Parents talk about balancing work-from-home and children’s online learning while managing new home routines and ensuring kids’ safety amid regional uncertainty
On Wednesday, the UAE Ministry of Education announced that spring break for all public and private schools will now take place from Monday, March 9, to March 22, instead of the previously scheduled dates of March 16 to 27, which applied to international schools. Indian schools across the country are awaiting clarity from their respective education authorities.
For working parents, managing professional duties alongside their children’s online lessons has become more challenging as the extended break keeps them home longer. This has prompted renewed calls for the private sector to extend remote work options.
In Dubai, Inga Rusu, a marketing executive and mother of two, paused briefly before describing her daily routine.
“It’s difficult as working parents,” she says. “My husband starts work at 9am and finishes by 6, while I begin at 8.30am and often work beyond official hours. With us remote working and the children doing distance learning, it’s challenging.”
Their apartment has become a shared office and classroom, with laptops on every available surface. Yet for Inga, safety remains the priority.
“Safety comes first, and I am glad spring break has been moved to start early,” she added. “I believe this is a prudent decision by the education bodies.”
Ramadan this year feels different, she admits. Timings that once shaped the family’s day have blurred amid school logins and work calls. “We’ve obviously all forgotten about Ramadan timings,” Inga says. “With children attending online classes, it’s a bit chaotic.”
Her younger child requires frequent supervision to stay on track. “I have to intervene and nudge my little one from time to time,” she explains, as focus can drift between lessons. Technical challenges add unpredictability. “Sometimes Toddle wasn’t operating at full capacity because their servers were affected by the situation in the region. The school said they were transitioning to alternative platforms.”
Despite the daily struggle, Inga sees unexpected benefits.
“Working remotely gives parents flexibility to be more involved in their child’s learning, especially when they’re young, and helps us monitor our children’s emotional wellbeing given the current scenario,” she added.
For now, she hopes the arrangement continues. “I want to keep working from home until the children return to their regular school routine and things normalise in the wider region.”
Across the city, architect Sumin Luthra and her husband, an IT professional, are in a similar rhythm. Their nine-year-old son is also attending classes online, while both parents are working full-time from home.
“It has been a difficult time for many of us. With everything happening in the region, anxiety is already high at home, and on top of that, we are managing office responsibilities while ensuring our children stay focused on distance learning,” Luthra said.
She describes days that shift rapidly between professional and parental roles.
“You’re on a work call one minute and helping with a maths problem the next, while trying to deflect topics about the ongoing regional conflict. Extending work-from-home would not just be convenient; it would give families stability, allow parents to be more present, and offer children the reassurance they seek during uncertain times. The adjustment to the spring break schedule has come as a relief and reflects a thoughtful decision by the authorities.”
In Al Ain, Aiham Joratli has chosen to lean into routine for comfort. While both parents continue working, their schedules have been carefully adjusted to support their children’s online schooling.
“My wife, a dentist, now works between 11am and 1pm after our children’s school shifted online. During Ramadan, she worked from 10am to 12pm but requested a change to better manage distance learning. In the evenings, after iftar, she returns to the clinic for another four hours,” said Joratli.
He maintains his early shift. “I work at Abu Dhabi Motors from 7.30am to 3.30pm. Sometimes, to help the children stay on track, my wife takes them to the clinic so they can finish their homework there.”
Evenings, however, remain reserved for family and community.
“I often take the children with me to distribute iftar boxes at three locations across Al Ain, where the Emirates Red Crescent is carrying out distributions. I go every day,” he said. “The only break was on Monday and Tuesday when it was temporarily halted due to this regional tension, but it has resumed from today.”
Through long hours and shifting routines, their faith in the country’s leadership remains steady. “We have full faith in the UAE government and trust they are doing what is best for its citizens and residents,” added the Syrian expat.
© Khaleej Times
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