Index
Recent
Space Moms"I grew up never even thinking about the fact that I could have a demanding career and be a mom at the same time." -- Kristin Fisher
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A Working Parent PerspectiveThe kids of working parents learn unique and valuable lessons.
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Can You Afford Your Career?Planning ahead pays off.
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Wage Gap or Encouragement Gap?In order to close the wage gap, we're going to have to have to close the encouragement gap.
What Kind of Daddy are You?The best daddy!
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Key Takaway: On the Basis of SexIt's an example of a person on the inside advocating for a person on the outside.
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About Working Parent Stories
Why Focus on
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Beyond the BenefitsHow employers can improve employee retention among working parents.
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Top 8 Surprises from the First 50 Stories"These were themes I didn't see coming."
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Top 6 Learnings from the Second 50 StoriesMany challenges and many rewards.
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Top 11 Insights from the Third 50 StoriesPursuing a fulfilling career aligns with current views of what it means to be a whole person.
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Typical ParentsSome data to help you determine if your perception of "typical" is accurate.
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The VideosWatch a few or binge-watch them all.
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Around the WorldWorking Parent Story readers span 58 countries around the world.
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Thought Provoking
More or Less?"... it is part of what makes us whole; it helps us become more."
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Serious QuestionSometimes we seem so inquisitive and other times we don't.
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When Parents Act Like CorporationsWhy do people claim to want change as they perpetuate stereotypes and reinforce the norm?
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Employer, Spouse or You?What's the real reason parents walk away from their careers?
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Benefits of a Working Mom"I talked to grown-up children who were raised by working mothers."
-- Pamela F. Lenehan |
Would A Man Want Your Job?"If more women were to approach career preparation differently, it's likely that mothers would opt out of the workplace less often and feel more appreciated on the job."
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#dadsinschoolsMothers should stop volunteering in schools. Instead encourage dads (and only dads) to take on the classroom volunteer duties.
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Thinking About Becoming a SAHD? (Think Again)"Research suggests the penalty may even be greater for men who temporarily exit the workforce."
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Susan Redden Makatoa"We need to stop pandering to working mothers." (video)
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Attitude Check"We also found children were better off when parents cared about work as a source of challenge, creativity, and enjoyment ..." -- Stewart D. Friedman
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When You Give Career AdviceSerious question. Let us know what you think.
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Supportive Spouses
Super Spouses"Can I do this? Should I do this? Without hesitation, he said, 'Of course you should do it.'" -- Poppy Harlow
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Couples That Work"He told me that if I took that job I'd 'ruin the family name' ..."
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Great Husbands!"... he pushes me to keep striving ..."
-- Bonnie E. |
That's Entertainment"He definitely gave me a boost of ‘you can do this’ ..." -- Morgane Stapleton
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Tom Brady as Dad"Three kids and you're just always trying to juggle, and you want to be there for them." -- Tom Brady
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Parental Leave and Returning to Work
My Fear Evaporated" I had a lot of fear about going back to work after my daughter was born."
-- Kelsey Sprowell |
Unpaid Parental LeavePlanning ahead pays off.
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Do The MathDon't quit your job before running the numbers.
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Think BigEspecially when it comes to considering your parental leave options.
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Transitioning to Daycare"They're such social creatures, and it's a lot of fun watching them babble to each other." -- Miranda
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Returns and RoutinesMost kids love routine. Be sure to establish them before heading back to work after an extended leave.
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Going Back to WorkIf there is any question about whether or not now is the right time to jump back into the job market, put those concerns to rest, and take a look at this LinkedIn post.
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Back To Work On Monday - NOOOO!"The bacon must be brought, the bread must be won."
-- The Irreverent Papa |
Pushing Parental Leave"... if you want to be a change agent, you sometimes need to be willing to take at least a small hit ..." -- Jim Haselmaier
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I Returned to Work"I was ready to come back. Maternity leave felt like I was in a bubble ..."
-- Jenna |
His Big Heart"It made my mom heart want to burst ..."
-- Mom2Boys |
Guiding Philosophy"Having kids changes a lot."
-- Mark Zuckerberg |
Keeping CurrentSometimes the most surprising and positive changes are the result of challenges and problems.
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From Fear to Joy"... the lack of peace in most people's lives comes from living in fear of a future that may never even happen."
-- The New Papa |
The "Best Mom"Insights from an 11-year-old daughter
by Tina Schmiedel |
Shared Parental LeaveThree couples talk about shared parental leave experiences.
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New Parent Experiences
Surprise Contentment"After our kids left for college I expected to feel the guilt I'd been warned about, but I felt contentment instead."
-- Kathy Haselmaier |
We Don't Remember ..."We should all be focusing on more important stuff."
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That Time at the United Nations ..."I've had a number of experiences that only seem 'funny' in hindsight." -- Human Rights Mama
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Family Time"... we made sure we had family time together each day ..."
-- Bo and Sharron Viger |
Sheer Determination"At home, I'm in charge of cooking, grocery shopping, and cars."
-- Jim Haselmaier |
Watching Serena"I chose now to share these moments because I was going through something different in my life." -- Serena Williams
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Captain's Log"The moving truck is here and it is definitely too small." -- Kelsey Sprowell
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Mixed EmotionsWorking parents share their feelings. It's complicated.
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oh, the places you'll ... pump!"It's often hard to find places to pump or nurse when you're away from home; especially in big cities." -- Human Rights Mama
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Quick Change Artist"I put the baby down for a nap, pulled a blazer on over a nursing shirt ..." -- Human Rights Mama
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A Haven for Her Soul"... there will never be a shortage of passion and perseverance on our end."
-- Patrick Hickey, Jr |
What Our Kids Think (and read)Interesting children's book titles about working parents.
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Tips and Ideas
Saturday BreakfastWorking Parent Tip
"... it always seemed unfair that babies and toddlers didn't appreciate the opportunity to sleep in on a Saturday morning." |
Back-to-School BugsWorking Parent Tip
"Our daycare provider, who was also a nurse, taught us a lot about how to avoid sharing viruses among family members." |
Quiet Time: A Survival Technique"It worked pretty well and produced some unintended benefits ..."
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Situational ProcrastinationWorking Parent Tip
A word about worry. |
Balance and Priorities
Goals"It was never perfect, nor was I, but we have taken on every twist and turn with trust, humility, earnestness, and ... humor..."
-- Jim Zafarana |
Get Real"Sometimes you have to get real before you can achieve your dreams."
-- Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali |
Jenna Bush Hager"Nobody asks Henry ... if he has found the balance." (video)
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What Others Think"Is it possible to succeed at everything? We don't know. We're not trying."
-- Bruce Lundeby |
Running My Own Race"I've let go of the idea that I need to be just like everyone else."
-- Sherene Abrahams |
More Time (and More Love)"Thank you for helping me enjoy my children again!"
-- Jaclyn Perovich |
Balancing Family, Career and Passion"We have each focused on each other’s careers and needs as much as, if not more than, our own." -- the 40 daddy
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Why I Didn't Accept The Award"It was no big political statement or anything controversial ..."
-- Sandy Fiaschetti |
It Takes A Village"I'm a father. I have two kids myself. I'd have wanted someone to help them if they could." -- Maurice Cheeks
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A Day In The Life"... constantly shifting back and forth between mom and being at work."
-- Rachel Hollis (video) |
Priority CheckMany of us find it difficult to prioritize our own needs.
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Raising Our Kids
Are Your Kids Too Busy?The growing demand for children to get involved in organized activities outside of school is placing unprecedented strain upon families.
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Risks and Rewards"... there is real harm in keeping an eye on the kids if you're keeping an eye on them every minute of every day." -- Ashley Thomas
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Lesson Learned"The mistake did not ruin her life. In fact, I think she learned a lot from it."
-- Ann Brauch |
Practicing Assertiveness (at age 8)"I knew that learning to advocate for herself would be a valuable life skill and knew how to help her develop that skill ... thanks to my job." -- Mom Engineer
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Watching Our Kids"I don't know what ... is the right number to attend. I know it does not need to be 100%, and really should not be ... I do know that never is not enough." -- Bruce Lundeby READ MORE
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Day Camp TearsRegardless of our best efforts, they will have good days and bad days.
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Why Is My Child Self-Centered?"... his interest in anything beyond himself remains pretty much non-existent."
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Helping or Hurting?"I tried to be more mindful of situations where it was best to let my children handle situations on their own ..."
-- Jim Haselmaier |
Beary PersistentNature can be a great teacher.
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The Shouldstorm"What if people found out that the pediatrician ...?"
-- Dr. Alison Escalante. |
Special Needs & Challenges
You Are A Superhero"What we do is important. And most importantly: we are not alone."
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Charli's Angels"We had lost our balance, it was our time to pull together every fiber of strength and perseverance ..."
-- Jim Zafarana |
Incredible Challenge"If I were to give advice to other working parents, I'd tell them three things."
-- Jay Rooney |
"The Sandwich Generation""How do you juggle responsibilities if you are part of the sandwich generation? I'm eager to read your replies"
-- Maggie |
Don't Do What I Did"It's next to some foreign guy who barely speaks English." -- Thomas McFall
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Working Parents Collaborate"Before I knew it I was heading to Atlantic Records to watch Kelly lay down a track." -- Hoda Kotb
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Top of Mind"I wanted to advocate ..." -- Amanda Miranda
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And Then I Got Sick"It turned out to be a good opportunity for our kids ..."
-- Zoe Withers |
I Want To Be A Working ParentPersonal struggles prevent this parent from working. She asks for advice.
A story by Jaiess Rabbit |
Some Days I Really Dislike Facebook"Thankfully my husband was willing to sacrifice his career to help our son, and I was capable of taking on the role of breadwinner."
-- Maggie |
Stress
Did I Mention the Meltdowns?"They were most frequent when our kids were little ..."
-- Kathy Haselmaier |
One Day at a Time"It sounds quite obvious, but for me that was a revelation."
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Why Fire Yourself?"I'd rather have been fired knowing I'd tried my best than to have quit and always wondered if I'd given up too soon"
-- Kathy Haselmaier |
La Charge MentaleA French term for the mental load associated with managing a household that usually falls to the woman.
-- Inspired by a European working mom |
Stress Test"... I was too stressed out to return to the Stress Management class."
-- Jim Haselmaier |
Fulfillment and Stress"I've always wondered what it would have been like growing up if my mother had worked and felt fulfilled ..."
-- Kathleen Helbling |
Guilt
It's A ScamAssociating the word guilt with a career is rarely justified.
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From Guilt to Gratitude"Some friends help us shift our thinking ..."
-- Shannon Mika |
I Think Mom Would Have Been Proud"I love my career in healthcare administration and truly believe that it makes me a better mom."
-- Susan Sarate |
The Clash of Freedom and Guilt"I ... casually mentioned to my partner ... that I was seriously considering an impromptu trip if she didn't need the car."
-- Daniel Lewis |
On The Job
Is it Time to Go Home?Working Parent Tip
"This process enabled me to show my family that they were important to me ..." -- Rick Steffens |
The Telecommuting Challenge"Let your family know they are your top priority. Also let them know that your work will be your primary focus during the day."
-- Lisa Giles |
Evening Texts from "the Boss""You know you should respond because, well, it's your boss!"
-- Jessica Duff |
Career Pacing"Sometimes we just need to take a step back and give ourselves a break!"
-- Laurie Fountaine |
Improved Efficiency. Who Knew?"I've cut down on extraneous things I used to do during my workday."
-- FitMom_LawyerMom |
Kate's DoctorsParents are often uniquely qualified, through their work, to help in very meaningful ways.
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