HELP MOM WORK FROM HOME!

Having a parent who works from home can be joyful, at least as the child sees it.

A mom and young child wave goodbye as the rest of the family leaves the house, then Mom gets down to work on her laptop. Mom tries hard to keep her kiddo entertained between video meetings and sending invoices. The child finds creative (albeit messy) ways to stay busy and “helps” mom by styling her hair and organizing her supplies—activities that might appear somewhat stressful to Mom, at least through grown-up eyes. Mom makes time during the busy day to connect with her child over yoga stretches, and the little one mimics her phone calls and other work tasks in a show of clear adoration. The book is a nod to the countless parents and caregivers who have found themselves without child care, struggling to balance the demands of working from home while simultaneously performing parenting duties. While the challenge of supporting a young child during the workday will feel all too familiar to many, the depictions of the struggle may hit too close to home for the lighthearted tone of the book to feel fun rather than anxiety-inducing. Members of this family of color are illustrated with shades of brown skin and brown hair. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An attempt to normalize the difficulty of being a working parent that may just be too soon.