It's working for Celinda A
Gaithersburg, Maryland
2 children
"I have an employee that just had his first child and I've gone above and beyond to ensure he feels supported and has the flexibility to parent."
What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former expectant self?
Create a sense of balance that is right for you. Keeping up with the Joneses is the norm these days but not necessary.
FOR MOMS: If you breastfed, was there a place for you to pump that met your needs and was conducive to your success? If you breastfed, how did you decide to continue? FOR DADS: What, if any, adjustments did you (or your workplace) make to your schedule after having a baby? Was it specific to your manager or larger, whole work culture?
I had twins. One wouldn’t always latch but I always tried. I breastfed, pumped and bottle fed. It was helpful when their Dad did the night feedings.
How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?
My employer gave me 6 weeks unpaid. It was terrible. Work was relatively unsupportive.
How easy was it to put a childcare arrangement together and did it work for your family?
I was really worried about leaving them with a stranger. I had excessive mom guilt and became overly type A to ensure they had the best care possible.