'Bigla Na Lang Sumusulpot!' Parents Share Funny Snaps Of Their Kids Joining Online Meetings

Remember the viral 'BBC dad' whose adorable kids barged into his interview on BBC News back in 2017?

Now his situation is no longer unique. You’d be hard-pressed to find a work-from-home parent whose child has not made a surprise appearance during a video call.

Maricar Sy shares some screenshots of a video-on work meeting with fellow parents in the Smart Parenting Village. Her son is very much in the background.

“May gulat factor ako,” she replies to a commenter. “Bigla-bigla na lang sumusulpot!”

Another mom says, “Yung anak ko na mismo ang kumakausap sa supervisor ko.” We wonder if this kid can negotiate for a deadline extension—or extra leaves.

This child already understands how the mute button works: “Yung anak ko sumasabay pa sa pagsasalita. ’Pag naka-mute ako, tahimik din. ’Pag naka-unmute ako para magsalita, magsasalita or kakanta siya.”

Kids suddenly joining the meeting can feel embarrassing for the parent, but usually the other participants don’t mind.

Grace Salvador, a mom of three, writes, “Let our kids wave at our coworkers during Zoom calls... Let’s give working parents the support they deserve.”

She also says that “being work-from-home parents is a different kind of stress.”

In a Facebook post, Grace shares that she let a little boy sit in his dad’s lap as she interviewed him for work.

Dealing with interruptions

When your kid crashes your video call, it can lighten the mood and elicit some laughs from your officemates.

And surely, fellow parents will understand.

Sometimes, though, these interruptions are not welcome. When you're making a big presentation, you’d rather not be anxious about your child possibly joining the call. Give these tactics a try:

1. Keep your child busy while you are on an important call.

Got a very important meeting with a client coming up? Plan an activity for your child that will demand their full attention, or make good use of their daily screen time.

2. Also, schedule some quick “together time” with your child.

Pamela Davis-Kean, professor of psychology at University of Michigan, explains in a Fatherly article, “It puts a structure on unstructured time, and it makes people feel more comfortable.”

Give your child your full attention during these minutes. You’re filling their cup.

3. Be transparent about your kids during work calls.

Tell your interviewer or workmates that you have little ones in the house, so occasional interruptions are expected—and totally fine.

Bonus tip: speak to your boss about setting reasonable deadlines and agree on how soon you’ll respond to communications, advises Laura Markham, PhD, in her Psychology Today article.

4. Connect with your child, especially before a big meeting.

Connected Families, a non-profit ministry, shares this tip: give them the attention they seek so they won’t have to ask for it when you’re already in the middle of something important.

Plus, a hug from your child can instantly lift your spirits.

5. Set up a “waiting spot,” Connected Families advises.

Kids are excited to show you something, but train them to put it in a basket, for example, so you can check it out during your “together time.”

Got your own tips for fellow WFH parents? Share them in the comments section.