Parenting and Work-Life Balance
By Dr. Mercedes Oromendia and Alexis Reyna Marenco
Balancing work responsibilities with parenting can be extremely stressful and a challenging moving target for many. While there aren’t any one-size-fits-all solutions, here are a few tips and tricks that may be helpful when trying to figure out how to balance working and parenting.
First things first: you are a superstar for being a working parent! It’s not easy, but you are doing it and doing your absolute best. Even through some frustration, yelling, and tantrums you are making it through day by day. No one has the answer to being the perfect parent because there is no such thing, but trying your best to provide for your kids and being present is as perfect as you can be.
Organization
A critical part of balancing work and parenting is organization. Organizing your day-to-day or week as best as you can to help manage the everyday stressors is a great starting point. For example, in my family, we don’t have the time or energy to think of dinner after a long day at work or parenting, and vice versa. A good way to help reduce that stressor is planning meals for the week and having a game plan to help with the end of a stressful day. Take the weekend to prepare for the upcoming week's dinners by preparing what you need. Maybe a one-pot crockpot dinner that can last two days, pre-cutting and freezing ingredients needed for more complicated dishes, or just planning what days we might be needing a quick food solution. Taking this time to plan for the week can lessen a big burden. Organizing the day-to-day tasks can also help reduce some stress. Planning out who will be picking up the kiddos and taking them to their activities or sports can help alleviate some day-to-day stressors. Also designating who will be cooking or cleaning that day is also a nice way to plan and balance the household chore stress.
Communication
Another way to help with balancing work and parenting is openly communicating with your co parent or partner about what you can handle that day. Some days are harder than others, and that’s okay! It’s important to talk things out with your partner and determine who can do what and when. Parenting is never 50/50 because we don’t always have the energy to give what’s needed every day. So be gentle with yourself and give someone else the reins for the day and know that caring for yourself is just as important as caring for your family. If you can’t help clean up or even prepare dinner like planned, that's okay! Rely on your partner and others and be the person your partner can rely on. If you’re a single parent, organize and communicate with your support system about ways they can help. We don’t have to do everything ourselves and ask for help when we need it!
Humor
Try to find the joy and laughter in each day. Finding and relishing those small moments of joy makes the difference on those hectic and stressful days. Remember how your toddler would stop and marvel at any small bug, truck, or flower on walks? Channel your inner toddler and practice stopping and smelling the roses!
Self Care
The thing is when we are parents we don’t usually have time for self-care. Working takes up half our day and the other half is taking care of our family so really when do we ever have time for ourselves? Being a working parent can increase our burnout so it’s important that we find moments for ourselves. Whether that be taking some time during your lunch break to breathe and take a walk, or asking our co-parent or partner to watch the kids for an hour one day to recharge. Remember to take care of yourself and do something that brings you joy. Any way you find realistic for yourself it’s important you find the time in the day or week to care for yourself to help manage burnout. Remember that you are doing your absolute best and that’s all our kids ever want from us. To try and be there for them as best as we can.
Remember to organize, communicate, use humor and self-care to help balance working and parenting. Both are equally important aspects that need attention. If you aren’t sure if you or your kid may need more support, a family therapist, a parent coach, or book a free consultation at Manatee.
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