Tips for Working Parents: Unexpected Situations

No parent expects every day to go smoothly. Child emergencies happen, so plan ahead. Decide how to handle unexpected situations ahead of time. And prepare for things that are more likely to happen, such as your child getting sick. Also, find ways to reduce daily problems. Both the problems and the solutions will change as your child grows.

Find out the illness policy at your child's day care or school. Be sure to learn which symptoms mean your child must stay home. Find someone who can help watch your child during a sick day if you are not able to. This could be your partner, a relative, or even a friend. Some communities have sick-child day care services that are staffed by nurses. What if your child gets sick at school? If you can't leave work, identify someone ahead of time who can take your child home and is authorized to do so.

When lunches, homework, and permission slips get left at home, you probably get a phone call from school. Many of these calls can be avoided with a little planning. These tips may help:

• Keep a calendar marked with everyone's activities and appointments. If your children are old enough to use mobile devices, sync everyone's calendar. Include alerts and reminders.
• In the evening, gather everything your child will need the next day and put it in one spot, like a basket by the door.
• Double-check that your child has each item before leaving in the morning.
• Ask older children to collect their own things.
• Become familiar with your school's online portal and check for announcements on a regular basis.