Balancing Parenting & a Career - Request for help!!

[Ponyboy]

Hi to all!

I'm a new mum to baby Anaki (3mths old). I've recently been informed that my abstract for a conference paper has been accepted and am now required to write the full paper. The title of my paper is: Babes and Books: Balancing Parenting and a Library Career

Now I'm calling on all the working parents assitance for this. My paper will discuss the challenges one faces when trying to successfully balance parenting with a career and how these challenges are overcome. If anyone would like to share with me the challenges they've faced with being a career parent and how they overcame them, please either respond to this thread and share, or PM/Email me direct!!

Your help will be much appreciated!! And your responses will remain anonomous in the paper - unless, of course, you'd like to be identified!! :)

[Chickadee]

Sharon, I've moved your thread to the Research Section :)

[Rhoxie]

What bits do you want to know?

Finding quality and flexible childcare.

The struggle with bad childcare

Expressing whilst working

Breastfeeding whilst working.

Working Shift work to keep childcare to a minimum.

housework & quality time whilst both parents work full time.

Waking at night and working during the day - coping on less sleep.

Balancing Kindy rosters, playgroup, swimming lessons etc with the time requirements of work.

Having two incomes but seeing most of the second going on childcare and fuel.

Remembering that if you go back to work part way through the year you will need to over estimate to centrelink or you will get a debt :shame:

Coping with the 'meltdown' hour after arriving home from work/daycare - kids tired & parents tired, rushing to get through dinner, bath and bed.

???? tell me what you want to know and I'll answer exactly but the whole field would take pages to answer :)

[Ponyboy]

Hi Roxy!

Pretty much what you've listed is a great start. All of those are challenges and that's what I'm after. If would be great if you had the time to expand on these points and let me know how you overcame them or if they can be overcome. Even if you wish to focus on a few of the major points - lack of sleep, lack of support e.g. childcare, etc. And if I may ask, what made you want to go back to work - finances, sanity??

Thanks for your help

Sharon

[Ponyboy]

Am also wondering if anyone felt theywere "giving up" their career to have kids or that they might "miss opportunities" or be "out of the loop"? And if you are currently on leave from your career - how are you "staying in touch" so that you can return at some point??

[SJE]

I think opportunities are pretty much given up once a mum leaves the workplace.

My impression from employers is that unless the mum is coming back for a substantial portion of each week they are just used for the work. A career only comes once the kids are at school.

I have had to make adjustments to my work career though I am not willing to discuss them publicly. PM's only.

[Ponyboy]

Just thought I'd update everyone and let all of you know that my paper and presentation is now available online (http://e-prints.alia.org.au/archive/00000145/)

Thanks to all for your help!!

[melbryan]

Hi Roxy!

And if I may ask, what made you want to go back to work - finances, sanity??

Thanks for your help

Sharon

I wanting to return to work for sanity as well as finances and the adult interaction. I feel I studied long enough and went through alot of hard ships to get where I was today and I wanted to make the most of what I had. I felt I was not only a mother but a contributor to the community and enjoyed the satisfaction that, that brought. I love my children but needed to find a balance between family, career and being awife and daughter. If I favoured one I felt like I wasn't leading a fulfilling life. I try and find things to make life better and more enjoyable. It's not all about money but about the satisfaction of life as a whole with all that it brings.
ANy qu.'s feel free to PM me.
mel