Once upon a time, "working from home" meant calling in sick or having a burst water pipe. Fast forward to today and working from home has become an entire lifestyle shift, with everyone from corporate types to creative freelancers making the spare bedroom their office. 

The pandemic pushed many into this setup out of necessity, but even now, with some normalcy restored, remote work is still part of daily life for millions. But what about the children who have been part of this transition? What impact does our home-office life have on their worlds?

Why the Work-From-Home Shift Happened
Before diving into the impact, let's examine why so many of us swapped cubicles for kitchen tables. In early 2020, the global push to keep workers (and everyone else) at home meant companies had to get creative. Remote work policies, video meetings, and even virtual coffee breaks popped up overnight. The pandemic was a huge catalyst, but it also brought a major shift in attitudes toward where work could be done. Now, remote work isn't just a trend – it's a genuine option for many jobs. For families, this flexibility is often a big bonus, but with kids in the mix, it's a little more complicated than just trading in the commute for pyjama pants.

One significant effect of working from home is that it pulls back the curtain for kids on what adults actually do all day. Suddenly, they see us hunched over laptops, muttering things like "pivot table" or "optimise workflow." It might be confusing to see mom or dad glued to a screen while also available for snack breaks on demand. It's a strange setup that's teaching kids about work in real-time – whether we mean to or not.

For some children, this has been a surprisingly positive experience. They get to see their parents in a new light, taking on responsibilities and solving problems. It can be inspiring, especially if they never really understood what "going to work" meant. It's no longer just some mysterious place parents disappear to each day. Instead, they get a front-row seat, and if nothing else, it's educational (though maybe a little less glamorous than they'd imagined).

The Trickiest Juggle
Remote work has made the "work-life balance" feel more like "work-life juggling." For parents, the lines are so blurred that some days, it feels like everything is overlapping. There's the daily scramble of Zoom calls, last-minute deadlines, and finding ways to keep the little ones occupied (for more than five minutes). Kids pick up on this stress, and even if they're not part of the meeting, they're part of the hustle.

For some children, this blur can be confusing. They might struggle to understand when you're "at work" and when you're "at home." They might also have moments of frustration – they know you're physically there, so why can't you play? In younger children, this can lead to some clinginess and an understandable wish for your attention. In teens, it might come across as that classic eye-roll, but they too may feel like their home space has become… well, too crowded with all the extra "adulting" happening around them.

Despite the hiccups, there are some genuinely positive outcomes for kids from seeing their parents work from home. For one, they're learning a lot about responsibility and discipline. They watch you tackle projects, hit deadlines, and maybe even deal with difficult coworkers (without rolling your eyes). Kids absorb these habits, which can help instil a solid work ethic, though that lesson might be buried somewhere in the chaos.

There's also an unexpected social bonus: family bonding time. Working from home means you're around more, and for many families, it's led to new routines. Maybe it's having breakfast together before the first Zoom meeting or sneaking in an afternoon walk. For some families, these little rituals have become cherished, unplanned moments of connection.

And let's not forget the independence boost. Kids who once relied on parents for every little need are getting more comfortable handling things on their own. This self-sufficiency is huge, even if it means the occasional experiment in making their own lunch that results in peanut butter sandwiches with a surprising mix of toppings.

The Reality Check
Of course, there are some downsides, too. For one, a home that doubles as an office can get pretty cramped physically and emotionally. Without clear boundaries, kids can feel like they no longer have a "kid zone" anymore. When work is ever-present, it's tough to separate "family time" from "work time," especially if it's all happening in the same few rooms.

For kids, especially younger ones, this lack of clear boundaries can be unsettling. They might miss the usual routines that give structure to their day. If parents are constantly "half-available," it can create a weird limbo that makes children feel like they're always waiting. And when they have a parent who seems constantly distracted, they might start to internalise some of that stress, feeling on edge because their home environment has subtly shifted.

Navigating a New Normal
So, is working from home here to stay? For many families, the answer is yes. But that doesn't mean it has to take over every corner of our lives.

What matters most is finding what works for your unique family. Working from home will look different for everyone, and there's no one right way to handle it. But as long as we keep the lines of communication open – and remember to laugh when things get a bit crazy – kids can thrive right alongside us.

Ultimately, working from home isn't just about us; it's about showing the next generation how to take life's surprises in stride, even if it means holding a Zoom call with a toddler climbing over our shoulders.