Before I had kids, I genuinely believed I could “totally work from home while watching them.” Like, I truly pictured myself typing away while a toddler quietly colored beside me, maybe humming. Oh, sweet, delusional, pre-kid me.
I did not anticipate the reality: someone crying over the wrong color cup, someone needing a snack (again), someone threatening the integrity of my laptop keyboard with applesauce hands. 🥴
If you work from home, even occasionally, you know the truth: WFH + kids is a sport, not a real child-care plan. But sometimes life happens. Daycare closes. Your sitter gets sick. Winter break is… longer than you remembered. And suddenly you’re on Zoom whispering threats while handing over a granola bar. Not that I would know. I absolutely know.
Today’s issue is for those emergency days: the flex-hour scrambles, the patchwork schedules, the “how is it only 9:30 a.m.” mornings.
These three tips won’t make it easy, but they’ll make it possible. And for some additional inspo for smoother mornings, check out our tips on ‘child containment units’ and other goodies.
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🧘♀️ The 20/20/20 Work Sprint System
👉 Kids home = attention shredded. Expecting normal productivity? Not happening.
Try this micro-rhythm instead: 20 minutes work → 20 minutes kid reset → 20 minutes light tasks (email/admin/Slack).
Why it works:
mirrors focus science (short sprints beat long slogs)
reduces kid meltdowns by giving them predictable attention
gives you guilt-free work blocks that add up
makes the day feel structured instead of feral
Bonus: Set Alexa timers so you’re not counting the minutes in your head like a prisoner marking tally marks on a wall. Or build these in to your daily Alexa Routine (check out our free AM routine builder!)
⚡ The Instant Mute + Camera Kill Hack
👉 When a toddler shrieks “MOMMMM I FOUND A BOOGER,” you do not have time to locate tiny Zoom icons.
Memorize these keyboard shortcuts instead (double check they’ll work with your video platform):
On a Mac
Mute/unmute: Command + Shift + A
Start/stop video: Command + Shift + V
Push to Talk: Spacebar
On Windows
Mute/unmute: Alt + A
Start/stop video: Alt + V
Push to Talk: Spacebar
Tape them to your monitor if you must.
Bonus chat line for immediate grace: “Kids are home today so I’ll be listening off camera. I’ll unmute if you need me!” You will feel like a WFH ninja the next time chaos erupts and you disappear in under half a second.
Did you know? 🧃 JuiceBox is built by a tiny team of working parents just like you. We curate and write this stuff so you don’t have to but we’d LOVE for you to get in on the action.
💬 Got a time-saving tip or a chaos-fighting hack of your own? Hit reply and share it—we all need a village, and we’d love to hear from you.
👯♀️ Know a fellow parent who needs this? Forward away or hit this button:
💬 The “One Room Only” Rule
👉 Look, the whole house is not going to be tidy when kids are home. Let’s release that fantasy.
Instead: Choose ONE room to protect as your sanctuary. Just one.
Could be:
your bedroom
your office
yes, even your bathroom
That room stays clean. Kids stay out. Your nervous system gets one square foot of peace. Parents on Reddit swear this is the only thing that kept them from dissolving into holiday-break madness.
K that’s all. You’re the best and we love you.
-CK “Will Offer Snacks for Silence” Fuller (Editor) & the JB Crew 🫡
P.S. Next week: A tiny holiday thank-you from us. 🙂 This one you’ll definitely want to open.