I have spent many a year writing a range of blogs, where the ultimate aim is to support parents at work. They may be returning after parental leave, joining a new organization or just working through life transitions as their children grow. However, I am VERY aware that whilst I have a range of particular skills that can help create a career to enjoy, the life of a parent is multifaceted, and there is no way I can deliver all the advice they made need. I am lucky to have developed (and continue to) some great relationships with people who have skills, qualifications and experience that can widen the support that a parent can access. Today, I want to bring these guest blogs together in one place.
“It takes a village” is a phrase often mentioned in the same breath as parenting. However, many of the parents I work with wonder where that village is. I hope that this collection of advice and thoughts may, in some way, reduce the feelings of isolation and bring an online community together, maybe when a real one is still being developed. I have the benefit through my work, to also create my content from the perspectives of others; so whilst it is my words, their contribution rings strong within it. With this in mind, I want to share the following blogs today, to help you support the parents in your team.
How to manage sleep when you return to work
It will come as no surprise that sleep comes up A LOT when I am working with clients on their return to work, and career confidence. From teething to sickness to excitement about a birthday or festive season, when our children don’t sleep, neither do we. So, today I wanted to hand over to a guest expert, Helen Davies from Essential Parenting to share some of her tips. Helen is an experienced Nurse, Private Health Visitor, Gentle Sleep Coach and Mum of four; let’s see what she can teach us about managing sleep when you return to work!
How to balance your career whilst parenting a neurodiverse child
For most of us, parenting is a pivotal life moment. Many people will probably relate to the emotional, physical and general life changes that are a part and parcel of becoming a parent, the life sustainer of a little person. The responsibilities and energies required to fulfil this role continue up to and in some cases not too long after the magic adult age of 18.
However, there is a part of this parenting club who relates to this parenting journey differently, they have the same but different experience of bringing a little person into the world who they may one day give back to the world as a fully independent and accepted part of society; These parents also experience the changing emotions and the momentous physical and general life changes of the rest of the parenting club BUT their journeys are also weaved with a different type of change and that is the change in expectations, life trajectories and responsibilities, these parents are parents of children with additional needs.
If you are in this part of the parenting club, you will probably relate to what I am about to say in this post.
Advice for parents from parents!
It doesn’t matter if you are a first-time parent, a mum-to-be or have a houseful of teenagers, there are always moments when we doubt ourselves. We have times of joy, frustrations, celebration, and sadness; what helps is a community of other parents and a chance to share how we are feeling. This week, in honour of Mother’s Day and International Women’s Day, my community has shared their best parenting advice.
Take a moment to consider the culture of your organization – are you creating a space where the parents on your team can lean on each other? Can they talk openly about what they need or is it expected that they should “parent like they have no work, and work-life they have no child” (to paraphrase journalist Amy Westervelt in their book “Forget Having it All”)? For those that are reading this, please share far and wide with those that may help, and please let me know if there are any areas you would like to see covered on my blog.
Enjoyed these? You may find these other blogs useful too:
Resources and advice to support parental wellbeing
Book Club Resources for personal and professional development
Clara Wilcox is a straight talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
