The corona virus is changing lives as we know it. We have all been forced to think outside the box, to reinvent old ways. Amongst all this chaos, we have seen communities come together and recognise the real heroes in life, our doctors and nurses, front line staff and health care workers.   We have come to realise that when it comes to crunch, sport isn’t as important as life and death.

We are all getting used to working differently, in a new remote access landscape. There is a lot of speculation on how the legal system will evolve and operate in the future. We have all got used to dictating from the home office (or bedroom), sneaking upstairs so the kids don’t hear, tantrums when you have to take an important Microsoft Teams or Zoom call and the inevitability of constant interruptions.

As the weeks have gone on, I think I have grown accustomed to working from home with young kids and I have a few pearls of wisdom to share from my experience: –

1. Let kids be kids – every morning, my little girl races out of her bed to scribble on my legal notepad and play with the Dictaphone. When I pop upstairs to start work, she has loaded my Dictaphone with stories about unicorns and princesses. I just smile and delete.
2. Without prejudice to the foregoing – keep your laptop out of reach.
3. Enjoy the little moments. There are often times when I hear my kids waking from their naps and babbling to themselves. I’m always interrupted by my 1 year old boy shouting out the window at dogs as they pass by on their walk. There are so many interruptions during the day, and most put a smile on my face.
4. Always look on the bright side. The children won’t remember anything about the virus. All they will remember is a time when Mom and Dad were at home playing during the day, going for walks, kicking a ball in the garden. We’re not going to get the opportunity to spend this time with our children for a long time. These moments are priceless.
5. Take the pressure off! Some days it just doesn’t work out like I planned. Do you know what, just accept that its just one of those days and make a plan to catch up on work after bed or the following day.
6. Identify the productive times. I’ve found its amazing how more efficient we can get when we have to. When you have a period where the kids are distracted and playing games amongst themselves, that’s the time to be most productive.  
7. Take little breaks from work to spend some time playing, exploring or learning with the kids. Pop downstairs for a coffee break and help colour some pink ponies or tractors.
8. Everything is temporary. This will pass. Remember the bigger picture. Just enjoy the moment. These memories are worth it.

Derek Walsh, Solicitor 

Sellors Solicitors

[email protected]

061- 414355

www.sellors.ie