Like many of us who may be returning to a physical office after a lot of time at home, parent Emily Goodman was nervous. How would she manage a commute, family life, and all the priorities she had at work? She found her answer from an unlikely source…her six-year-old son. Here are four lessons from her blog on Motherly on how to return to the office that she learned from her son: 

1. Go with the flow. Just as kids had to navigate being in school, to totally virtual, to new class set-ups, and to hybrid teaching models, we too can figure out new ways to work. Focus on your goals as you return to the office, be flexible, and try and focus on what you can control. 

2. Make the most of those in-person opportunities. When school returned, many students had never met their teachers in person, but they had built connections online. Do the same in the office! Remember how a small hallway conversation could give you the inspiration you needed? Or casually talking about someone’s weekend opened your eyes to a skill that you didn’t know a colleague had? Don’t waste that elevator ride or watercooler chat. 

3. Be resourceful and seek help. Kids, learning online, often went to Google to ask a question when working parents were busy. Returning to the office, you may realize you suddenly don’t have all the answers you need. Seek out that office colleague version of Google, and find out who may have had different experiences while you were in siloes at home that can lend you the perspective you need.    

4. Have a growth mindset. In younger classrooms, many teachers offer encouraging mantras like “I am ready to be my best!” or “I will listen to learn!” to their students. Remember that this is a time of change, and be ready to accept that change and know that you are capable of growing and changing yourself, even as an older adult.