As a work-from-home pet parent, I originally thought this was a great idea until I quickly realized that the moment I open my laptop, the pets are in charge. My pets have zero qualifications but unlimited confidence, running my house on vibes rather than logic.
Schedule All My Breaks, Without Asking
My pets schedule all my breaks without asking. This includes bathroom trips, snack distractions, and demanding walks. They stare, whine, or paw until they get my attention. Typically, they pull me from my computer at least ten times a day, but I keep it brief.
Appear in Meetings at the Worst Possible Moment
My pets often like to sit in on meetings, making sure I am being a good employee. This, of course, only happens during the more important meetings and when my camera is on. When my camera is off, they somehow know it’s a casual meeting and see no need to observe. They also enjoy keeping things light, so during every serious conversation, they choose chaos over calm and need to go outside to bark at every person who walks by.
Sit Directly on My Laptop to Assert Authority
When work becomes too busy and I haven’t given them enough attention, they come in to assert their authority and make sure I know who’s the boss. Blocking my keyboard is a clear power move, whether that means sitting on it or directly on top of me so I can no longer type. Productivity instantly drops to zero, and I then have to reconfigure myself so they don’t do it again.
Disapprove of Any Work That Doesn’t Involve Them
My pets give me side-eye when I’m typing instead of petting them. They’re jealous of emails, spreadsheets, and deadlines that need my attention. They think all focus should shift to them immediately, and make sure I know it.
Clock Me Out Exactly at Dinner Time
Deadlines don’t matter to my pets but feeding them exactly on time does. Their internal clock is far more accurate than any calendar reminder, and their hunger always outweighs everything. They enforce the end of my workday by barking, nudging, or dramatic stares, and simply don’t care if I need five more minutes. To them, five minutes is way too long.
At the end of the day, working from home with pets means accepting that their supervision is permanent. They may not understand deadlines, but they make sure no workday ever feels lonely. They may slightly inconvenience us, but we wouldn't have it any other way. Plus, these small moments with our pets keep us sane lead to more productivity, so our bosses don't mind.
~Guest post from Stella C.