It's working for Clare M
Alexandria, Virginia
4 children
"One of my sisters counseled me that "convenience is key" to making it all work."
What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former expectant self?
Don’t say yes to every after-school activity opportunity. Your child will not be a failure in life just because they had afternoons off.
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 am a formula mom. So easy and anybody can pitch in and help. Extremely useful when you have more than one little one and you need to tag team.
How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?
I took 9 weeks with the 1st, 6 weeks with the 2nd, 3 weeks (UGH!!!) with the 3rd and five weeks with the 4th. It is never enough.
How easy was it to put a childcare arrangement together and did it work for your family?
Very easy. We have a wonderful daycare. And, after the first baby, all the others were in and jump the wait list.
What was your biggest challenge going back to work?
Just getting all six of us out of the house in the morning! Getting the kids to school on time without a tardy slip is the goal.