All parents have had it rough for the past couple of years. Whether they've worked on the frontlines in health care or the service industry as essential workers, as stay-at-home parents turned homeschool teachers or whether they've had to balance being at home with the kids while also having to work their own jobs, it's been challenging. While it is nice not to have a commute, working and parenting in the same place day-in and day-out can be hard.
With the holidays coming up, we're thinking of gifts for work-from-home parents that will help improve their lives. From happy lamps to self-heating mugs to a good "do not disturb sign" here are 20 gifts that work-from-home parents will appreciate. They deserve something special.
Erin Condren Planner
$47
from
Erin Condren
There are phone call people and there are planner people. If mom or dad is a planner person, then it's a good time to gift them a planner for 2022. A planner can help them stay organized for work tasks as well as events for the kids all in one place. There's just something about writing things down that makes things seem less stressful.
AirPods
AirPods aren't just for teenagers who want to secretly zone out in math class, or on the bus. They're great wireless earbuds that allow the person who has them to talk on the phone and walk around with both hands free. Or take notes for work, or while on a call and holding a clingy child at the same time. Upgrade them to the latest third generation for the best sound quality.
ErgoFoam Footrest
Working at a desk isn't the best for one's body. It can cause aches and pains that can make doing life's other tasks that much more difficult. Paying attention to ergonomics can make those long hours working at a desk less stressful on the body. This soft ErgoFoam footrest helps relieve pressure from the legs.
Tired as a Mother Mug
$18
from
sweetwaterdecor/Etsy
Coffee or tea (with caffeine?) is priority No. 1 for parents who work from home or are stay-at-home parents. So why not drink it in style … with a mug that tells it like it is. This mug from Etsy says "Tired as a Mother" in super cute script. Show it off in work calls or just smile because it exists.
Madewell Leggings
After more than a year and a half working from home with kids, it's pretty pointless to put on actual clothes most days. Help moms embrace it, and gift the one in your life a pair of super soft, super stretchy Madewell leggings. We chose a classic knit high-rise style in black, but the options are abundant. She'll love them.
Pottery Barn Plush Faux Fur Slippers
$29.5
from
Pottery Barn
Speaking of needing to be comfy while both working from home and raising kids, take it a step further than leggings and make sure the parent has a pair of comfortable slippers to slip on to keep warm around the house or use to pick up the kids from the bus stop. It can help them feel relaxed while still technically "at work."
'Mom Is Working' Sign
$15
from
DossDesignCo/Etsy
If the kids are in the house while mom or dad or both are still working (also in the house) then it's definitely good for them to have boundaries. Having a "Do Not Disturb" sign specifically made for moms is a perfect way to (attempt) to set those boundaries. This one from Etsy says "Mom is working" along with a list of the exceptions for coming in.
KeepCup Cork Edition Reusable Cup
$29
from
Anthropologie
Even when parents work from home, they're still always on the go. Whether they're on a conference call, running to the store to get groceries, picking the kids up from school, or any of the thousands of other tasks they do each day, they need a cup that can go with them. This reusable cup is made from sustainable materials.
Turkish Cotton Spa Dress
$98
from
Uncommon Goods
Sometimes even parents who work from home still run behind schedule from time to time. There's a finite amount of time between getting the kids ready, hopping in the shower and that first Zoom meeting. This towel dress has straps to dry its wearer off while they walk around doing the tasks they need to do.
Gold Notepad Set
$20
from
Crate & Barrel
Work is stressful enough, add the stress of kids to the mix, and that's a lot of things going through parents' heads. Help them to remember the important things, for kids or for work, with chic notepads to have on their desk or where they're working to jot appointment reminders on or meeting notes.
Lavender Essential Oil
Sometimes, mom or dad needs a minute to de-stress but there's just really no time. But it is possible to destress throughout the workday with things like candles or essential oils like this one from Do Terra. Lavender essential oil in particular is known to be a calming one. According to DoTerra, this one can be put in a diffuser, added to bath water, or dabbed on parts of the body.
Work Seat Cushion
Sitting for hours on end, even with getting up to make sure the kids are OK or to pick them up from school, can do a number on the tush. It can cause back and shoulder pain, which no parent has time to deal with. That's where a really good seat cushion comes in, like this one from West Elm.
Babysitting Coupon
$5
from
poppyprintablesstore/Etsy
Honestly, most of the time, tired parents just need some time off where they can kick back after a hard week at work and have someone else watch the kids. That way, they can spend some part of a day, even if it's just a few hours, doing what they want to do. Babysitting is an easy gift to give and can be represented in physical form thanks to this Etsy coupon.
Balance Ball Chair
With being so busy juggling two full-time jobs — paid work and parenting — it can be hard for parents to find time to get to a gym to work out or build up their strength, especially their core muscles. Having a ball chair can help them work a job while also working their core muscles.
Ember Mug
Moms are notorious for making a hot cup or something — coffee, tea, anything — and then getting so distracted they don't remember to drink it until it's cold and needs to be heated again. With an Ember self-warming mug, that's one problem busy working moms won't have to worry about as they try to fit all their tasks in.
License To Chill Set
$44
from
Apothekary
This gift is super unique in that it's a pack of "spices" that are specifically meant to calm you down. There are three spices — Chill The F* Out, Do Not Disturb, and Ashwagandha Root — and each has natural ingredients to help calm the body in different ways, through de-stressing or sleep. Just add them to any drink.
Instant Pot
Instant Pots have been around for a while, but for good reason. They make cooking a little more hands-off, which is especially useful for busy parents who don't have much time to set aside to cook a dinner for the family. There are tons of amazing recipes for Instant Pots out there and gifting parents with one of these will save them a lot of time.
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush
Moms rarely have time to shower, let alone dry and style their hair to make it to that Zoom meeting (or date night). This viral hair tool means hair can go from wet to salon-style blowout in less time than it takes to get the kids to have their breakfast and get ready for school. There's a reason this is an Amazon No. 1 bestseller.
Verilux HappyLight
It's becoming darker out much earlier in the northern parts of the country, which can lead to seasonal depression and just general blahness. Working from the same place that you live can make that transition harder as there's even less of a distinction between work and not-work time in the evening. A mood lamp can really help boost a parent's, well, mood.
Target Gift Card
Price may vary
from
No one, and I repeat no one, can go wrong giving mom a Target gift card. Target is a great store, a one-stop shop if you will for a ton of things she likely needs for the kids and maybe even for herself. Plus, having a gift card for the store will giver her a reason to go there, hopefully alone, and get some down time after work.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
