It's working for Chris R
Portland, Oregon
2 children
"My being a stay at home dad was a practical decision, based on present and future income levels, as well as individual temperament. My wife as a biomedical engineer made more money and has a long-term career path that made working from home far less doable for her. We also agreed I was better suited for many elements of being a stay-at-home parent."
What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former expectant self?
That a good 90% of the things I really worried about were not worth worrying about, particularly in terms of what other people think is important. Also, be proactive in seeking out community before the isolation hits too hard.
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?
My wife breastfed both of our boys, but, especially with our second, did not produce enough breastmilk, so we supplemented and eventually switched to exclusively bottle feeding. One major factor in this was that since I am the primary caregiver we didn’t need to rely on my wife pumping and storing in order for me to nourish the boys.
How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?
I was given 2 weeks of paid leave by my employer. It felt like not nearly enough, though I am was grateful for it, as it was far more than they needed to give me legally.
What was your biggest challenge going back to work?
My main concern NOW is that when/if I ever need to return to the traditional workforce, I’ll have a hard time accounting for the gap in my resume.