To All the Those Working from Home During the Pandemic as a Parent (AKA Super Mom/Dad/Parent)

By: Stephanie Diana Wilson- Eubank

It is understandable that we are all stressed during COVID-19 and how it has changed work and life for all of us. Arguably COVID has changed the playing field in the business and economic sectors for the foreseeable future. However, there are many of us who have been working remotely or in a hybrid capacity for years. Like myself I have been working remotely for over seven years. So, I like to tell people when asked how I am handling lockdowns and everything being remote that I have been rocking the COVID chic look before it is in style.

However, regarding my researching for my dissertation on remote employment I firmly believe the changes caused by COVID have created some big opportunities with regards to bringing more diversity and jobs for caregivers to the business world. There are numerous news reports during COVID regarding the hardship of on women having to take on so much of the so called, “domestic work”. Such as helping children with online school, housework, and over all care giving. This is coupled with being like me a working mom where we must do all that while working at the same time. There are also those also like me who are doing all this while going to school. Those juggling so much may be able to lament with me when people look at you and complement you on how impressive it that we juggle all this we want to sound like it was nothing and make it look easy. But truthfully, we sigh because we can’t honestly say how we managed it. We are surprised at ourselves that I was able to be done at all.

There is an article from the New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/02/04/parenting/covid-pandemic-mothers-primal-scream.html where they go over how the COVID Pandemic is setting women and feminism back in the US. And to be fair I am up at 1:30 AM to write this article just so I can let out some of my creative juices after getting ahead in my work and homework once my husband came home to give me a little break from being “Super Mommy”. My boys both have ADHD and are very high energy. I have worked remote for over seven years, so all this is normal for me. Sort of… I used to get a break to go out to brunch some times taking my boys in the jogging stroller and the dog and hang out at our favorite mom and pop restaurants after talking to my BFF while she is shuttling her girls and on her way to work. Oh, and singing along to the alternative music of the early 2000’s I love to run to while my boys sing along. Oh, and I really miss periodically when I must travel locally for work taking my kids to Kid Park for a few hours as I go up to San Francisco for a in person meeting or seminar. Ah and Flying on business trips while my husband and the baby sister are coordinated so the boys are cared for. All this pre COVID flexibility in my work and life.

However, just focusing on this narrative of women who are having a hard adjustment is a narrow view. The conversation needs to pivot on how remote work can pushed and encouraged so that we bring diversity of more than just working moms to the business table? One way that comes to mind is governmental incentivization of businesses to convert as many positions as possible to remote employment. This would not just bring working moms like myself to the table, but fellow people of color, caregivers of all gender identification, LGBTQ, and the disabled (or the preferred title of differently abled community). I have personally been inspired by several people who work remotely so they can balance life and have a fair shake to embrace their differences and the benefits of an alternative perspective. Which can be helpful in the business world.

There are several studies in business administration and other business science aspects on how diversity adds to team/ organizational creativity and advanced problem solving also preventing group think. However, the Forbes article, https://www.forbes.com/sites/tendayiviki/2016/12/06/why-diverse-teams-are-more-creative/?sh=55bfe61d7262 sums it up well for easy reading.

Remote work offers a unique opportunity to help slow the curve long term and allow for more diversity, (not to mention lower traffic) and allow for more work life balance in times of serious national pandemonium. When there are national emergencies having remote work allows for business to keep the world spinning. This also keeps families strong when childcare is understandably done at home while working. (We all have had a kid, cat, dog, or all the above try to be part of our background in a zoom call let us embrace it.)

However, this may potentially make some new business avenues for educators and child development workers. The possibilities are endless to make opportunity for the economy with the use of remote work. So, fellow Super Moms and all those out there reading late at night to have a break from the COVID Crazy in the world. Hold on. The world is not adapting as quickly as you but, this post COVID world will change and get better. We all just got to stay strong and use the academic research to make this world work for all of us.