How life as a new parent has been affected by the coronavirus: Q&A with Scott McLaren

Scott McLaren became a father to baby Theo just before the country went into lockdown. I spoke with him about being the parent of a newborn baby whilst in quarantine and how he’s been forced to balance parenting with his full-time work schedule.

Theo was born on the 22nd February, a month before lockdown measures were put into place by Boris Johnson.

What is it like being the parent of a newborn during lockdown?

It’s not an easy question to answer, as this is our first child and we have no comparisons. However, it’s certainly been difficult having to be away from our family and friends. We would love to be able to share the experience with everyone - especially his grandparents who are always interested in his development.

What’s been the biggest parenting challenge whilst under strict quarantine rules?

Newborns will always provide new and difficult challenges for any parent, regardless of certain circumstances. But I’d say there have been two major challenges during the period in question.

Firstly, missing family support. Theo has had a few moments where he has been difficult to handle, and we have not been able to use the support that our family’s would normally offer.

Secondly, for me, has been the work-life balance. I have been working during the period and having to juggle a busy and demanding work environment whilst being at home with an equally demanding baby is tough.

I got a chance to see Theo on a video call. Unfortunately he doesn't talk yet so he couldn't answer any of my questions.

Has being at home full-time with a newborn baby affected your work routine?

Absolutely. I’ve found myself having to take more breaks throughout the day to support my partner, which really affects my concentration and normal routine. It has often contributed to some unproductive days.

How have your work commitments been affected by the need to care for a baby?

The normal nine to five routine has definitely been thrown out of the window. I have had to rearrange calls, take more breaks, finish earlier and work late at night or weekends to catch-up with things I was forced to miss during the week.

Has not being able to receive help from family been an issue during lockdown?

Yes, as I said previously, it’s been difficult managing all the normal day-to-day commitments without family support. I’m sure it's the same with most new parents, when you encounter a new problem the first people you turn to for help are your family who has the experience. However, fortunately myself and my partner are both at home and try to help each other out when possible. It’s important to have a bit of time to yourself and we have still been able to manage this to a certain extent.

Follow this link to read up on the current lockdown and social distancing rules set by the government.