Is working from home a blessing or a curse? There are obvious upsides. Those getting the chance to spend more time with their kids are able to see more of those crucial development steps. The kids are seeing something, too.
Children are getting a clear demonstration of what their parents do all day. Occasionally, they glean some knowledge from it. My friend's two-year-old daughter, for instance, has taken to running around the house saying, "The market is up! The market is down!" It won’t be too long before she abandons the piggy bank in favour of lean hogs futures.
That was quite cute. But parents should be aware that their neighbours may also be having to interact more with the kids too. One financial journalist, about to enter her apartment with her boyfriend, was approached by a five-year-old neighbour this week. “Are you two having sex?” he asked. Not anymore, we presume.
Then there is another friend, whose presence at home has led to his daughter adding to her vocabulary in a rather unwelcome way. He says he was entirely unaware how much he swore until he walked in on his 18-month daughter dropping F-bombs in front of a group of shocked teddy bears.
Perhaps working from home is both a blessing and a curse. The parents get the blessing; the children learn to curse.