5 Hilarious Places I’ve Found Myself During Work Conference Calls

home insemination Kit

I have a tendency to overestimate my kids’ ability to stay quiet for a 45-minute work call, especially during summer break or those endless teacher workdays. It never fails—just when I settle in for a call, chaos erupts. Whether it’s my son attempting to make a grilled cheese sandwich (cue the smoke alarms) or my daughter delivering an Oscar-worthy performance over a hangnail, I often find myself taking calls in some pretty unconventional spots. Luckily, most of my clients aren’t keen on video calls!

1. The Closet

When all else fails, I make a beeline for the closet. It’s my secret hideout, complete with three locked doors between me and the kids. And if things get really crazy, I can always bury myself behind the winter coats for some extra soundproofing. Not that I’ve had to do that or anything…

2. The Backyard

Sometimes the closet feels like a trek. When the noise level rises and my call is about to start, I make a quick escape to the backyard. I stroll around until my son’s friends’ laughter fades into the background. Sure, I get some puzzled looks from the neighbors while I’m chatting in the woods, but hey, at least I’m away from the chaos. I’ve even spent a freezing 20 minutes outside in my bare feet during a teleseminar, while my dogs barked at who-knows-what!

3. Disney World/The Children’s Museum/Zoo

This goes against my goal of giving my kids quality time, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Each time I take a day off, it feels like the universe conspires against me. We find a so-called quiet spot, pull out our devices, and I attempt to make a quick call—only to be interrupted by loudspeakers announcing things like “polar bear feeding in five minutes!”

4. The Car

There are two scenarios here. One is when I’m driving and a call comes in. I yell “work call,” and miraculously, the kids go silent—usually. I feel like supermom for a moment. But then there’s the other version. I’m parked in the car, thinking it’s a peaceful spot to make a call, only to have my son burst in after soccer practice announcing he has diarrhea, leaving me mortified in front of my colleagues.

5. The Playground Woods

This one is a classic. At my kid’s fifth-grade graduation picnic, I found myself on a call with a potential client I’d been chasing for months. I wandered down a path to escape the joyful noise, only to encounter a snake. It was a small one, but I’m not a fan of reptiles! I must have squeaked, because the client asked if I was alright. I played it off as static and finished the call standing on a bench, ready to leap at any sign of more snakes. Total Score: Me 1, Snake 0. And yes, I did land the client!

Want to read more about navigating the chaos of parenting? Check out this helpful post on home insemination kits. For expert insights on fertility, visit Make a Mom. And if you’re looking for more resources about pregnancy, don’t miss Cleveland Clinic’s podcast.

In summary, the battle of balancing work and parenting is real, and sometimes it leads to the most unexpected, hilarious situations. Embrace the chaos and know you’re not alone in this journey!