Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Workin' Parents

If you’re a working parent, it may seem like you’re constantly working

After putting in hours at your job, you come home to work some more.

Picking up the kids, making dinner, getting lunches ready, carting the kids off to soccer practice, putting them to bed, doing a load of laundry, running the dishwasher, and on and on and on. The endless cycle of balancing competing responsibilities can make even the most energetic person feel like a sleep-deprived zombie being pulled in a million different directions. Is a healthy work-life balance even possible in an era of have more, do more, be more?

5 Career and Kid Tips

1. You can’t do it all. Manage your expectations. You’re just not going to be able to thrive in your career, raise well-adjusted children, and maintain a spotless, Instagram-worthy house at all times. Clean when you can, but make like Elsa and let it go. Make peace with the crumbs on your countertop and the overflowing laundry basket. There will always be work to do around the house, but before you know it, your children will be out of the house.

2. Guilt be gone! Ah, parent guilt. That old chestnut. It creeps up on you like a sneaky ghost, telling you to feel badly that someone else is watching your child while you’re at work. Banish that ghost to the pit from whence it came. Remember it’s important for your child to have other adults in their life, and it’s good for them to see you working hard and supporting the family.

3. Keep it together. There are tons of family calendar apps and online organizational tools that make family management seamless and shareable with your partner or childcare provider. That way you can keep track of your shift schedule and know who’s bringing your kid to the dentist and when. You can also use calendar apps for meal planning, various appointments, and sports practices.

4. Learn the power of no. There’s only so many hours in the day, and you can’t devote all of them to every little thing that comes your way. Do your children need to be in every single after-school activity or attend every birthday party? Do you have to volunteer for every school trip or fundraiser? Pay attention to your natural energy levels, set appropriate boundaries, and prioritize the things that are truly important to you and your family. And for the rest? Learn to say no and move on with your life.

5. Find your village people. Whether they’re neighbours, family members, a faith community, close coworkers, or a combination of all of the above, surround yourself with people who have your back and can step in and support you when the going gets tough.

A Little Help

Balancing a career with kids is hard enough, but what do you do when life throws you a curveball? Here are some great resources for parents when you’re navigating through the tough stuff.

If you’re covered under a CLAC Health & Welfare Trust Fund benefits plan, you can get immediate, free, and confidential help through the Morneau Shepell Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). Your EFAP can help you with many issues, such as financial struggles, behavioural issues, a nonsupportive spouse, etc.
Keep your work life and home life organized with family calendar apps such as Google Calender, hubapp.com, cozi.com, wunderlist.com or have a WhatsApp for your family circle.
Check out the podcast Working Parent Resource (available via Apple Podcasts) for thoughtful discussions and practical advice on everything from childhood development milestones to keeping kids organized to dealing with difficult coworkers.
Many towns and neighbourhoods have Facebook groups and online forums specifically for parents. Join these groups to ask parents in your area for school information, the best local walk-in clinics, fun things to do, or to buy and sell things.

Workin' Parents

5 Career and Kid Tips

A Little Help

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