It's Working Project

I feel that I am fortunate to have a nanny and feel incredibly lucky to live in a city where highly experienced women with great recommendations are often available due to their employers moving, children aging out, etc...

What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former expectant self?

Wow. Only one? Have kids sooner.

What was your primary motivation for deciding to return (or not) to work? How early did you tell your employer?

Returning to work was a necessity – not a choice. With that said, I have been told by my closest friends that I would go CRAZY if I didn’t work. So maybe having to work is a good thing after all?

How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?

My company gave me 12 weeks and not a day more. My return date was just shy of labor day, so I asked if I could have a few additional days to enjoy the remainder of the summer. That request was denied.

How easy was it to put a childcare arrangement together and did it work for your family?

I feel that I am fortunate to have a nanny and feel incredibly lucky to live in a city where highly experienced women with great recommendations are often available due to their employers moving, children aging out, etc…

When did the “new normal” set in for you?

As soon as something becomes routine, something new pops up and I have to adjust all over again! But mainly things got on track once I was able to sleep through the night. Hallelujah.

What was your biggest challenge going back to work?

Being entirely sleep deprived and constantly being reminded by my boss that I was “out for 12 weeks”. Yes, I know – it’s not like I was at a spa.

Fill in the blanks: As a working parent, I never expected ____ would be so hard and ____ would be so much easier!

Being home would SOMETIMES be so hard and being in the office would SOMETIMES be so much easier!

 

As a working parent, a bad day is when _____ and a good day is when _______.

A good day is when:
Both daughters sleep past 6:30 and I shower before they wake up.
Getting out the house goes smoothly.It’s not raining for the walk to school.
The subway is running without delays.
I am successful at work and am able to leave at the end of the day without any loose ends.
I get to get off of the subway 1 stop early and walk the last 20 blocks home.
Someone actually cooked dinner for me (oh – you said a good day, not a fantasy day).
Everyone is happy and not over-tired.
And we get to have fun hanging out before bedtime.
My husband makes it home early enough to play and before it’s too late to get the girls wild.
My husband and I watch a comedy special on TV.

And a bad day is when:

The opposite of everything above. Especially when I have to work while juggling bed, bath and beyond. No one wins in that scenario.

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