Anonymous wrote:It violates the terms of my telework agreement to work and do childcare at the same time. So I don't do that.

I don't know what your agreement says, but I hope you will honor it.

This is now off topic, but I get the formal agreement for normal days. But you can't EVER work when you have the kids? Like even checking emails when you are watching them in the tub? If not I guess that is a good way to stop WAH at 5 sharp or whatever. Usually when you can telework you put in far, far more hours, to the employers benefit.

This is silly. we're not talking about OP's everyday work arrangement - we're talking about a day when schools are closed and she's been nice enough to let her friends drop off their kids so they can go to work.

I've done the same thing. On the days when I'm working from home, I can split the day between the hours I actually work and the hours during which I'm doing something else. So if my daughter is home with me and I actually get four hours of work done, I book four hours to teleworking and 4 hours to leave. If my kid is the only kid there, she expects me to entertain her to a certain degree. If she has a friend over, there's a pretty good chance I'll only have to moderate the occasional spat and occasionally suggest a new activity. She's much less likely to affect my work.

geez, you people are silly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't work and babysit at the same time.

NP here. Not sure why so many on DCUM insist that this is true. People do it all the time.

ANother NP. People may think that they can do it, but they are not. I don't do it. In fact, I'd be fired if I was using my work from home time to look after kids, mine or others.

I'm working from home and also have a play date scheduled but its only for two hours. We don't put the tv on during play dates. I've had short play dates before with no issue. It really does keep my kid busy and allows me to get work done. I've offered to use a vacation day and have been very clear with my boss about whats planned at my house and why. They prefer I work and based on my track record trust that I will get the work done. I don't think I could do it all day play date but its easier to do with a six year old versus a toddler.

It violates the terms of my telework agreement to work and do childcare at the same time. So I don't do that.

I don't know what your agreement says, but I hope you will honor it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP. Give it up.

I have been WAH full-time for the past 6 years and it just can't be done. I am a govt employee that doesn't get the snow closures the rest of my Fed buddies get so I end up having to take my own leave on the days they get free admin leave. It sucks-but --hey--I get to WAH the other 360 days out of the year.

I am taking a full-day of annual leave tomorrow and my kids are now 6.5 and 9.

It's just stressful and no fun and not fair to work (not to mention not legally allowed not to have childcare) to try to do both.

I definitely would NOT be hosting a playdate if I had to be working and watching somebody else's kid. Hire and older kid (12 or so) to watch the kids while you work or take a day off.

and...YES...the parents should know you plan to park them in front of the TV all day.

Did you read where she had beads and rainbow loom and puzzles and stuff?

Reeeeelax

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've absolutely dropped my kid off under the same circumstances, OP. One of my friends has been nice enough on a couple of snow days to call me and say, "Hey, drop off X so she and Y can play together and you can hit the gym." She gets to have someone else (my kid) entertaining her kid, and that usually buys her some peace for a conference call or two. Once kids get to a certain age, if there's nore than one of them, you can kind of supervise them pretty loosely.

There's no law against working from home without childcare. It's just frowned upon by many/most organizations.

"Dependent care (i.e., child care, elder care, or care of any other dependent adults) arrangements are in place"

http://www.telework.gov/tools_and_resources/basics_employees/index.aspx

Um, nowhere does OP say she is a fed.

DCUMville getting its panties in a bunch, like usual.

OP, give it a go. Clock the actual hours you work during the day and make up the rest of the time later. My six-year-old and her friends know that they have to entertain themselves when they have play dates at our place. I don't "engage" them in anything besides asking what they want on their sandwiches. Feed them, give them water, and intervene only if you hear screams or glass breaking. If you're feeling really nice, stock up on Play-Doh and new crayons so they have some fund activities to do on their own. I only invite well-behaved kids over so that I don't have to intervene.

I guess it depends on the kids. My son is an older 5, many of his friends are young 6's. They would not be mature enough to leave me alone to do any amount of work. But I understand that kids differ, and maybe yours are older 6's, or just generally more mature and self-reliant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP. Give it up.

I have been WAH full-time for the past 6 years and it just can't be done. I am a govt employee that doesn't get the snow closures the rest of my Fed buddies get so I end up having to take my own leave on the days they get free admin leave. It sucks-but --hey--I get to WAH the other 360 days out of the year.

I am taking a full-day of annual leave tomorrow and my kids are now 6.5 and 9.

It's just stressful and no fun and not fair to work (not to mention not legally allowed not to have childcare) to try to do both.

I definitely would NOT be hosting a playdate if I had to be working and watching somebody else's kid. Hire and older kid (12 or so) to watch the kids while you work or take a day off.

She said she could finish up the work at night if she wasn't getting much done. I can sit at my kitchen island, watch kids play, and get tons done.

I am not counting in getting in a standard 9-5 day, but I can get up early and put in 3 hrs from 6-9 until DH leaves nd the girls get here. Then I'll prob get 3-4 hrs in in the 6-7 hrs they are here - figure 1 2 hr movie and at least a solid hour while they are playing. And I can always finish up at night, if necessary.

Also, they are 6, not 2. Even if I wasnt attempting work, I would not be watching them the whole day. I'd be doing chores, playing on the internet, making dinner, etc.

I appreciate all the concern for my work, but I was really just wondering how the other parents would feel about the lax tv/treats/organized acitivities, not if I am capable of managing my own workload while having a bunch of 6 y.o.s at home.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP. Give it up.

I have been WAH full-time for the past 6 years and it just can't be done. I am a govt employee that doesn't get the snow closures the rest of my Fed buddies get so I end up having to take my own leave on the days they get free admin leave. It sucks-but --hey--I get to WAH the other 360 days out of the year.

I am taking a full-day of annual leave tomorrow and my kids are now 6.5 and 9.

It's just stressful and no fun and not fair to work (not to mention not legally allowed not to have childcare) to try to do both.

I definitely would NOT be hosting a playdate if I had to be working and watching somebody else's kid. Hire and older kid (12 or so) to watch the kids while you work or take a day off.

and...YES...the parents should know you plan to park them in front of the TV all day.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP. Give it up.

I have been WAH full-time for the past 6 years and it just can't be done. I am a govt employee that doesn't get the snow closures the rest of my Fed buddies get so I end up having to take my own leave on the days they get free admin leave. It sucks-but --hey--I get to WAH the other 360 days out of the year.

I am taking a full-day of annual leave tomorrow and my kids are now 6.5 and 9.

It's just stressful and no fun and not fair to work (not to mention not legally allowed not to have childcare) to try to do both.

I definitely would NOT be hosting a playdate if I had to be working and watching somebody else's kid. Hire and older kid (12 or so) to watch the kids while you work or take a day off.

She said she could finish up the work at night if she wasn't getting much done. I can sit at my kitchen island, watch kids play, and get tons done.

Sorry, OP. Give it up.

I have been WAH full-time for the past 6 years and it just can't be done. I am a govt employee that doesn't get the snow closures the rest of my Fed buddies get so I end up having to take my own leave on the days they get free admin leave. It sucks-but --hey--I get to WAH the other 360 days out of the year.

I am taking a full-day of annual leave tomorrow and my kids are now 6.5 and 9.

It's just stressful and no fun and not fair to work (not to mention not legally allowed not to have childcare) to try to do both.

I definitely would NOT be hosting a playdate if I had to be working and watching somebody else's kid. Hire and older kid (12 or so) to watch the kids while you work or take a day off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't work and babysit at the same time.

NP here. Not sure why so many on DCUM insist that this is true. People do it all the time.

This is true for Federal employees. Not sure it can be applied to an entire workfors.

If I were providing child care (while trying to telework), I would be honest with the parents and say, I'm not planning to do much in the way of entertaining and if need be, I'm parking them in front of the TV.

If it were me, I might agree to one child, but not two. You are setting yourself up to mediate arguements.

AnaBanana wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

AnaBanana wrote:When my kids were that age they didn't want their parents hovering during play dates. They were happy to be set up in the playroom and they knew how to put on a movie if they got tired of toys. I didn't stay in the same room as them because they wanted to play with friends, not hang out with mommy. I don't see the big deal.

Dear AnaBanana,

Please read this inadequate supervision

When reports will be investigated
Considering the factors above, the following reports will be investigated or assessed:
Reports of children age 7 and younger left alone for any period of time.

So I need to take my 6yo and their friends to the bathroom with me so they're not left alone in the next room? Ok. Thanks for the tip.

If I can see them from the foyer while they're in the loving room may I accept a delivery or do we need to hold hands and make a train on the way to the from door?

When the baby needs a nap am I allowed to put her in her crib and leave the room or should I have the 6 year olds sit quietly in the nursery and read so none of the children are left alone?

Or could it be that the passage you quoted meant left alone without supervision in the home, not that we all have to be in the same room?

+1

CPS is understaffed & underfunded enough as it is.Please don't add to this by further diluting their limited resources by reporting nonissues like 6-year-olds playing safely in a home with an adult in another room.