When a parent works or both parents work, balancing children and home life becomes tricky. Parenting guidelines for parents who work are often crucial. In the survival guide for working parents we look at challenges faced by parents that work, and how to effectively overcome them.
These guidelines provide information, and flexible working arrangements, such as parental leave and family responsibilities, or pre-natal leave positions. Similarly, they outline the process of requesting flexible working and family-friendly work arrangements, and how important family-friendly working arrangements are.
Parenting Guidelines for Working parents also address issues such as unpaid parental leave, legal obligations, and the protection of pregnant employees. In the workplace for parents’ factors such as mental health. appropriate breaks, adequate facilities, safety laws, and the prevention of discrimination become quite crucial.
Essentially as a working parent, work-life balance brings positive benefits for both the parents and the business that they work for.
There are quite a few case studies available online that provide help and solutions for parents to manage their work and family responsibilities effectively. One example of the major factor between working parents and their employers is open communication to respond to or discuss any workplace issues and concerns.
Balancing your family life and work responsibilities, even if it may seem impossible is quite achievable with a few simple guidelines:
Parenting Guidelines for Working Parents
Parenting as a working parent has different challenges than a stay-at-home parent. This is why it is important to establish clear guidelines and expectations for parenting. In turn, this ensures that both working parents are on the same page and working together as a team.
Teamwork is key when both parents work and responsibilities must be shared. Responsibilities such as discussing and deciding on parenting philosophies, discipline strategies, and routines for children, must be established.
Communicating with your partner and children throughout the day as much as possible helps to address daily concerns or issues as they arise. Similarly, making quality time with each child when you are at home will help to strengthen the bond of your family. Children need to understand that they are the priority in their parents’ lives.
Including children in the decision-making process when appropriate helps them feel more included in the family dynamic, and is a good method of balancing family life.
Parents must work as a team to balance family and work responsibilities healthily and sustainably.
Using the following tips and changes in your family will help you become a more dynamic and involved working parent:
Change Your Home and Family Arrangements to Balance Work and Parenting
Making a few changes to your home and your family arrangements could significantly improve your work-life balance as a working parent.
However, it is important to involve the entire family in the decisions and discussions on how to better balance the family’s needs and responsibilities. Similarly creating a more supportive and organised home environment will contribute significantly towards a better work-life balance.
These are a few effective methods to arrange your home and family responsibilities:
- Delegate household chores among all members of the family.
- Set up a shared calendar to ensure that everyone keeps track of everyone’s activities.
- Establish clear boundaries and expectations from each other as parents and from the children.
- Create a designated area for work, and for play. A designated work area is vital especially when you work from home.
- Separate work and home. Leave work issues at work, and home issues at home.
- Implement routines and schedules to streamline household duties and tasks effectively.
When you involve the entire family in these changes and routines, there is a sense of teamwork and shared responsibility in the home. This will then lead to a more harmonious and balanced family life.
Create a Schedule that Works for Your Family Responsibilities
It is essential to create a schedule that works for your family’s responsibilities as working parents. You can start your schedule by identifying non-negotiable responsibilities. Non-negotiable responsibilities can include drop-off and pick-up times, as well as extracurricular activities, family meals and other important responsibilities.
From here on, you can work backwards to allocate other responsibilities among the family.
Things such as calendars and planners can help you stay organised and keep track of important dates and deadlines for the family and work. You can also consider using technology to your advantage. Technology such as setting reminders and alarms on your mobile phone or using productivity apps, can all help you manage your time more effectively.
Keep in mind that it is also important to build time for you, for self-care and relaxation. Taking care of yourself is essential to avoid burnout and to maintain a healthy work-life balance. So, make sure to schedule some time for activities that will help you recharge.
These activities would include exercising, reading a book or spending some time with loved ones. Keep in mind you cannot pour from an empty cup so self-care must be prioritised as part of your schedule
Set Boundaries and Prioritise Tasks
For working parents to maintain a healthy work-life balance it is crucial that they have set boundaries. You need to clearly define your working hours and communicate them to your colleagues and your supervisors. This also includes being mindful of not checking work emails or taking work calls outside of your designated work hours, unless it’s an emergency.
Prioritising your tasks at home is also vital to manage your time effectively. You need to prioritise which tasks at home are urgent and focus on completing those first. You can also delegate tasks when possible, and ask for help from your family. It is important to remember that you do not have to do everything yourself, and it is always okay to ask for support or help.
By setting boundaries and prioritising tasks at home and work, you can create a much more structured and manageable work-life balance. This will allow you to be more present and engaged both at work and in your family life.
Utilise support systems and Resources Available for You as a Working Parent
As a working parent, there are support systems and resources available to families that you can utilise. A few of these support systems include:
Hiring a nanny who will care for your children and support your family.
Enlisting help from family members, friends, or neighbours. Especially in emergencies when you need someone to pick up the children or look after them for a few hours.
Parenting support groups and online communities where you communicate with other parents facing similar challenges.
Benefits and resources offered by your employer such as child care assistance, flexible work arrangements, or employee assistance programs.
By taking advantage of these resources, it can help you alleviate some of the pressures and challenges of being a working parent. Always remember that it is okay to ask for help and seek support. No one can do it all alone, and having a strong support system will make a world of difference in navigating the demands of work and family life.
Take Care of Yourself and Maintain a Healthy Life Balance
As mentioned, self-care is essential for working parents. Self-care helps you to develop and maintain your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Thus, it is vital to prioritise self-care activities that will help you to relax, recharge and reduce stress levels.
A few self-care activities that you can engage in include:
- Exercise.
- Meditation.
- Hobbies.
- Spending Time with Loved Ones.
- Spa or beauty treatments.
- Reading or just relaxing.
- Spending some time outdoors.
- Walking.
Finding a balance in your work and personal life is a continuous process that may require some adjustments along the way.
Thus, always be flexible and open to making changes to your routines and schedules as you need. It is important also to regularly evaluate your priorities and make sure that you are allocating enough time and energy to the things that matter the most to you.
It is important to understand that taking care of yourself is not selfish at all. It allows you to show up as your best self for your family and your work. Prioritise self-care and find a balance so that you can thrive as a working parent.
Managing Your Family and Your Job
Managing your family and your job may seem like quite a juggle. However, there are some options to utilise as an employee for a company. Similarly, there are childcare options that will provide some relief.
Consider Flexible Work Arrangements
Under the Fair Work Act, a pregnant employee and parent of a child under the age of 18 are eligible to apply for flexible work arrangements. Employees can be offered flexible work arrangements by modifying or changing their hours or working patterns to help them as parents.
An employee could thus request a flexible work schedule from the employer, who would then respond to the request.
Flexible work arrangements provide parents with the flexibility they need to balance their job responsibilities and family life. Parents may request flexible working arrangements that could include the following:
- Flexible work hours.
- Remote work from home.
- Compressed work weeks.
- Part-Time hours.
- Adjustments to the work schedules.
Employers may similarly offer access to flexible working arrangements as part of their employee’s benefit package. It is important though to have open and honest communication with their employers to ensure that access to flexible work arrangements will be beneficial to both parties.
One of the best flexible work options, where possible, is for parents to work from home. It is ideal for parents with younger children, or who need to pick up and drop off children at school. Parents who work from home, though still working, are at least physically present for their children when needed.
However, it is still important to establish clear boundaries and expectations for family members to ensure that you have a productive work environment at home.
Foster Open Communication Methods with Your Employer
Open communication with your employer is essential for working parents. You must be clear about your expectations and discuss your needs and challenges as a working parent. Your employer will also appreciate it if you regularly check in with updates in relation to your work progress, or to address issues as they arise.
Keep open communication lines and be proactive in seeking feedback or guidance. Good communication between parents and employers ensures that you succeed both at work and at home.
Working parents often find the greatest challenges in balancing or even separating work life from home life. With so many responsibilities from both work and home, it becomes quite overwhelming. That is why a survival guide for working parents is essential to help them cope.
If all else fails, and you find you need some extra help, there is no shame in reaching out to a childcare specialist such as a nanny.
Should Working Parents Employ a Nanny?
Many working parents must consider whether they need a nanny to support their professional and home lives. By hiring a nanny, parents are assured that their children are well taken care of while they are at work. This provides parents with peace of mind and allows them to concentrate better on work tasks.
Nannies offer personalised care for children in the security of their own homes. Similarly, they can transport children to school and other activities as needed. Children are cared for and nurtured while their parents are working.
A few Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:
How do you manage two kids when both parents are working?
Managing two children is just as difficult as one when both parents are working. Depending on the ages of the children you may need to involve a nanny, caregiver, or daycare. However, setting up clear schedules, or utilising support systems may also provide some relief.
What happens to the children when their parents are working?
Most working parents opt for childcare services such as a nanny, daycare, or babysitter. Older children are usually at school or after-school care while their parents are working.
What is Parental Leave?
Parental leave refers to the time off work that is granted to parents to take care of their newborn child or newly adopted child. Parental leave gives both parents time to bond with their newborn baby or newly adopted child. It allows them the time that they need to adjust to family life and the changes involved.
