{"id":2551,"date":"2021-02-12T12:26:20","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T12:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/?p=2551"},"modified":"2021-02-12T12:28:31","modified_gmt":"2021-02-12T12:28:31","slug":"balancing-parental-duties-with-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backtoworkconnect.ie\/careerhub\/balancing-parental-duties-with-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Balancing parental duties with work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Practical Tips<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going back to work after a gap can be stressful at the best of times but put children and family commitments into the mix and you\u2019ve got a real challenge!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have navigated working full-time outside the\nhome with 2 small children (and returning after each maternity leave), then\ntaking a redundancy and being a stay-at-home-mum. I then returned to full-time\nwork, then was a SAHM again, and most recently I\u2019ve been working for myself\n(with my now teenagers and my husband all at home!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I\u2019ve learned (in normal times):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Something\u2019s gotta give<\/strong>.  You simply cannot work full time and manage\nall that comes with small children unless you are lucky enough to be able to\nafford an army of helpers.  Accept that\nthings will not be perfect.  Maybe you\ndidn\u2019t get that wash on, the floor hasn\u2019t been cleaned or you didn\u2019t get to\ntest you child\u2019s spellings. Maybe you forgot to buy bread and they\u2019ve had to\nhave crackers for lunch. That\u2019s ok. \nEveryone will survive on a few crackers or if the floor hasn\u2019t been\nswept!  Some things can wait.<\/li>
  2. Get\/Accept help.<\/strong>  If you can afford it, it is worthwhile\ngetting a cleaner.  Or a takeaway.  Or the groceries delivered.  Or a neighbour to drop the kids to school.  Don\u2019t forget, if you are living with your\npartner and you are both working, that there should be some equal distribution\nof tasks (this can be a tricky one if you are returning to work after being at\nhome, as a lot of domestic tasks may have fallen to you then.  Have a conversation around responsibilities\nand expectations).  If you are lucky\nenough to have willing and able family members nearby, take them up on any\noffers of help too, especially at the beginning when you are finding your feet\nin a new job.  You don\u2019t have to do all\nthe things by yourself.<\/li>
  3. Communicate<\/strong>\nwith your partner or anyone else who needs to know.  Share your schedule or make clear when you\nneed time to concentrate on work (e.g., if you need to go in early or work\nlate). This way no one gets surprised or \u201cassumes\u201d you are available and\nthere\u2019s no confusion.  This works both\nways.<\/li>
  4. Be organised<\/strong>.  In normal times when we are all racing out\nthe door, it pays to be organised so precious time isn\u2019t lost, and you don\u2019t\nend up late or in a hot mess of stress before you even get to work.  Lay out clothes, have chargers, keys, handbag\netc at the ready.  Same goes for\nschoolbags, kitbags, lunch money, school projects, permission slips too (and as\nwe all know it\u2019s important to check schoolbags for notes etc!).  Make sure alarms are set and pick-up\/drop-off\narrangements made, so everyone is clear.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    And in these working-from-home and home-schooling\ndays:<\/p>\n\n\n\n