Create a Plan for Childcare Emergencies

                                 Create a Plan for Childcare Emergencies

If you're a working parent, you know that a childcare emergency can throw your entire day — or week — into chaos. But there are ways you can both plan for and respond to childcare emergencies. First, understand your schedule for the upcoming day and week in advance. Make a plan for the following day each evening, and for the following week each Sunday, so that when an emergency comes up, you'll have a clear sense of your upcoming priorities and how to delegate them. Next, communicate with your manager, colleagues, and clients. What do you need from them to accommodate your situation? If possible, be flexible about how and when you work. Breaking tasks down into smaller pieces can help make your to-do list feel a little less overwhelming. Finally, build a network of people you can lean on and ask for childcare support. Working parenthood will always have day-to-day challenges. Preparing for the inevitable emergencies can prevent them from derailing you.

This tip is adapted from “Working Parents, Do You Have a Plan for Childcare Emergencies?,” by Suzanne Brown