In a recent interview on The Shift with Patty Handysides on iHeart Radio, Alyssa Bach, Associate Lawyer at Shulman & Partners LLP, discussed how parents can manage the unique challenges of balancing remote work, caregiving, and back-to-school demands. She explained that while working from home offers flexibility, it can also lead to tension when one parent shoulders more responsibility for school pickups, extracurriculars, or daily routines. For separated couples, the stakes are even higher, making clear parenting plans and legal agreements essential. Alyssa emphasized proactive communication, flexibility, and legal clarity as the keys to reducing conflict and ensuring smoother transitions for families during the school year.
“If you are working from home and you have kids, make sure that you are having those open conversations. If you are separated, seek legal advice where you can to try to avoid court at all costs. Get something in place so that everybody is aligned. Reduce that conflict.”
— Alyssa Bach, Associate Lawyer at Shulman & Partners LLP
The interview began with a look at how remote work impacts parents’ ability to balance their careers with caregiving responsibilities. Alyssa noted that working from home often creates the impression that parents are more available for child-related duties, but in reality, they are “working two jobs at once.” This can lead to misunderstandings, frustration, and even resentment when responsibilities are not clearly defined.
Alyssa emphasized that communication is key. Parents — whether together or separated — should establish clear expectations around everyday responsibilities such as school drop-offs, pickups, lunches, extracurriculars, and back-to-school preparations. She suggested that even when one parent works from home, there must be a recognition of workday limitations and, where possible, accommodations to share responsibilities fairly.
For separated parents, Alyssa stressed the importance of having a parenting plan in place. Parenting plans, whether part of a separation agreement or a standalone document, outline schedules, responsibilities, and decision-making authority. Reviewing these plans before each school year ensures that they still reflect the children’s needs and the parents’ schedules. Being proactive about requesting accommodations — for example, adjusting a schedule due to work demands — can help avoid conflict before it escalates.
Alyssa also highlighted the importance of flexibility. Life with children brings inevitable surprises: illnesses, schedule changes, or last-minute work trips. Building flexibility into both parenting plans and daily routines helps parents manage these challenges more smoothly.
She acknowledged that summer in particular can be a difficult time for working parents, as children become restless and require more attention when camps or other structured activities are unavailable. Setting expectations with children, depending on their age, can help them understand boundaries around “quiet time” and parental availability during the workday.
Ultimately, Alyssa’s advice centered on reducing conflict wherever possible. For separated parents, this means seeking legal advice and formalizing agreements to avoid court disputes. For parents in intact families, it means open conversations and proactive planning to avoid strain on the relationship. Across all situations, clear expectations and communication are the foundation for ensuring that children’s needs are met without overwhelming one parent.
Listen to the full iHeart Radio show segment here.
This media appearance is part of Shulman & Partners LLP’s ongoing contributions to Canadian family law discussions. Explore more of our media features in our In the Media archive.