Parenting and COVID-19: qualitative study of educational challenges, childcare and crisis-related decision-making in diplomatic families

Diplomatic personnel played a critical role in looking after British nationals during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about their experiences of parenting during this time. Exploring the family-related experiences of diplomatic staff during the pandemic is important in order to understand the unique challenges faced by diplomatic families during a prolonged crisis and identify ways to support them. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 13 diplomatic personnel and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Participants reported challenges relating to online schooling; home-schooling; boarding schools and childcare. Unique challenges were reported for those with older children and neuro-diverse children. Quarantine and evacuation, necessitated by the pandemic, left many separated from their children for long periods of time. Participants reported wanting greater support from their employer, particularly greater recognition of family units and the challenges they faced. The insights gained from this study could be used by diplomatic organisations or other multi-national organisations to develop policies aimed at improving the experiences and wellbeing of employees and their families during times of increased global uncertainty. Recommendations emerging from this study include ensuring that, if desired, families are kept together during a crisis (e.g., having a choice whether to evacuate or not where duty of care requirements permit); arranging travel exemptions for diplomatic families where possible and making every effort to reunite children with parents when desired; respecting childcare situations when defining work arrangements; and considering subsidies for childcare for diplomatic families.