A few weeks before all this coronavirus news came to a head, my family ran into a childcare situation, and I had to let my manager know that there might be some days in which I'd have to drop off or pick up a kid unexpectedly until the dust settled. (Oh, what simpler times!) I work for a very progressive company that offers flex hours as it is, and even I was still anxious to have this conversation. But there was no getting around it. That's truer now more than ever. So, even if your kids' schools haven't closed yet, let your supervisor know what your ideal plan would be for when it does happen.
Get creative in your conversation. If you have a baby at home, perhaps set up "office hours" that work with their naptimes. If your kids are too high-maintenance in the mornings, consider a shifted schedule that has you signing on at noon. None of it is ideal, but maybe there's a way that will make getting the job done a bit less dire.
