more appealing in theory than it is in practice. It's hard to balance the needs of your home, your job, and yourself without feeling like you're losing your mind.
Add your kids in there and it's a real circus. We've all had a work-from-home moment that's been a little cringey this year. But some moms have some real work-from-home horror stories that remind us why we all go about our days in separate locations most of the time.
Yet you've got to laugh. Sure, these incidents can be upsetting and even angering in the moment. But when you look back at the chaos that was 2020, chances are you won't forget the time your kid went streaking behind you during the board meeting. At least, we have a feeling these moms won't.
Moms are used to doing it all, but that's proven tough when working from home and taking care of the kids.
"In today's news: while I was on a zoom call my kid turned her bathroom into a swimming pool," one mom shared.
"The water seeped through the floor, dripped through the smoke detector; which is connected to all the other smoke detectors; & I spent an hour trying to figure out how to make it all stop."
If there's one thing we've learned about working from home, it's that there's no shortage of things kids can get stuck in their hair.
"And on the 8000th day of quarantine, my kid got an electric train engine stuck in his hair while I was on a zoom call," one mom tweeted.
"Thanks to my wonderful colleague @sriescornou for capturing this memory!!!"
The upside about being stuck home is that the kids have learned quite a bit about technology. Perhaps they've learned too much, actually.
"Joined a Very Important Zoom call after my kid had used my account and there I was, superimposed on this burger," the mom tweeted.
It's really the interruptions that have driven most moms insane.
"My toddler and almost 6 year old made me a miserable screaming mess during the entire Super Important Meeting I had to be in this morning and then were tranquil as soon as it ended," one mom lamented.
Trust us — we've all been there at this point.
It's no fun to have all your coworkers see you get tough on your kids, but when monitors are falling, what else can you do?
"Had a meeting today. Cool people. Well planned. Team work," a working mom shared.
"I also had kids today. One of whom almost pulled a monitor off my desk onto his head. While wearing headphones. Not paying attention. I thought I was muted when I started yelling. I was not."
Sometimes, those coworkers will overhear something that makes them see you in a new light, and you just have to laugh.
"Me on a conference call: *Mute mic*: 'hey kids! Everyone else’s children are being them cups of tea whilst they’re in meetings!!'"
"*Unmute mic* 16 yr old shouts: 'hey mum, here is your glass of wine. Would you like me to light you another cigarette?'"
Kids both young and old live to embarrass us, and that's just become part of the work-from-home lifestyle.
"Nothing like a 3 year old having an epic tantrum during the all staff meeting," another mom tweeted. "Maybe now they won't wonder why my productivity is at 50%."
They also think they're really funny — and want all of your work friends to know. At least that's what this kid was going for, if we had to guess.
"Be careful what your kids write on the whiteboard behind you," this mom warned. "Teaching online with the kids home."
But sometimes, they do mean well.
"#ParentingInLockdown and #workingfromhome during global #pandemic: during a Skype meeting inclusive of people I've never met, my 18 month old climbs on the laptop and sloppy kisses all over the camera. This is on a GOOD day…" one mom shared.
If you've got a baby and you're juggling work and parenting, the true tip of the hat goes to you.
"Modern quarantine parenting means breastfeeding your baby while you're on mute trying to listen to your conference call and marinating the chicken in the fridge for dinner later, all while trying to take notes for a sync with your boss. COOL," one mom said of her day.
Moms are so tired of getting interrupted that they've thought about striking back. Kiddos, beware.
"I have the sudden urge to go interrupt my kid's zoom call with her class with 'something super important,'" a fed-up mom tweeted.
"Potential topics include: I can't find my sock, if only we had food in this house, I could fix my own snack, and my iPad is about to die #WFH #QuarantineLife."
