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By: Christine Anastasia  As we make our way to the end of February in a COVID year, I’ve been keenly interested in learning about how working parents will broach the topic of their careers in the next iteration of life within COVID times now and beyond. For all intensive purposes, we are not through the woods and many companies are still crafting their policies and practices with how to return to their offices safely, efficiently, and effectively. Without everyone vaccinated, there is also big disparity among employees that desire to go back to the office and others that have found a new breather in their home life to balance some of the things that stressed them pre-covid, like a commute. As many companies are still remote at this time, many are beginning to crack the “where do we go from here?” questions around working parents and taking into an account the larger issue of #Wellbeing and #Mental Health in the workforce. It’s not a linear process and it’s quite multifaceted. What is interesting to me, and I hope working parents will ask the question: Is there a life beyond 9-5 that you can dream up?
  As I think about where we are in this current climate of figuring out what is next beyond 9-5 hours and a 40 hour work week, I can’t help to think about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her impactful breadcrumbs that she left for all of us to path the way for working parents to create a way that prioritized family life while also moving along in your career track and aspirations. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the model we working parents needed. Ruth created a schedule in her life that intentionally moved her from “work” to “family” life. Of course, it didn’t change the fact that her life was very full and she was exercising her brain power in both home and work life, she thoughtfully planted a seed for all of us as working parents to create boundaries. I think she still gives us a lot to think about today of where we are in our “work lives” and where we go with our passions, joys and careers. I feel she weaved them in a way to support her, and I urge all parents to find and create that for yourself and your family. There is no better time to do that than now. Quoted by Ruth - She was a pioneer in creating work - life integration… “When I started law school, my daughter Jane was 14 months. I attribute my success in law school largely to Jane. I went to class about 8:30, and I came home at 4 o’clock. That was children’s hour. It was a total break in my day. And children’s hour continued until Jane went to sleep. Then, I was happy to go back to the books. So, I felt each part of my life gave me respite from the other. …Having Jane gave me a better sense of what life is. ” Ruth Bader Ginsburg had a healthy way of managing work and home life and I thought I’d bring that to light. As a working parent, she did the following: Valued Work - Ruth valued career and the intellectual stimulation and learning it brought.
Not every working parent has this situation but we do have some control over making boundaries.
The tides are changing now. It’s an invitation to create another way. Sometimes as working families, we are all so deep in our “daily grind”, it’s hard to come above water to realize there may be a better way that supports our family as a whole. And that concept creates success and a thriving approach to living in our homes, communities and workplaces. Our lives are not crafted to be overwhelmed, stressed and mentally drained. In this Covid year that has been so challenging, we all have taken stock of our wellbeing for better or worse and mental health should also be prioritized in the jobs and careers we choose. I hope as a working parent, you begin to think about ways that might support you, your family and your kids in a holistic way. I’m happy to connect with you on this journey! Learn More about Christine and ways she is supporting moms like you! Top Image: Natasha Hall on Unsplash RBG Image: Washington Post Comments are closed.
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