Natalie Serianni was in a Zoom meeting when one of her colleagues alerted her to a child behind her. With her headphones and tall desk chair, the Seattle, Washington, English professor hadn’t noticed her second grader—who’s remote learning this year—sneaking into the home office.

For many parents, every day has turned into Take Your Child to Work Day. An October 2020 Pew Research Center survey found that 43 percent of employed parents had the option to work from home; of that group, about seven in 10 parents did so most or all of the time.

Although Serianni’s colleagues were amused by her child’s surprise cameo, telecommuting parents are often under serious strain as they juggle jobs and child care. In