Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Working Dads

Becoming a parent brings on a host of emotions, new experiences, and new challenges. One of the biggest challenges is balancing work and family life.

Guide Magazine

For many years, the research has focussed on how women juggle work and childcare. But fathers also feel the pinch, especially in recent years as more and more women enter the workforce. With 66 percent of moms with kids under six working, and 77 percent of moms with kids over six working, dads find themselves taking on more parental responsibility. For many dads, this is a welcome role, but it still comes with challenges.

4 Tips for Balancing Work and Fatherhood

Recognize and accept the change. Your life has changed. You will feel pride and joy, but also anxiety and fear. Having a child impacts every area of life. Weekends away now require extra planning and 15 times more luggage than before. Date nights must be planned, not spontaneous. And you may not have time to hang around the workplace after hours, or go golfing or fishing with the boys as often on the weekend. You need to recognize the changes and the emotions that go with them instead of trying to ignore them.
Acknowledge your emotions. Find somewhere or someone to express your emotions to. Other dads—either friends or even online groups—can be helpful, allowing you to share stories and work through changes and challenges. Expressing your feelings to others who understand what you are going through allows you to grow and mature. You will likely find more support among your peers than in the generation above you.
Let go of the past. Transitioning to being a working father means adjusting your relationship and goals with yourself, your spouse and child, your support group, and your work. You will need to adjust your expectations and desires in each of these areas and be realistic about what you can do.
Create new habits and expectations. Find creative ways to balance work and home life. This may mean changing your role to shift your schedule. For dads in high-pressure roles, or roles that require long hours, you may need to evaluate your career and decide what your priorities are and how you can achieve them. You may be able to make changes in your current job to give you more time. Or you may decide to move to a new role or new company that will give you the time you desire with your family. It’s a big decision, especially if you’ve invested years into your current career, and it may require you to let go of some things.

Your ego – Your sense of self worth is often tied up with your professional reputation. You need to be willing to let go.

Your job – If your current employer requires too many 14-hour days and loathes giving you holidays, you may need to find a job with a new employer that is more family-friendly.

Your salary expectations – Being more present with your children may mean taking a pay cut or passing up a higher-paying job. You’ll need to have an honest conversation with your partner about finances, and you may need to adjust your spending habits. But for most families, cutting back on the extras is well worth having a happier, less-stressed dad around who has time to attend their kids’ ball games and school plays.

Source: hbr.com

Working Dads

4 Tips for Balancing Work and Fatherhood

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