What to do as a working parents ?
March 18, 2022Working parents are a reality of today’s world, but before you take on the challenge of balancing your work and family life, make sure you’re aware of these five drawbacks:
- You won’t have as much free time as those who don’t work.
- Your mental state may suffer.
- You may be more stressed out than those without children.
- In some ways, having a job is actually detrimental to your child’s development.
- You may even end up with less money than if you were not working.
First, it’s not easy to make the time to be with your children on a consistent basis. The desire to work is driven by societal pressures and an economy that often requires both parents to work in order to provide for the family. But financial security is only part of the reason for working outside of the home; many parents who’d rather stay at home still do so because they feel they have no choice in the matter.
Of course, parents with children of different ages find it hard to fit in all their duties. And sometimes, parents must choose between spending time with their child or with their employer. Some job seekers may also feel obligated to seek employment in order to provide for their family.
Working fathers and mothers both experience psychological issues that could be attributed to it. Both men and women are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, particularly over the stress of work and parenting. Mothers often feel a guilt of not being able to give 100% at work while trying to balance the needs of their children at home.
What are the challenges of working parents?
The biggest challenges for working parents are the obvious ones: juggling work and child care, making sure you’re available to both of your children (and still get everything done), and dealing with any grief or resentment you may have when they don’t behave as expected. Then there are the lesser, but still important issues that arise in all facets of parenting. For example, working parents may have less time for themselves, which can cause them to feel guilty and lack joy.
But work is also a social activity that can bring people together and improve communication between parents. It can help you become more independent and gain skills that could be useful outside of the home.
How can parents maintain balance in their lives?
There are many ways to try to maintain a healthy balance between work and family. Some common ones are:
- Taking as little vacation time as possible.
- Reducing your hours at work once your family is established.
- Spending more quality time with your children while they are younger.
- Planning activities that incorporate all the people in the family (for example, taking a ball to the park).
Overall, becoming a working parent is an incredible experience for some and an incredibly challenging one for many others. Even though you may not want to be there and your primary goal may be to work at home, understand that it is a part of parenting.
First, it’s important to treat your job as part of your job. Try not to be resentful or jealous when others have more flexible schedules or choose to work from home. This will only result in conflict, which will not help in making both of your lives easier.
Second, it’s important to set personal boundaries for your job. Don’t let your co-workers distract you from other family needs. If you must work from home, keep the area as quiet and distraction-free as possible so that it doesn’t interfere with your child’s nap time. Try not to let your dedication be a detriment to your family life, though. Make a plan for when you need to work around playtime, and then stick to them by scheduling for naps during what time slot works best for you.
Third, don’t let your job become a means of procuring money for your family. While it may be tempting to work on the side when you can get by with less salary or make more money, there are other possibilities that are often overlooked. For example, if you have a successful business, you might want to consider downsizing and base it out of your home instead. You could set up shop in the garage or spare room and run it from there.
Working parents also must take responsibility for their own happiness. Both partners must take an active role in ensuring that their needs are met. The division of responsibilities is crucial, as each person must make his or her own needs a priority. Working parents may need to learn how to negotiate with their employers to get looser hours or requests for flexible work hours. But, ultimately, they must be the ones in charge of their own happiness and self-fulfillment.
Finally, allow yourself some time to decompress after you leave the office. Don’t take your work home with you. Spend some time focusing on your family and taking care of yourself. For example, put aside time to relax with a book, watch television shows you enjoy, or journal about your feelings in the workplace. You may even want to see a counselor or join a support group where you can meet other parents experiencing similar issues.
Working parents are constantly faced with the challenge of balancing work and family needs. While there is no right answer, the more you work at it, the better you will become.