(The following article is a guest post by contributor Mehak Chopra)
So, there I was, my toddler son playing under my desk with an old cheerio that he found, unwilling to go to his playpen. I fenced him in between my feet to keep him from crawling away and dangled a toy near his face to keep his attention. Simultaneously, I tried to maintain composure on an important video call that I was running with my CEO while frequently muting the call mid-conversation when the toddler screamed.
If you’re a work-from-home parent with little kids, you know this is just another Tuesday.
On this particular occasion, the toddler won. After seeing my face appear and disappear on camera multiple times in quick succession my CEO, Nick Shah, burst out laughing and suggested I reschedule the call during my son’s naptime.
My son was 3.5 months old when I came back to work. Today, because I work from home, I find myself making calls while changing diapers, playing peek-a-boo with my baby (and occasionally my boss) while taking notes, and my version of a good day is one where the baby doesn’t vomit on my shirt in the middle of a meeting.
The struggle is real, guys
But there are ways to make it work. Here are a few ways that I find myself staying on point while I juggle the baby and the job:
Maintain composure on calls
People can relate. Babies, children of all ages, and pets have been popping into zoom calls since 2020. It’s not unusual to see a colleague’s family stroll past the background of a video call. It’s not ideal, but it’s not the end of the world.
If you’re thinking “Why not just keep the camera off?”—that’s not always an option. People don’t usually appreciate being interviewed by recruiters who keep their cameras turned off and it’s not unusual for candidates to refuse the interview in such situations.
Stay energetic and on point
Recruitment, as a profession, requires a great deal of commitment. While we do have traditional work hours, the reality of the job is that the work never really ends. And neither does parenting.
Being a working parent means juggling two full-time jobs. And most of us are up for the challenge. But to find success and job satisfaction, we need employers and managers who shape office policy and work culture that support us in all aspects of our life. At PTP, I can honestly say, we have managed to create this kind of culture.
I do work harder when I know that I am supported at the office, finding hours in the day that I can make up for missed time elsewhere. I am motivated because I feel seen in my workplace.
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