Connect with Lori at Mindful Return

https://www.mindfulreturn.com/

Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch

https://readysetlaunch.net/

From billing 2,700 hours and daycare pickups to trust-based leadership and workplace flexibility, the guests explore how parenting shapes better leaders—and how legal skills show up at home in unexpected ways.

Connect with Lori at Mindful Return

https://www.mindfulreturn.com/

Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch

https://readysetlaunch.net/

Through a candid “top five” list from each host, they explore what helped them survive and recover: mindset, partnership, asking for help, systems and support, physical and emotional care, and vulnerability.

This episode is an honest, compassionate conversation about resilience, marriage, parenting, leadership, and why saying “we’re not okay” can be the most powerful step forward.

Connect with Lori at Mindful Return

https://www.mindfulreturn.com/

Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch

https://readysetlaunch.net/

Connect with Lori at Mindful Return

https://www.mindfulreturn.com/

Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch

https://readysetlaunch.net/

14 Mental Health Options for You and Your Kids

https://www.mindfulreturn.com/mental-health/

For more information on Aura, the digital security app mentioned in this episode, click here.

Today, Lori and Jason are happy to welcome two wonderful moms in professional development, Aisha Greene and Stephanie Felder, to share their stories.

Aisha is the Director of Attorney Development and Training at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. She oversees firm professional development programming, including the formal assignment systems, partner and associate mentoring programs, upward and downward attorney performance evaluations, diversity programs, pro bono and corporate social responsibility initiatives, and all formal training and continuing legal education programs. Aisha lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two wonderful daughters, ages 10 and 13.

Stephanie has more than fifteen years of experience in attorney professional development at two Am Law 100 firms. In her current role at Groom Law Group, she is responsible for creating a comprehensive training and development curriculum for all attorneys at Groom and developing and overseeing the execution of strategies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Stephanie lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband Zach, her 8-year-old daughter, and her 5-year-old son.

Stay tuned to hear what Aisha and Stephanie say about their experiences as moms working in the field of professional development.

Show highlights:

1. Aisha and Stephanie share their personal working parent journeys. (4:02) (5:55)
2. How Stephanie’s legal professional development training and skills prepared her for being a mom. (8:15)
3. Aisha describes what it’s like to be a parent in professional development today. (9:26)
4. Aisha discusses the contrast between being a parent in professional development and being a parent as a legal associate. (10:23)
5. The workplace supports that were the most helpful and impactful for Stephanie when she became a working parent. (12:27)
6. Aisha talks about the magic of having informal workplace support. (16:09)
7. Stephanie gets into what she learned from her challenging first job as an infant room teacher at a daycare center. (21:10)
8. Skills Aisha gained from being a parent that have been helpful in her job. (26:20)
9. Changes in the field of professional development that are impacting parents. (28:54) (31:14)
10. Aisha discusses the importance of having working parent-caregiver groups across all industries. (35:56)
11. How Aisha and Stephanie’s approach to time management changed when they became parents. (38:22) (40:10)

Links and resources:

Aisha Greene on LinkedIn

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Stephanie Felder on LinkedIn

Groom Law Group

If you’re a leader of a working parent or caregiver employee resource group or affinity group (or would like to start one at your place of employment), join the Working Parent Group Network (WPGN) learning collaborative, at to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn

Books mentioned:

Work Parent Thrive by Dr. Yael Schonbrun

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Impact Winter by Travis Beacham

Mentioned in this episode:

Provide an Employee Benefit for Moms Returning After Maternity Leave

Join over 75 companies who currently provide an employee benefit course to new Moms. Mindful Return is a 4 week course that will help your employee retention at this critical time in your employee's life.

Mindful Return Course Ad

Lori and Jason are thrilled to welcome Joshua Troy and Neil Dennis to today’s podcast! Neil and Josh are both amazing dads in professional development.

Josh Troy is the Director of Talent Management at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, where he engages with attorneys and staff to ensure their professional and personal success. Josh is a proud parent of two daughters, one almost six years old and the other four, who were excited to learn their dad was being interviewed!

Neil Dennis is the Director of Professional Development at Blaney McMurtry LLP, a mid-sized full-service law firm in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is responsible for the recruitment, professional development, and training of legal professionals at the firm. Before joining the firm, Neil led career development at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and held similar positions in Washington DC, including as the Assistant Dean of Career Services at the Howard University School of Law and a Director of Career Services at Georgetown Law Center. He lives in Markham, a suburb near Toronto. He is married to Kia, who has a much cooler job than him as an author of thriller mystery novels. They have two kids, Bryson, age 13, and Miles, age 10 (almost 11).

Stay tuned to hear what Neil and Josh have to share about their lives as dads working in the world of professional development!

Show highlights:

1. The challenges Josh faced when his oldest daughter was born. (5:15)
2. How Neil got into the field of professional development, and what it means to him. (8:33)
3. How Neil draws inspiration from his kids and being a dad in his career. (11:05)
4. Josh describes his path into professional development and explains what it’s like to be a parent in that field. (13:02)
5. The workplace support Josh found especially helpful when he became a working parent. (18:09)
6. Josh discusses his experience of being in Covid lock-down with his young children. (19:49)
7. Josh shares some tips about backup care from his experience. (21:37)
8. Having conversations about figuring out the best way to space out your leave after having a child. (27:50)
9. What Neil learned from his very first job. (30:49)
10. The skills Josh and Neil gained from being parents that are helpful to them in their professional development roles. (34:56) (37:53)
11. A workplace change that affected working parents. (41:44)
12. Changes in the field of professional development that could affect working parents. (43:58)
13. Neil and Josh each share their advice for working parents. (47:15) (48:53)

Links and resources:

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

Joshua Troy on LinkedIn

Blaney McMurtry LLP

Neil Dennis on LinkedIn

Mindful Return blog post: What Is Backup Childcare and How Does It Work? An Interview with 3 Working Mamas

If you are the leader of a working parent or caregiver employee resource group (ERG) or affinity group at your organization, please join us in the Working Parent Group Network (WPGN) learning ,ollaborative. Go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn to sign up.

Recommended Books:

The Questioneers – A series by Andrea Beaty (Author) and David Roberts (Illustrator)

Relationships to Infinity by Jason Levin

Mentioned in this episode:

Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch

Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.

Ready Set Launch Book

Today, Lori and Jason are excited to introduce Eva Davis and Jennifer Eaby, who are both amazing moms working in real estate.

Jen Eaby is a realtor in the north suburbs of Atlanta. She has been in the real estate industry for nine years. She loves house shopping with clients, staging her listings for sale, and making friends with her clients. She and her husband, Joel, have been married for 19 years and are raising two daughters. Elizabeth is a senior in high school, and Gabriella is a freshman.

Eva Davis is an Executive Vice President at Compass and a real estate agent in the Washington, DC Metro area. Eva brings significant business experience to her real estate career from her time in the mortgage industry, positioning her for great success in the greater Washington DC market. Her high-touch service, top negotiating skills, ongoing hustle, and sense of humour have helped her build a deep referral business. Eva currently lives in downtown Bethesda, with her University of Michigan-loving husband and her two little kids, with whom she enjoys exploring the food scene in the DC area and taking advantage of local concerts, parks, theatre exhibits, and playgrounds.

Stay tuned to hear what Eva and Jen have to share about their lives as working moms in the world of real estate!

Show highlights:

1. Jen and Eva share their working parent stories. (3:50) (5:15)
2. Eva describes her current experience as a parent in the real estate industry. (7:06)
3. Eva talks about managing work-life boundaries in the real estate world. (9:05)
4. Jen shares something that caught her by surprise as her children got older. (10:29)
5. Jen describes the kind of support she had as an entrepreneur when she became a working parent. (13:45)
6. Eva talks about what she learned from her first job. (25:10)
7. Jen discusses the skills she gained as a parent that are helpful in her real estate role. (27:53)
8. Changes Eva sees in real estate right now that will affect working parents. (32:49)

Links and resources:

Compass Real Estate

Eva Davis on LinkedIn

Jennifer Eaby on LinkedIn

If you’d lead a working parent group at your organization and would like to join the Working Parent Group Network (WPGN), go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn

Recommended books:

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Relationships to Infinity by Jason Levin

Today, Lori and Jason are delighted to introduce two wonderful dads in real estate, Paul Benshoof and Corey Lee!

Corey Lee is the Principal of Residential Growth Properties LLC, a real estate investment brokerage in Washington DC. He has been actively involved in the real estate industry for nearly 25 years, and his company focuses on helping property owners unlock the value of their properties through zoning, entitlement, and redevelopment. He works closely with his wife, Bhavna, who runs her own successful real estate general contracting development and owners representation firm, and they live in the Forest Hills neighborhood of DC with their two youngest children, Sara and Ian, who are in middle and elementary school. While Corey and Bhavna met in grad school at UNC Chapel Hill, they still find a way to remain proud of their oldest daughter, Ida, who recently graduated from Duke, as a member of the Class of 2023. Corey earned his Political Science and Systems Engineering degree at the United States Military Academy at West Point and completed his JD and MBA in Real Estate Concentration at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Paul Benshoof is a Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Metropolitan in Northern New Jersey and has been with Keller Williams for eight years. Paul is a proud Scarlet Knight and studied economics at Rutgers University. He lives in Mount Olive, New Jersey, with his wife, Lindsay, and their three sons, aged 12, 10, and 3.

Tune in to hear what Paul and Corey have to share about their lives as working dads in the real estate world!

Show highlights:

1. Corey discusses his introduction to working parenthood. (5:18)
2. Paul shares what he enjoys most about being a parent working in the real estate industry. (9:58)
3. Corey shares his experience of being a parent in real estate. (11:12)
4. How Paul managed to remain consistent with his work when his children came into his life. (17:43)
5. The experiences and supports that were helpful for Corey when he became a working parent. (20:09)
6. Paul talks about the job he did while in high school and his first job after college and shares what he learned from doing them. (24:56)
7. Corey shares what he learned when his dad turned down an economically viable business opportunity to spend more time with his family. (30:32)
8. The skills Paul and Corey gained from being parents that are helpful in their current roles in real estate. (33:44) (35:25)
9. Corey explains how he would have benefited from having had a business coach. (36:02)
10. Corey’s tips for people in a business partnership with a partner or spouse. (38:50)
11. Changes in the real estate industry that could affect working parents. (40:33)

Links and resources:

Residential Growth Properties LLC

Corey Lee on LinkedIn

Keller Williams Metropolitan Northern New Jersey

Paul Benshoof on LinkedIn

If you’d like to participate in the conversation at the Mindful Return Working Parents Group Network Learning Collaborative, go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn

Recommended books:

The Power of Ambition by Jim Rohn

The Awakened Family by Shefali Tsabary

Relationships to Infinity by Jason Levin

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

Today, Lori and Jason are excited to talk with two awesome consulting dads, Jonathan Milde, and Daniel Baldor!

Jonathan Milde is a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, where he is a core member of the technology and digital advantage transactions and integrations and industrial goods practice areas. He also has significant experience with health care, consumer goods, and retail clients. Jonathan lives in Maryland and has been married to Bess for 15 years. They have two kids, Beah, age 11, and August, age 8.

Dan Baldor has been with Accenture for nearly 18 years. He is the Office Managing Director for Accenture in Miami, as well as the Life Sciences Client Group Lead and Strategy and Consulting Products Lead for Accenture’s self-market unit. He has been married to his wife, Michelle, for 24 years. He is a dad to Carolina, who is 21, a senior at Parsons School of Design in Paris, France, and Stephanie who is 19 and studying psychology at Florida State University.

Tune in to hear what Jon and Dan have to share about their lives as working dads in the consulting world!

Show highlights:

1. Jon talks about his transition to working parenthood. (3:34)
2. Dan shares his working parent story. (5:15)
3. What it’s like for Dan to be a parent in management consulting these days. (7:00)
4. How the change in travel pace post-pandemic will affect new parents. (8:19)
5. The workplace supports Jon found particularly helpful when he became a working parent. (11:29)
6. Dan discusses the fantastic benefits Accenture offers for working parents. (13:40)
7. As a parent, ask the organization you work for whether or not they have backup child support if you’re unsure.
8. Dan and Jon share what they learned from their first jobs. (17:41) (19:34)
9. How living with his young children helped Dan prepare for client interactions. (23:30)
10. Dan offers advice for working parents in management consulting. (26:00)
11. What Jon does to mitigate workplace stress. (28:24)

Links and resources:

Boston Consulting Group

Accenture

Jonathan Milde on LinkedIn

Dan Baldor on LinkedIn

If you’d like to participate in the conversation at the Mindful Return Working Parents Group Network Learning Collaborative, go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn

Books mentioned:

Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Mentioned in this episode:

Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch

Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.

Ready Set Launch Book

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori and Jason talk to two fantastic consulting moms, Elizabeth Lapetina and Brooke Weddle.

Liz Lapetina is a Managing Director with Deloitte Consulting, focused on healthcare operations and business transformation. She has experience working with PBMs and health plans on new business model launches, business transformations, consumer experience and strategy, and performance improvement initiatives. She is also involved in Deloitte’s well-being initiatives, leading the adoption of well-being strategies at one of the firm’s largest accounts. Liz lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband, James, her two daughters, aged seven and five, and her dog. She enjoys reading, riding her Peloton bike, and serving as the Cookie Manager for her daughters’ girl scout troops in her spare time.

Brooke Weddle is a partner at McKinsey & Company. As a leader in the firm’s people and organizational performance practice, Brooke helps organizations across the world achieve sustained performance through transformation. Globally, she leads the Change Leaders Forum, an executive capability-building series on transformational change and McKinsey’s organizational work in advanced industries, aerospace and defense, automotive, and electronics. In addition, she leads the firm’s culture and change management work in North America. Brooke lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Miguel, and her two children, who are eight and ten.

Brooke is also an appreciator of network theory. She wrote a wonderful article on social capital: Building Back Better Relationships at Work.

Stay tuned to hear what Liz and Brooke have to say about their lives as parents working in the consulting world!

Show highlights:

1. Liz shares her working parent story. (5:28)
2. Liz took five months off for maternity leave for both of her children. That made a huge difference! (7:07)
3. The importance of having mentors and sponsors. (7:31)
4. How Liz and her husband approach their careers and family decisions intentionally since becoming parents. (9:49)
5. Brooke’s working parent story started in Seoul, South Korea. (10:45)
6. Brooke explains why she returned to work shortly after having her second child. (12:51)
7. Brooke explains how she and her husband approach their work and parental responsibilities. (13:25)
8. Liz and Brooke explain what it’s like to be a parent in management consulting and share their top working parent travel-related tips. (15:27) (18:53)
9. The workplace supports that were helpful for Brooke and Liz when they became working parents. (23:51) (28:18)
10. Why it’s essential to speak up, say what you need and ask for support from your workplace when necessary. (31:44)
11. How parenthood helped Liz gain more empathy for others and become smarter with her time. (38:59)
12. How having young kids helped Brooke calm down and become a better listener. (41:15)

Mentioned in this episode:

Provide an Employee Benefit for Moms Returning After Maternity Leave

Join over 75 companies who currently provide an employee benefit course to new Moms. Mindful Return is a 4 week course that will help your employee retention at this critical time in your employee's life.

Mindful Return Course Ad

Juan Otero serves as Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Comcast Corporation, where he leads DE&I initiatives across Comcast NBC Universal, focusing specifically on governance, public policy, and strategic employee engagement. His responsibilities include the oversight of DE&I analytics; organizational alignment on the company’s public policy positions with DE&I implications; broad activation of employee resource groups and related volunteerism platforms; and development of targeted DE&I workforce education and training. He also supports the integration of DE&I into Comcast NBC Universal’s community impact initiatives.

Juan is married to his wonderful wife, Julissa, and they have an active son, Julian, who is five years old. Juan holds a JD from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and an MPA from American University.

Juan talks about his experience as a parent working in diversity, equity, and inclusion. He discusses his confusion and fear after becoming a parent, the fantastic support he received in the workplace, and how his priorities changed after he became a dad.

Stay tuned to hear about Juan’s life as a dad working in the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Show highlights:

1. Juan tells the story of how he met his wife and landed up where he is today in the world of working parents. (2:53)
2. Juan discusses what it is like for him to be a parent working in diversity, equity, and inclusion. (6:13)
3. Becoming a dad helped Juan evolve in his role at Comcast and gave him a different viewpoint regarding various racial issues. (8:03)
4. Juan had a wonderfully supportive boss who understood his confusion after becoming a parent and explained everything Comcast had available, in terms of parental support. (11:14)
5. Juan explains how he had to re-prioritize his life after his son was born. (12:27)
6. The strategies Juan uses as a leader to support his people. (15:15)
7. Even though Juan got all he needed in terms of parental support in the workplace, he would still have appreciated having someone to talk to about his wellness. (18:08)
8. Juan talks about his first paid job and explains how it made an imprint on him. (20:34)
9. What has parenthood taught Juan in terms of career-related skills? (22:58)
10. Juan discusses his part in shaping the conversation around working parenthood. (26:57)
11. How heart-focused breathing can help working parents avoid freaking out. (32:42)

Links and resources:

Comcast Corporation

Juan Otero on LinkedIn

Books mentioned:

A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens

The Godfather, by Mario Puzo

Dog Man, A Tale of Two Kitties, by Dav Pilkey

Pete the Cat, by Kimberly Dean, James Dean, and Eric Litwin

Mentioned in this episode:

Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch

Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.

Ready Set Launch Book

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori and Jason are excited to talk to the fabulous dad, Ken Imo!

Ken Imo is the Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion for Adobe. He is an accomplished executive, author, lawyer, and U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps veteran who promotes organizational change through diversity, equity and inclusion, and other strategic human capital initiatives.

Ken is a proud husband to his wife, Jennifer, and is the father of three girls, Olivia, who is fifteen, twelve-year-old twins, Cecelia and Juliette, and two dogs, Julio Jones, and the puppy they got during Covid, Sir Lewis Hamilton, also known as Louie. Ken was a four-year scholar-athlete at Southern Methodist University and received his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.

Ken talks about his evolution as a working dad and describes what it’s like to be a working parent in the DEI space. He also shares his recommendations for workplace improvements for parents and discusses the similarities between the issues faced by working parents and those that exist in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Stay tuned to hear Ken’s inspiring working dad story!

Show highlights:

1. Ken and his wife are setting an example for their daughters in how they navigate their personal and professional lives. (3:22)
2. Why Ken likes to look at his work as an extension of the Civil Rights Movement. (4:09)
3. Ken would like his children to understand why his work is so important to him. (4:38)
4. The challenges of being a working parent in the DEI space. (6:12)
5. What Ken does for self-care and to reset and restore himself. (11:05)
6. Ken appreciated getting parental leave when his daughters were born. (16:11)
7. Some companies could do a better job of advertising the benefits they offer for working parents and encouraging people to use them. (22:28)
8. Most Americans tend to underutilize their paid time off. (22:54)
9. Ken talks about his first paid job, his motivation for doing it, and the lessons he learned. (27:51)
10. Ken’s career trajectory started in service, and much of what he does today is about intentionally helping others. (32:02)
11. Ken discusses his role in helping organizations to stay vigilant and creative while promoting a more inclusive environment, addressing workplace challenges, and coming up with solutions. (35:07)

“Anything that allows us to effectively do our jobs, and effectively do our most important job, that is parenting, we should take full advantage

Mentioned in this episode:

Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch

Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.

Ready Set Launch Book

Today Lori and Jason are excited to interview two amazing moms, Kamillah Knight and Jaya Saxena!

Kamillah Knight is a change superhero! She strives to change how people interact with their environment, including their physical environment and those around them. Currently, Kamillah is a Senior Global Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Danaher’s Water Quality Platform. Before that, she worked as the head of diversity and inclusion at Ferrero and at Unilever in diversity and inclusion, sales, and supply chain. Kamillah is also deeply involved in volunteer work with her local community and her alma mater, Cornell University. Her most recent degree from Cornell is an MBA. Kamillah has a ten-year-old daughter.

Jaya Saxena is the mom of two delightful and spirited girls, who are five and nine years old. Jaya is a Diversity and Inclusion Strategist and former practicing attorney with fifteen years of advocacy and professional development experience. Her experience includes working in Legal Services, Law School Administration, and at an Am Law 10 Law firm. She currently works at a global economic consultancy, leading firm-wide DEI efforts. Jaya is an active member of her community, and she serves on multiple non-profit boards.

In this episode of Parents at Work, Kamillah and Jaya talk about the joys and challenges of being working parents in the DEI space. They discuss the importance of honesty, vulnerability, and flexibility in the workplace, and talk about networking, support structures, and inclusivity.

Stay tuned today to hear Kamillah and Jaya’s inspiring working mom stories!

Show highlights:

1. When Kamillah entered the workforce, she struggled to understand how she could be successful in her career and the best mom she could be. (3:49)
2. Kamillah talks about the things she built into her schedule when she entered the workforce to ensure that she spent enough time with her daughter. (4:56)
3. When Jaya had her first daughter, she was older than most first-time moms. (7:47)
4. Jaya’s journey is constantly evolving, and she keeps on learning as new challenges present themselves. (8:40)
5. Jaya talks about the gifts and hardships she has experienced as a working parent in the DEI space. (10:07)
6. Working in the DEI space puts Kamillah at the forefront of understanding different ways of communicating things to her daughter. (12:39)
7. Kamillah always tries to be honest with her daughter when talking to her about issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. (14:55)
8. Jaya has learned to be okay with not knowing all the answers when her daughters ask her difficult questions. (16:40)
9. Flexible working was a game-changer and Kamillah’s number one workplace support when she became a working parent. (18:24)
10. Jaya would have liked to have had more support around nursing and breastfeeding after her children were born. (24:38)
11. Parenthood has taught Kamillah about empathy, balance, and time management. (31:04)
12. Jaya has learned many skills as a parent, including resilience and competence when navigating through challenging situations. (38:35)
13. Vulnerability is vital when shaping conversations around working parenthood. (40:01)
14. Common biases need to get acknowledged in the workplace. (41:55)

Links and resources:

The Danaher Water Platform

Kamillah Knight on LinkedIn

Jaya Saxena on LinkedIn

If you are the leader of a working parent or caregiver employee resource group at your organization, go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn to sign up for the Working Parent Group Network (WPGN).

Books mentioned:

Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coats

Relationships to Infinity by Jason Levin

How to Raise and Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendy

Mentioned in this episode:

Provide an Employee Benefit for Moms Returning After Maternity Leave

Join over 75 companies who currently provide an employee benefit course to new Moms. Mindful Return is a 4 week course that will help your employee retention at this critical time in your employee's life.

Mindful Return Course Ad

In the second part of this series, Lori and Jason are excited to have an amazing dad, Sergio Rosario, joining them to carry on the conversation about the important, emotionally-charged, and controversial topic of who does what in the home!

Sergio was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Nine years ago, his life and work brought him to Virginia. He met his beautiful wife, also from Puerto Rico, and a US Army officer, seven years ago. They live in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but they will soon be moving back to Virginia. Sergio is a social worker, musician, educator, fatherhood advocate, the founder of Soy Super Papa, and the course coach and lead for Mindful Return’s Spanish Language Working Dad Course. Sergio and his wife have a five-year-old daughter named Stella.

In this episode of Parents at Work, Sergio dives into what makes household labor a critical topic and why it is so full of emotion. He offers some excellent advice to help couples start a conversation about household labor and avoid allowing emotion to interfere with our discussions about chores. He also talks about the benefits of good communication and explains how he progressed towards taking responsibility in his relationship.

Stay tuned to today’s conversation to hear what Sergio has to say about finding common ground around a healthy division of household labor!

Show highlights:

1. When he met his wife, Sergio knew that he would have to make some lifestyle changes! (5:08)
2. Sergio explains what motivated him to start helping parents communicate better. (9:03)
3. Why does Sergio think household labor is such a critical and emotionally-charged topic? (11:55)
4. Sergio and his wife approach their household labor as a common goal with no gender roles assigned. (12:37)
5. Sergio offers some advice to help people avoid becoming emotional around household tasks. (14:07)
6. Sergio describes the systems that he and his wife use in their home. (15:35)
7. How Sergio and his wife progressed in their relationship around issues related to household labor. (21:42)
8. How Sergio and his family have benefited from having good communication. (24:28)
9. Lori randomly draws a birthday celebration card from Eve Rodsky’s Fair Play deck for Sergio. They talk about birthday celebrations to see what comes up around the division of labor on that topic. (27:10)
10. Sergio explains how partners can start a conversation about household labor. (32:37)
11. How to address breakdowns in the division of labor. (38:11)
12. The importance of having conversations about gender roles. (41:04)

Links and resources:

Mindful Return’s Spanish Language Working Dad Course

Soy Super Papa

Mentioned in this episode:

Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch

Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.

Ready Set Launch Book

Today, Lori and Jason are delighted to welcome Eve Rodsky to the podcast. Eve is a mom and a working parent celebrity. She is the author of the New York Times best-selling book Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live). She is also the author of the brand-new book, Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World.

Eve is a lawyer, and she has done extensive work in family mediation, strategy, and organizational management. She is married to Seth, and they have three children. Zach is thirteen, Ben is ten, and Anna is five.

In this episode of Parents at Work, Eve unpacks the relationship evolution that takes place in a marriage after the children come along. She shares the Fair Play origin story, explains the power of having systems in place, and plays a game with the Fair Play cards to help couples understand how baggage and assumptions make things emotionally charged.

Tune into today’s conversation to learn about the value of systems and find out how couples can share household chores without triggering each other.

Show highlights:

1. Eve talks about her first job as a bar mitzvah dancer. (4:16)
2. How Eve started helping parents communicate better. (7:24)
3. Eve explains why things become so emotionally charged in the home after the children start to arrive. (12:38)
4. Eve plays a game with her Fair Play cards and explains what they represent. (14:10)
5. Playing with the Fair Play cards helps people understand the baggage that tends to get caught up in the division of labor in the home. (23:46)
6. Fair Play is an ownership mindset and a no excuse zone. Eve explains how it started to work in her home. (24:07)
7. It is vital to understand the context of why people do things. (26:45)
8. Why are systems vital in the home? (30:00)
9. How to unlock the secret formula for boundaries, distance, and communication and start the conversation. (36:49)
10. What allowed Eve to feel that she had started to make progress with issues around the division of labor in her home? (39:47)
11. How to reframe or replace toxic messages and create a new way forward. (43:40)
12. Eve talks about the Fair Play documentary. (48:44)

Mentioned in this episode:

Provide an Employee Benefit for Moms Returning After Maternity Leave

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Julian has been an Executive Search Consultant for more than fifteen years. He is a former corporate attorney, venture capitalist, and investment banker. He is a partner with Heidrick & Struggles, based in Washington DC, and a member of the firm’s CEO and Board practice. He leads the firm’s global Government Affairs and Trade Association work and co-leads their Professionals of Color Employee Resource Group.

Julian has been married to his wife, Annette, for almost twenty years. They have two teenage boys, a ten-year-old daughter, and a rescue dog called Blake.

Patrick is a former US Army Intelligence Officer. He has been an Executive Search Consultant for almost twenty years. He established the DC area office in the Aerospace and Defence practice at Raines International, and he leads their Industrial practice. Raines is an executive search and leadership advisory firm with nine offices.

Patrick has been married to his wife, Megan, for 24 years, and they have four children. Aiden is 21, Colin is 18, Rylan is 15, and Tristan is 13.

Today, Julian and Patrick share candidly about their lives as working parents. They talk about what it is like to be dads in executive search and dive into workplace flexibility, support, normalizing paternity leave, and shaping the conversation around working parenthood.

Stay tuned today to hear Julian and Patrick’s uplifting working dad stories!

Show highlights:

1. Patrick’s working parent story started in graduate school. (3:31)
2. Julian and his wife, Annette, wanted their kids to have an American suburban experience. (6:26)
3. Julian likes to be an equal partner. He is very involved in raising his kids. (8:57)
4. Working in executive search, Julian has found more flexibility to do pick-ups and drop-offs and be more involved in his kids’ activities. (9:59)
5. Evolving technology in the executive search business has allowed Patrick more flexibility as a working dad. (10:56)
6. Julian is fortunate to be part of a firm that is conscious of being collaborative, and in which parents are encouraged to support one another. (13:33)
7. Patrick talks about the financial benefits available for families and the changing conversation around fathers taking parental leave. (16:04)
8. Julian describes the pro-active support provided by his firm to allow fathers to take parental leave. (20:40)
9. Parenthood has helped Patrick become more patient and empathetic over the years. (22:20)
10. Being a parent has taught Julian time management skills and adaptability. (23:55)
11. Patrick and Julian talk about their roles as dads in executive search to shape the conversation around working parenthood. (27:24)
12. What can candidates do to work better with someone in executive search? (32:52)
13. Patrick advises working parents to become resilient and learn to bounce back quickly! (39:04)
14. Julian feels that flexibility is vital for working parents! (44:20)

Links and resources:

Heidrick & Struggles

The Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services at Raines International

The Association of Executive Search Consultants

Blinkist

The Daily Dad

Books mentioned:

Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch, by Jason Levin

The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss

Mentioned in this episode:

Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch

Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.

Ready Set Launch Book

Today, Lori and Jason talk to two inspiring moms, Christina Cary and Debbie Tang, both professionals in executive search.

Christina is a partner at Heidrick & Struggles. Her search work focuses on functional roles in human resources, including CHRO, CPO, divisional and regional heads of HR, and centers of excellence leaders in talent management, talent acquisition, learning and development, HR operations, total rewards, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Christina is a member of the Georgetown University board of governors. She is a former president of Hoyas Unlimited, Georgetown’s annual fundraising arm for athletics that supports excellence across all the university’s 29 intercollegiate sports.

Christina’s most important job is being a mom to her son Benjamin and daughter Abigail. Benjamin, known as Ben, Bennie, or Bubba, is a funny, curious, and loving little boy who will turn five in June. Abigail, also known as Abby, is a rambunctious, smiley, fearless little girl who will be two in April. Christina is married to Patrick (Pat), and the Carey family resides in Bethesda, Maryland.

Debbie Tang is a partner at Bridge Partners, a black-owned executive search firm focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Debbie leads global executive searches in both the private and public sectors, from Fortune 100 companies to universities, non-profits, and government agencies. She recruits diverse senior executives across all functions, including CEO, CFO, General Counsels, Chief Legal Officers, Board, and regulatory leaders, in a wide variety of industries.

Debbie is actively involved in the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the District of Columbia. She is also on the board of the Washington Project for the Arts and the Norwood School. She received a BA degree from McGill University and a JD from Washington and Lee School of Law, where she served on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice.

Debbie has a nine-year-old son, Ben, and a six-year-old daughter called C.C.

In today’s conversation, Christina and Debbie talk openly and honestly about being parents in executive search. They share their struggles, talk about workplace support systems, and get into finding the right work-life balance. They also discuss the value of developing relationships with colleagues who are also parents and the support systems they would like to have in the workplace.

Stay tuned today to hear Debbie and Christina’s encouraging accounts of their lives as working moms.

Show highlights:

1. When Debbie started working crazy hours as an associate in big law before she became a mom, she used to wonder how the female partners with kids did it. (4:13)
2. Christina has experienced a lot of parent flexibility in the executive search world. (7:55)
3. Christina found the unpredictable world of executive search an excellent training ground for becoming a parent. (10:52)
4. Now that Debbie has kids, she finally understands why high-powered executives sometimes make million-dollar career decisions based on their children. (13:08)
5. Debbie explains why she found it easier to be a parent in executive search during the pandemic, when travel demands were reduced. (13:35)
6. There are days when Christine feels that she is not doing what she needs to do in any area of her life - as a mom or at work. (14:25)
7. Being mentored by a colleague who is a father of five has helped Christina immensely. (15:53)
8. Heidrick & Struggles has recently implemented a formalized employee assistance program for anyone experiencing mental health issues. (17:00)
9. At Bridge, they have two partners working on every search. That has made a world of difference to Debbie as a working parent. (18:01)
10. Blocking out time to do her work has helped Debbie approach her weeks. (19:18)
11. Debbie would like to have some backup child care at work for emergencies. (26:01)
12. Christina would welcome a formalized support system at work for parents re-entering the workforce after maternity leave. (27:06)
13. Debbie explains her role in shaping the conversation around working parents. (34:26)
14. At Heidrick, 23 partners got promoted in the last cycle. Six were in Christina’s practice. Five of these six were women, and three had multiple kids younger than six. (37:57)

Links and resources:

Heidrick & Struggles

Bridge Partners

Books mentioned:

Back to Work After Baby: How to Plan and Navigate a Mindful Return from Maternity Leave by Lori Mihalich-Levin

Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch by Jason Levin

Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen

Today, Lori and Jason talk to two amazing CEO dads, Bob Spagnoletti and Charles Bonello. Bob serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the District of Columbia Bar, and Charlie is the Co-founder and CEO of Vivvi, a provider of childcare and early education for children of all ages.

The District of Columbia Bar is the largest integrated bar in the United States, with over 110,000 members practicing in fifty states and more than eighty countries. Bob also serves as the Executive Vice President of the DC Bar Pro Bono Center, an independent 501(c)(3) affiliate of the DC Bar. The Pro Bono Center recruits, trains, and mobilizes volunteer attorneys to take pro bono cases, serving individuals living in poverty who are at risk of losing their homes, livelihoods, and families. Bob and his husband, Bernard, have been together for twenty years. They have two boys, Hunter and Anthony, and one grandson.

Vivvi has programs across the country, including on-campus, in-home, in-office, and virtual tutoring. Vivvi partners with employers of all different sizes to make child care more accessible and affordable to provide parents with peace of mind and allow employers the most powerful tool for recruiting retention and productivity. Before co-founding Vivvi, Charlie co-founded Grand Central Tech and was a venture partner at RTP Ventures. He is a graduate of Tufts University and currently lives in New York with his wife and their three children.

In today’s conversation, Bob and Charlie share their respective journeys as working fathers who also happen to be CEOs. Bob talks about his and his husband’s experience of fostering and then adopting children as a same-sex couple. Charlie describes what it was like to go from an academic exercise in childcare to needing childcare in real life. They also discuss what it has been like, day-to-day, being both parents and CEOs, how their parenting experiences have enhanced their careers, and how their careers have helped them become better parents. Stay tuned to hear Bob and Charlie’s inspiring stories!

Show highlights:

1. Bob talks about how his older son, Hunter, came to him and Bernard, as a foster child, in the mid-90s. (3:52)
2. Bob and Bernard adopted Anthony many years after Hunter came into their lives. (4:58)
3. Bob worked the whole time, and Bernard, a special-ed teacher, took time off work when they had Anthony. (5:45)
4. Charlie got to see first-hand the impact that child care had on working families and their employers. That inspired him to go out and make things happen! (8:40)
5. Although it took a lot of juggling, serving families in need of childcare during the desperate time of COVID motivated Charlie and his wife, a nurse, to keep on going out and driving their programs. (10:05)
6. Being both a parent and a CEO can sometimes feel all-consuming. Charlie explains how he manages to cope with both roles successfully. (12:34)
7. Being a parent and a CEO has sensitized Bob to the parental concerns and issues that members of his staff are facing. (15:01)
8. It was helpful for Bob to have a diverse executive team, great work colleagues, flexibility, and the power to make operating decisions when he became a parent. (17:34)
9. Offering free childcare to all his employees has proven to be the most impactful and effective recruiting, retention, and productivity tool ever for Charlie. (20:47)
10. The DC Bar now has a policy in place that allows moms, dads, and adoptive parents to take time off after the birth of their children. (26:40)
11. Back-up care is an essential resource for working parents. (30:21)
12. Bob feels the need to jump in and fix things that are broken. As a parent, he has worked hard to figure out who needs to be addressing a problem before jumping in. (32:55)
13. Parenthood has helped Charlie improve his communication and how he empathizes with others and supports them. (38:44)

Links and resources:

The District of Columbia Bar

Vivvi

Audible

Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey, HBR article by William Oncken, Jr. and Donald L. Wass

Books mentioned:

The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

Setting the Table by Danny Meyer

Jason Levin’s upcoming book, Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping In Touch, will debut in January of 2022.

Christian Nunes, MBA, MS, LCSW, is the National President of the National Organization for Women (NOW). She has been the National President since August 2020. Before that, she was appointed Vice President by the board in May 2019. Christian is the second African American president in the organization’s history, the youngest person of color, and the youngest president of the organization in more than 40 years. Christian leads the organization through an intersectional lens and brings together a diverse affiliation of grassroots activists to work against structural sexism and racism. In addition, Christian is the founder of a behavioral health and consulting practice. Her mental health expertise assists her in understanding the constituents’ experience. It also helps her understand where policy and legislation are disconnected from the real experience of the people. Christian lives with her 2-year-old son, CJ, near Washington, D.C. Christian and CJ love taking short day trips to parks, outdoor festivals, zoos, and farms in the DMV area in their spare time.

Radhika Patil is the co-founder and CEO of Cradlewise and mom to a 7-year old and a 4-year-old. Cradlewise is a baby tech company based in Silicon Valley. Their first product is a smart crib for babies with an integrated contactless baby monitor that automatically starts rocking along with music to soothe the baby back to sleep, just like a parent, at the first signs of wakeup. Since building the crib for her babies, Radhika has been on a sleep fitness mission to help other parents. Radhika’s husband is the other co-founder of Cradlewise. In her spare time, Radhika loves to hike, garden, and read books with her kids.

In today’s conversation, Christian and Radhika give open and candid accounts of their experiences as working parents who also happen to be CEOs of organizations. They talk about the workplace supports they enjoyed after becoming parents and those they would like to have had. They also discuss the career-related skills their parenthood experience helped them develop, recount parenthood-related micro-aggressions they have experienced, share their best advice for navigating life as a working parent, and much, much more! Stay tuned to hear the motivating and encouraging conversation with these two amazing working moms!

Show highlights:

1. Having her child later in life has made Christian’s journey interesting, fun, and challenging. (4:33)
2. There is more acceptance now than ever before for taking time off for kids. (7:10)
3. It is sometimes hard for Radhika to separate her work from her personal life. (10:05)
4. It can be challenging to find a healthy work-life balance while taking ownership of your life in the process. (14:02)
5. Sometimes, you need to take some time to do things for yourself. (14:55)
6. Christian’s infant son went with her when she had to travel for work. (16:24)
7. Since becoming the president of her organization, Christian has added extra support for working parents. (17:19)
8. Having daycare on site where she worked would have been a game-changer for Radhika after her baby was born. (23:31)
9. Having a toddler has helped Christian understand people’s mood changes a lot better. (28:15)
10. Coping with micro-aggressions and shaping the conversation around working parents. (32:01)
11. Figuring out your goals as a CEO and as a parent. (36:44)
12. Having a schedule is vital for working parents. (42:48)

Links and resources:

Carer.Com

Audible

Welcome to Your Child’s Brain by Sam Wang and Sandra Aamodt

Cradlewise

National Organization for Women

Dale is the Associate Dean and Chief Advancement Officer for the Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He’s responsible for the strategy and operations on fundraising and constituent engagement, and he’s the campaigns director for the college’s $550 Million goal in the With Illinois $2.25 Billion comprehensive campaign. As of today, the college is at 109% of its goal. Over the last 20+ years, Dale has held a variety of alumni and fundraising engagement goals in higher education. He’s an active CASE volunteer and also holds membership in organizations such as the African American Development Officers Network and The Association of Fundraising Professionals. He’s also involved in other non-profit work as well including serving on the executive committee of the board of directors for the American Legion, Boys State of Missouri. Dale loves his family and knows he wouldn't be where he is today without the support of his wife and his four daughters.

It’s going to be a really interesting episode as these two dads talk about the most exciting things in fundraising, how they look at things from a completely different angle in order to change advancement, the power of integrating ones family into their work, and the working parenthood challenges they’ve successfully navigated all through their careers. Tune in and get inspired.

Show Highlights

1. Dramatic ups and downs Mark went through when he unexpectedly fell into his working parent journey (03:36)
2. The value of having an incredible community of 120+ helpers (07:01)
3. How Dale and his wife were able to navigate being first time parents and working on their thriving careers (08:48)
4. Learning to turn off the fundraising mode whenever it’s time to go be a parent (15:41)
5. Mark’s experience with being a parent who works as a fundraising professional (19:00)
6. Parental workplace support systems that they have benefitted from all through their careers (25:13)
7. Moving away from the previous way of doing things in fundraising to focus more on relationship building (29:59)
8. Finding a way to shut things off in a constantly connected world (33:49)
9. Why we should be mindful of the habits that we pick up (35:33)

Links and Resources

1. Good to Great By Jim Collins
2. All Labor Has Dignity By Martin Luther King Jr.
3. What's a Freemie? A genius invention for working parents
4. Jason's Website
5. Jason on Linkedin
6. Lori's Website
7. Lori on Linkedin

Pradnya Haldipur is the Vice President of Development at Code.org, where she leads fundraising and philanthropic strategy. She has more than 24 years of development and management experience in a myriad of national and international settings. She went to Code.org with experience from prestigious academic medical institutions such as Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC, Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, and Boston Children’s Hospital, as well as think tanks, global development organizations, and the arts. Over the course of her career, she has raised more than $145M to support research, capital projects, endowment, operations, and programmatic projects. Pradnya was born in Mumbai, India but grew up in New Jersey. She resides in Silver Spring, MD, with her husband Joe Clemons, their children, Mirza Cate (age 8) and Xavier Anant (age 6) who are avid Code.org users.

Kara Barnes is the Senior Director of Planned Giving at American University in Washington D.C. where she helps donors structure gift arrangements that create a meaningful legacy at the university and positive change in the world. She has over 20 years of experience in non-profit fundraising, with a focus on major gifts and planned giving. She has served in development positions in the arts and public media as well as higher education. Kara is a proud mid-westerner and lives in Washington D.C. with her husband Dave and son Lewis.

Pradnya and Kara share the tensions and benefits of being working moms involved in mission-based roles that they are very passionate about, and how they manage to stay committed to their work and families while maintaining good physical and mental health. You won’t want to miss this truly engaging conversation about boundaries, relationship-building, and passion.. The lessons to learn are unmatched. So stay tuned!

Show Highlights

1. Being a mom while moving the mission forward at work (03:15)
2. Kara’s working mom story: Integrating her love and passion for fundraising into her family life (05:11)
3. How to go about boundary setting between work and family (09:11)
4. The lack of more extensive maternity leave policies and the harm it causes (12:15)
5. Anticipated changes in non-profits that will be geared towards better support systems for their employees (17:02)
6. Changes happening in the fundraising industry that will affect working parents (21:32)
7. How having children has made these leaders more successful in their careers (25:20)
8. Forming great work relationships from the authenticity of inviting who you are and your family life into your work related interactions (28:14)
9. Kara’s way of staying grounded in her work and family life (32:12)
10. Adopting a mindset of loving both work and home life while using technology to achieve balance (35:37)

Links and Resources

1. Positive Encouragement Parenting
2. What's a Freemie? A genius invention for working parents
3. Jason's Website
4. Jason on Linkedin
5. Lori's Website
6. Lori on Linkedin

Jewelyn’s work has been focused on promoting and empowering parents to negotiate and advocate for their needs. She lives in Asheville, Virginia with her husband Greg, two children, and their two amazing cats. She is an alumna of the Mindful Return program and continues to serve the program as a coach to new mums. Jewelyn shares how Lori’s program, Mindful Return, helped her with her career and motherhood and highlights the fact that being a working mom, especially with more than one kid, means more work and a bigger family that you'll want to keep happy and strong.

Organizational skills become more important than ever when you mix in growing your career, and Jewelyn has learned to manage “balancing” her time on a weekly basis, instead of getting obsessed about day-to-day work-life balance. You’ll want to join this lively conversation to learn more about life as a parent who works on Capitol Hill, the challenges of working in government affairs and parenting at the same time, navigating challenging conversations with your kids, and most importantly, how to figure out your own effective way of successfully parenting your kids while growing your career.

Show Highlights

1. Parenting her 5 and 2-year-old children (03:08)
2. Finding Mindful Return and how she was able to recreate and reimagine herself and her career (03:43)
3. Thriving at balancing things over a week instead of being too focused on work-life balance on a daily basis (05:13)
4. What it’s like being a parent in a government relations role (07:46)
5. Explaining her workdays to her kids in an age-appropriate manner (10:34)
6. How she applies her skill in managing disagreements on the hill into managing disagreements with her kids (12:26)
7. The most fulfilling thing about her work with Raising Our Future (15:54)
8. Having a wonderful boss who supported her in her needs both as a parent and career woman (18:12)
9. Support that she expects parents to get from their workplaces in this day and age (21:02)
10. Working in the environment of uncertainty and new ways of doing things brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic (25:09)
11. Remembering who “The Enemy” is when the going gets tough (29:32)
12. How Freemies changed her working parenting life (32:32)

Links and Resources

1. Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans by Michaeleen Doucleff
2. What's a Freemie? A genius invention for working parents
3. Jason's Website
4. Jason on Linkedin
5. Lori's Website
6. Lori on Linkedin

Clif is the Senior Vice President of government relations at the American Healthcare Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), which represents more than 14,000 for-and not-for-profit nursing homes, assisted living residences, and facilities for the care of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

He has been married for 31 years and has three children (Chanel, 28, Christian, 25, and Clifton, 22). He has served in various leadership positions within his local church and has been actively involved in several professional and community organizations.

Jeff is the Director of the Alliance for Congress at the Partnership for Public Service, a new program committed to strengthening the institution of congress to better serve the American public. His career in government affairs began in 2004 when he left the Navy to work as a congressional staffer. Subsequent opportunities took him to the Department of Defence and the Boston Consulting Group. Jeff has been married for eight years and has two children (ages 5 and 3)

The four of us dug into the life cycle of a government relations career, what it’s like to work as a congressional staffer, the adjustments to make when one has to constantly travel for work to ensure that they still stay engaged as a parent, creating a work environment where parents feel that their family life is considered, thriving at raising kids while building a successful career, and so much more. Cliff and Jeff’s candor on their experience as working parents in the government relations space was not just incredibly insightful but inspirational. Stay tuned for more.

Show Highlights

1. Clif’s “Quarterback and running back” working parent story (02:56)
2. Being an older dad: John’s joyous experience as a working parent (05:27)
3. How working in government service has been beneficial in achieving work-life balance (07:42)
4. Why working as a congressional staffer is a “Young person’s game” (09:00)
5. The parental friction and challenges that Jeff had to overcome when his government affairs career started picking up (11:45)
6. Adjustments to make when you have to travel for work and need to stay engaged in your parental role (13:17)
7. Having an honest conversation with your boss towards helping you achieve work-life balance that will support your parenting efforts (16:35)
8. Leading employees who are parents and being sensitive to their needs (18:07)
9. Workplace supports that Jeff found helpful as he became a working parent (20:07)
10. Transitioning into the non-profit sector from government relations, at a time when the federal government is so far behind in providing support structures for working parents (22:00)
11. Current changes in government relations that are affecting working parents (26:52)
12. The broad impact of the merger of working life and real life (29:25)
13. Best piece of advice from Jeff for navigating life as a working parent (31:20)
14. Valuing coordination between parents and how powerful it really is (34:17)
15. Flying the Kite: Achieving big things by celebrating small victories (36:14)

Links and Resources

1. Win the Day By Dr. Mark Batterson
2. Jason's Website
3. Jason on Linkedin
4. Lori's Website
5. Lori on Linkedin

Nedra is a single mother to two amazing young boys and has successfully managed to thrive in her career despite the numerous challenges and bumps in the road that come with juggling the two. From constantly travelling on the campaign trail as a journalist covering presidential politics to dealing with different working parent challenges in the different roles she’s held throughout her career, Nedra has always found ways to make sure that she strikes some kind of balance between work and parenting her boys.

In this conversation, she talks about the advantages of working in public relations as a working parent and expresses her concerns about the issue of paid leave in America. At the end of this episode, you’ll have learned so much about how you can make it work as a working parent in a way that suits you and your kids, so don’t miss out.

Show Highlights

1. The working parent challenge of being on the campaign trail as a journalist covering presidential politics (03:01)
2. How her mum “The Granny Nanny” enabled her to thrive in her career (04:16)
3. Transitioning from journalism into government relations and some of the positive surprises that came with it (05:21)
4. Why working in public affairs and government relations may just be the best job for you as a working parent (10:10)
5. Types of workplace supports that were helpful for her as a parent (11:56)
6. The value of having the one day a week work at home day and the need for paid leave in America (15:17)
7. Why you should get the Gizmo Watch for your kids (18:53)
8. Making sure you spend quality time with your kids, not being too hard on yourself and lowering your expectations (20:40)

Links and Resources

1. Why the White House Isn’t a Place for Mothers to Work, But Should Be
2. Jason's Website
3. Jason on Linkedin
4. Lori's Website
5. Lori on Linkedin

Jason shares some empowering and actionable tips on everything from how to thrive at working from home with kids in the house, to how you can get your employer to be more accommodating of your needs as a working parent, and so much more. Tune in for a jam-packed 20-minute episode.

Show Highlights

1. Jason’s personal working parent journey: Working for someone and also going out on his own while being a parent (01:47)
2. Setting clear goals on what you need to get done and how working for yourself goes back to sales (03:45)
3. Concentrating on work when working from home especially during the pandemic (06:08)
4. The Wall: How he created space for himself so he could focus more on achieving his work goals (08:30)
5. The number one career tip for working parents as they ease back into the post Covid-19 vaccine world (09:50)
6. How to recenter yourself throughout the day to be consistently focused (10:54)
7. Navigating a world where the industry you worked for or your career was turned on its head by the Covid-19 pandemic (12:11)
8. How to approach and negotiate with your employer to keep you while enabling you to parent better (18:07)

Links and Resources

1. To Sell is Human By Daniel Pink
2. Jason@ReadySetLaunch.net
3. Jason's Website
4. Jason on Linkedin
5. Lori's Website
6. Lori on Linkedin

Today’s guest is none other than Tom Spiggle, founder of the Parents at Work Podcast and Spiggle Law, an employment law firm. Co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin interviews Tom about his inspiration for starting the podcast, as well as his own personal journey as a working parent.

Join Lori and Tom in this conversation for tips on how to navigate your working parent journey and to say farewell to Tom in his co-host role.

Show Highlights:

1. Lori shares the story of Parents at Work
2. Tom shares his personal working parent story
3. Why Tom chose to educate people on the prejudices that happen in the workplace
4. What sparked Tom’s interest in employment law
5. Key take-aways from Tom’s book, You’re Pregnant, You’re Fired
6. Tom shares his experiences being a podcast host
7. Consistent themes Tom’s seen throughout his interviews
8. Tom talks about why he started the “I Got Fired” podcast
9. Tom’s favorite working parent technology and resources
10. The importance of acknowledging the passing in parenthood
11. Closing advice for the audience and Lori

Links:

https://www.spigglelaw.com

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Lori:

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Resources:

https://www.google.com/calendar/about/

https://www.paprikaapp.com

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/All-Joy-and-No-FunJennifer-Senior/1114315283?ean=9780062072269

Both dads share what it’s like to be a parent in the engineering field, as well as the cultural shifts that have been happening in the workplace. They discuss the importance of empathy and how client relationships have been impacted by developing a more common understanding, along with tangible tips on how to utilize a more flexible schedule. Join Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview to learn more about what it’s like to be a working dad in the engineering field.

Show Highlights:

1. Matt and Paul share their experiences as working parents
2. Having clear expectations of tasks is vital to successful co-parenting, when you’re both working parents
3. Matt and Paul share what it’s like to be a working parent as an engineer
4. The ability to work remotely and having a supportive community are huge benefits to working in engineering
5. Having parental leave for fathers and shared messaging are two work-place supports Paul wishes he would have had
6. Having easy access to work within your schedule can help you be much more efficient as a working parent
7. Back-up childcare is a great benefit for companies to offer
8. It’s okay to ask to have flexibility with clients and to do things at home
9. Being grateful for what you have and trying to be understanding of others is important to help build empathy and be an effective working-parent
10. Matt and Paul share digital resources they use to make parenthood easier
11. Finding time for self-care is important to be your best self

Links:

https://www.spigglelaw.com

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Lori:

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Show Highlights:

1. How having children changed Dhruva’s work life
2. Victoria shares how having children changed her work life
3. What it’s like to be a parent in the engineering field
4. What it’s like to be a woman engineer
5. Beneficial work supports that Dhruva had as a new working parent
6. Work supports Dhruva wished she had
7. Work Supports that improved Victoria’s working parent experience
8. Why extended maternity leave improves the working parent experience and is an excellent retention tool
9. How AI and technology is impacting working parents
10. Why you should utilize support from and for other moms in your workplace
11. Resources to navigate life as a working parent
12. Why you should take life one day at a time

Links:

https://www.spigglelaw.com

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Lori:

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Resources:

https://www.google.com/calendar/about/

Show Highlights:

1. Robin shares his working parent story and how he navigated parental leave
2. Robin talks about how COVID has impacted his profession and how he’s used positive reinforcement to make a better environment to work at home
3. There’s great diversity in the experiences mental health professionals have
4. How being a mental health professional impacts work-life balance
5. Being a mental health professional can increase the strive for perfectionism and the feelings of shame when it isn’t met
6. Being self-employed can allow for flexibility but also means there are no professional supports
7. Why Robin wishes he would’ve had working dad groups to talk with during transitioning into parenthood
8. Transitioning into a digital space has been a major shift and has been difficult for many therapists
9. How will COVID change the future of therapy
10. Why intentionality is more important now than ever before
11. Why we should start with having self-compassion as a working-parent
12. Robin shares books and technology that have helped him on his working-parent journey

Links:

https://www.spigglelaw.com

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Lori:

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Resources:

The Expectant Father

And Baby Makes Three

Dr. Elizabeth Allen is an assistant professor of psychology and clinical psychiatry, and she’s also an assistant attending psychologist. She specializes in treating adolescents and young adults with anxiety disorders and OCD. Liz lives in New York, and she’s the mom of two girls, ages one and three.

Dr. Aimee Danielson is an associate professor of psychiatry and OB-Gyn, and she’s the director of a women’s mental health program that provides treatment and support for pregnant and postpartum women. Aimee has had the privilege of working with mothers every day for the last twenty years, supporting them through their transitions into motherhood. She lives with her very supportive partner and her three wonderful daughters, ages seven, ten, and thirteen, in Arlington, Virginia.

Be sure to listen in today, to benefit from Liz and Aimee‘s expertise, and to find out what they bring from their jobs to the way that they’re parenting their children.

Show highlights:

1. Liz and Aimee share their working parent stories.
2. Aimee talks about why she felt privileged, informed, and ready when she became a mother.
3. Aimee discusses the choice that she and her husband had to make when their eldest daughter was born with a serious health condition.
4. Aimee talks about the flexibility, creativity, and surrender that’s required from working parents.
5. Looking at the different seasons of parenthood.
6. Aimee explains why she feels that the mental health field is a good environment for working women.
7. Some of the challenges of being a working mom in the mental health field.
8. Liz talks about her experience of being a working mom in the mental health space.
9. Being promoted and rising through the ranks can be difficult for working moms with small children.
10. The kind of support that Liz and Aimee found helpful when they became working parents.
11. The kind of support that Aimee and Liz would like to have had when they became parents.
12. Transitioning from a work identity into a parent identity is important and can be difficult for men, when colleagues don’t know they became a parent.
13. Women are feeling that they have to re-invent the wheel.
14. Some things that would help working parents, going forward.

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

The Working Parent Group Network

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com

Resources:

Books mentioned:

Laughter and Tears: The Emotional Life of New Mothers, by Elisabeth Bing and Libby Colman

Cribsheet, by Emily Oster

Expecting Better, by Emily Oster

Back To work After Baby, by Lori Mihalich-Levin

The Awesomest 7 Year Postdoc or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Tenure-Track Faculty Life, by Professor Radhika Nagpal on the Scientific American blog.

App:

Carpool Kids

Today Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin share what has worked for them in their shift to working from home and actionable tips for parents to find some small amount of sanity in their work and parenting.. Join Tom and Lori to learn more about how you can integrate a schedule and use connections to make your at-home experience as productive as possible.

Show Highlights:

1. What staying home has looked like for Lori’s family
2. How creating a schedule and focusing on the present can create a smoother transition to working from home
3. How Tom’s family is adjusting to COVID-19 shifts
4. Dealing with the struggles that accompany work shifts for employees and parents
5. The struggles of keeping children occupied and balancing work from home
6. Protections that accompany leave
7. Action steps to find peace amongst chaos
8. Reaching out to others and connecting as a community

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Email Lori for Free Webinar on “How to Go Back to Work After Parental Leave” on April 2nd

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com

Justin Steele, Director at Google.org and leader of philanthropic grantmaking for the United States, Canada, and Latin America, shares how his position at Google has supported and improved his parenting experience. He discusses the benefits of a flexible work arrangement and how the trajectory of how we work as a society has drastically affected what it looks like to be a parent today.

Brian Breckenridge, Senior Director and Executive Director at Box.org, also shares the different dynamics of his family experience and how he’s incorporated mindfulness into his parenting techniques and career.

Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview for great insight on not only the major impacts CSR is making today, but for practical tips to balance work and parent life.

Show Highlights:

1. Justin’s working parent story and what it was like having kids while in graduate school
2. Brian’s working parent story and how his family journey has shifted over the years
3. How being a parent or spouse generally affects a career in the CSR industry
4. Interweaving work with parenthood and how CSR work can impact your children
5. How having a flexible work arrangement has been the greatest support for Justin
6. How work culture and managers can drastically impact working parents
7. The many benefits of CSR and the progressive approaches it’s taking with employees
8. Changes occurring within the industry that are affecting working parents
9. Protecting emotional energy in a career that demands long hours and technological attention
10. Being conscious of phone use and time spent on social media outside of workspace
11. Finding balance in different areas of life and prioritizing how we invest our time
12. Critical resources for parents
13. Incorporating optimal living and mindfulness practices into parenting

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com

Resources:

The Meritocracy Trap by Daniel Marovitch

Just Enough by Laura Nash

https://families.google.com/familylink/

https://www.mindfulschools.org/inspiration/mindful-reflection/

https://www.life360.com

How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen

Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in these captivating interviews to learn more about the shifts that are happening in corporate impact, how these shifts are affecting working parents, and raising socially conscious children, along with great tips for new parents.

Show Highlights:

1. Abby’s working parent story and how she made her career shift during pregnancy
2. Abby’s experience being a mom in a corporate social impact position and how managers can improve unconscious bias towards pregnancy leave
3. What is corporate impact and how the field has shifted over the years
4. Support systems that made transitioning back to work easier
5. Systems that would improve the working parent experience
6. What inspired Abby to launch the employee network group for working parents
7. Changes that are currently happening in corporate impact and how it’s impacting working parents
8. Implementing the 10/10/10 model for making decisions
9. Resources Abby utilizes as a working parent
10. Anne’s working parent story and how her leave experience varied with each child
11. Workplace supports that improved Anne’s experience returning from work
12. Supports that would improve working parents’ experiences
13. How paying attention to positive digital culture and digital toxicity is changing the working parent experience
14. What is digital toxicity and encouraging young people to find their voice technology and media
15. Letting go of expectations as a parent and being light with yourself
16. Resources that Anne utilizes as a working parent

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com

Resources:

The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Leiber

https://www.babyconnect.com

Apple Watch Series 5

Yet above all else, both guests are dads doing their best to juggle their passion for helping others, nurturing creative outlets, and being a parent.

Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this conversation to learn more about how juggling medical residency with parenthood children, the vitality of a support group, how the internet is impacting the medical field, and so much more.

Show Highlights:

1. Steve’s personal parent working story and how he prepared
2. How residency can affect having children
3. George’s personal working story and how he balanced other passions
4. What it’s like to be a dad in medicine and the shift in wellness occurring in the field
5. Beneficial workplace supports that Steve and George experienced
6. The impact of environment and having close friends within the work place
7. Systems the medical field could improve to support working parents
8. How telemedicine is affecting physician parents – and all parents
9. Optimizing time spent with your kids
10. Learning to manage finances in a way that supports priorities
11. Finding a balance between striving for more and accepting what is

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- amiller@spigglelaw.com

This episode is full of tangible advice on how to practice compassion towards yourself and others that parents in any work field can benefit from. Join Lori Mihalich-Levin in this episode for authentic insights on being a physician mom.

Show Highlights:

1. Dr. Nawal’s working parent story
2. What it’s like to be a mom in medicine
3. Knowledge gained from parenthood that is applicable to medicine
4. Helpful programs and systems for transitioning into parenthood
5. Establishing your value in the workplace to allow flexibility in your schedule
6. Navigating time to pump during windows between work
7. Finding the courage to ask for help and get a parent support group
8. Struggles of having children during residency
9. How the health care system is evolving to keep physicians fulfilled and avoid burnout
10. Allowing yourself grace and space for gratitude
11. Resources to survive life as a working parent
12. Ways to practice self-compassion and mindfulness
13. Advice to avoid unnecessary technology use
14. Ways to carve a career path that support the life you want

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Resources:

https://self-compassion.org

https://www.agreatergoodfoundation.org

http://ccare.stanford.edu/

Today’s guests, Kevin Stout and Jevon Knowles, talk about the benefits, flexibility, and struggles of being a working parent as an accountant. With over 18 years of experience in different positions, Kevin has a unique take on how to prioritize family and create a strong workplace culture. Javon’s position as an audit partner at BDO has also allowed him to give insightful advice on how to optimize so-called “work-life balance.”

Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview for an array of diverse and tangible tips.

Show Highlights:

1. Kevin and Javon’s personal working parent stories
2. What it’s like to be a dad in the accounting industry
3. The importance of integrating family into the workplace
4. Building stability and support in order to have a successful working parent career
5. Creating flexibility in roles to accommodate circumstances
6. Evaluating delaying parenthood to establish a successful career
7. How the profession has shifted throughout the past few years
8. The benefits of networking with other working parents
9. How accountant shortages are affecting employers’ approach to recruiting and retaining working parents
10. The impact of technology within accounting and family life
11. Resources and technology to improve work and parenting
12. Finding balance in your priorities
13. Optimizing resources to have difficult conversations with your children

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

Resources:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-sweat-the-small-stuff-and-its-all-small-stuff-richard-carlson/1101004106?ean=9781567318791&st=PLA&sid=BNB_ADL+Core+Good+Home+-+Desktop+Low&sourceId=PLAGoNA&dpid=tdtve346c&2sid=Google_c&gclid=CjwKCAjw2qHsBRAGEiwAMbPoDJXgEGUK0yCtwJ3WfTT5P1LEyRwSe9OqfM6JaxvoHFhBPmBXa1zztRoCjoUQAvD_BwE#/

https://www.google.com/calendar/about/

https://www.vitalsmarts.com/crucial-conversations-training/

http://home.gc.com/2017-high-school-baseball-scorekeeping/?ads_adid=15199971361&ads_cmpid=256380361&ads_creative=379673839905&ads_matchtype=b&ads_network=g&ads_targetid=kwd-48010293944&ttv=2&utm_campaign=2018-bats-paid&utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=_PLUS_gamechanger&utm_term=%2Bgamechanger&utm_content={adid}&gclid=CjwKCAjw2qHsBRAGEiwAMbPoDESSmSaIaDnY5AXdaaT7k67C46Xljr4SiQA7mHHfBRS-g2indHvGuxoCyNcQAvD_BwE

Both Jennifer and Anika are employees of Ernst & Young and have an abundance of tangible advice for working mothers, no matter where you work. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this conversation as they dive into the importance of self-care, developing self-awareness and the emotional identity transition of becoming a working mom.

Show Highlights:

1. Jennifer and Aneika’s working parent stories
2. What it’s like to be a parent in the accounting industry
3. Shifting with the unpredictability and flexibility of accounting and parenthood
4. Releasing yourself of the “should’s” and creating an encouraging community within the work place
5. Support systems that are helpful for parents within accounting
6. The importance of self-discovery and establishing a relationship with yourself
7. Navigating the transition and emotions of coming back to work as a new parent
8. The impact of having a support system and lactation support
9. Embracing changes within the industry and staying connected
10. Letting go of expectations and allowing things to unfold organically
11. Resources that enhance the working-parent experience, including transition coaching
12. How to use time blocking successfully

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

Resources:

The Awakened Family

https://www.mindfulreturn.com/back-work-baby-book/

http://www.thefifthtrimester.com

https://daretolead.brenebrown.com

In this episode, they discuss the importance of establishing fundamental paid parental leave policies, ramp-up benefits, and the necessity of childcare support. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this episode to learn more about what it’s like to be a mother in the Tech industry, and how the tech industry is innovating in the working parent space.

Show Highlights:

1. Experiences as a working parent and the life transitions that take place balancing work and parenthood
2. What inspired Shadiah and Vanessa to co-found their own businesses
3. Putting policies in place to support parents and what it’s like to be a mom in the tech sector
4. Examining current systems and the core changes that need to be changed to support caregivers equally
5. The most beneficial support systems put in place when returning to work
6. Forming support groups for new parents and making sure their needs are heard
7. Changes that are happening in the tech industry that are impacting working parents
8. Putting more women in leadership roles and measuring the success of initiatives
9. Dealing with caregiver discrimination
10. Establishing the support needed within your workplace and maintaining your identity
11. How fathers taking time off is activism and changes workplace culture
12. What it means to manage your spoons
13. Tools to bring more calmness into everyday life

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

Resources:

E-Myth Revisited

https://www.mindfulreturn.com/working-mom/

https://www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn/

https://worklifelaw.org

Respectful Parenting Podcast

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-calendar/id909319292

Work, Pause, Thrive by Wisen Stromberg

https://insighttimer.com

https://www.silverskyimports.com/categories/tibetan-singing-bowls

Hugh and Matt discuss the challenges all parents have, the positive impact of organizational support, and how to build a community of uplifting parents. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview to learn more about how the tech sector is leading the way in supporting working parents, and how you can use technology to enhance your life as a working parent.

Show Highlights:

1. Matt’s experience as a working parent and building a vulnerable space for parents in the workplace
2. What being a working parent has looked like for Hugh’s career and how he made changes to be a more involved parent
3. What it’s like to currently be a dad in the Tech industry
4. Being an example to coworkers to demonstrate prioritizing parenting
5. Utilizing resources and creating a company culture that acknowledges individuals
6. Taking advantage of company benefits and giving yourself permission to lean into resources
7. Creating a community for yourself and systems that are beneficial to implement for working parents
8. Why on-site daycare is something organizations should incorporate
9. Making mindful choices and accepting your choices without comparison
10. Changes occurring in the tech industry that are affecting working parents
11. How technology can build communities and bring parents together
12. Addressing the trickle-down effect of mental health for parents and employees
13. Being vulnerable and communicating with other parents to build support
14. Helpful resources and tangible advice to have a better parenting experience
15. The shift in expectations for modern parenthood

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

Resources:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/third-shift-michele-bolton/1101205293

https://ujama.co

The Mother of All Jobs

https://www.thumbtack.com

https://www.mothermag.com/benefits-of-working-moms/

http://tendlab.com

All Joy and No Fun

In this episode, they share what their journey as a parent and a theatre professional has looked like for them. They discuss the changes that are currently impacting parents, resources that have helped them throughout their careers, and the benefits of taking non-traditional career paths. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this exciting interview for a look behind the curtain as a theater dad.

Show Highlights:

1. Navigating being in the arts and becoming a new parent
2. What it’s like to be a dad in the performing arts industry
3. The scheduling restraints that accompany being a parent within the arts
4. Being honest about being a parent and asking for what you need
5. Studios’ strategies to work with parents’ schedules
6. Jerry’s adoption process and the impact it had on his organization
7. The opportunities that the art community provides for children
8. Actively pursuing support for family during work projects
9. Changes that need to take place for upcoming parents
10. How building working relationships benefits parents
11. Changes that are currently happening within the industry that are affecting parents
12. Establishing boundaries and respecting others’ time
13. Practices to prioritize family time
14. Resources mentioned that are helpful to working parents
15. Learning to communicate with children on their level
16. The power of podcasts for kids

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

Resources:

Google calendar

http://www.sittersstudio.com

https://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com

https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world

https://www.storypirates.com/

Being a parent in a field with sporadic schedules, travel requirements, and remarkably long rehearsals can create an array of complications. Today’s guests, Jeremy Chernick and Jerry Rapier are both involved in the theater and arts community while juggling parenthood.

In this episode, they share what their journey as a parent and a theatre professional has looked like for them. They discuss the changes that are currently impacting parents, resources that have helped them throughout their careers, and the benefits of taking nontraditional career paths. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this exciting interview for a look behind the curtain as a theater dad.

Show Highlights:

1. Navigating being in the arts and becoming a new parent
2. What it’s like to be a dad in the performing arts industry
3. The scheduling restraints that accompany being a parent within the arts
4. Being honest about being a parent and asking for what you need
5. Studios’ strategies to work with parents’ schedules
6. Jerry’s adoption process and the impact it had on his organization
7. The opportunities that the art community provides for children
8. Actively pursuing support for family during work projects
9. Changes that need to take place for upcoming parents
10. How building working relationships benefits parents
11. Changes that are currently happening within the industry that are affecting parents
12. Establishing boundaries and respecting others’ time
13. Practices to prioritize family time
14. Resources mentioned that are helpful to working parents
15. Learning to communicate with children on their level
16. The power of podcasts for kids

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

Resources:

Google calendar

http://www.sittersstudio.com

https://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com

https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world

https://www.storypirates.com/

Rachel details her personal challenges as a working mom and the logistics of trying to find acting work while juggling new motherhood. Roberta addresses common practices in the theatre industry that previously haven’t been questioned. Join us as they share insight, tips, and resources for theatre moms, on today’s Parents at Work Podcast.

Rachel Spencer Hewitt received her MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama. Her credits include Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theatre. She is mom of 2 children, a 4 year old and a 2 year old, the Founder and Executive Director of The National Organization for Individual Caregivers in Institutional Support, and the Founder of the Parent-Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) for the performing arts.

Roberta Pereira is a Tony-nominated, Olivier-award winning theatre producer. She’s currently the producing director of “The Playwrights Realm”, an off-Broadway theatre company committed to amplifying the voices of emerging playwrights. She’s the solo mom of 20-month old Bianca.

Show Highlights:

1. Scheduled craziness and chaos of hours
2. The need for invisible labor, contingency plans, creative problem-solver
3. Saying yes to opportunities that may have a 24-hour notice and then prioritizing that opportunity over everything, no matter how healthy (or unhealthy) that decision is for everyone
4. Reaching out and receiving help from family
5. Broadway Babysitters based in NYC, composed primarily of artists who are used to long hours and understand industry norms
6. Urban Sitter, an online database that will show locations for caregivers while traveling
7. Washington D.C. just passed a paid-leave law
8. FMLA applies to some people, but doesn’t require paid leave
9. Celebrating the individual and saying yes to everything that they are
10. Hostile work culture can break an individual, because of their needs outside of the industry
11. Prioritizing the health and independence of the individual Rachel and Roberta’s goal is to make the industry better for everyone
12. When you’re home, be focused on home
13. The Radical Parent Inclusion (RPI) project - providing childcare at auditions
14. Sometimes not being able to afford being seen is the reason people don’t get the job, and not because they are not capable or don’t want to work.
15. Changing rehearsal dates to coincide with a child’s holiday from school, so that it becomes a day off for both the parent and the child
16. The idea of the “disposable artist”: you work until you’re burned out. Once you burn out, you’re replaceable. If we care about longevity, we need to care about practices that are sustainable.
17. Caring about inclusion through the lens of parenting
18. What lessons can we learn that are transferable?
19. Hiring parents can be an asset
20. Providing a child-care matinee, where children do activities while parents watch a play
21. Being an agent of change within the industry and leading by example
22. Find community! Don’t underestimate the value of resource-sharing.

Links / Resources:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

https://www.broadwaybabysitters.com

https://www.urbansitter.com

https://paaltheatre.com

Facebook.com/paalperformingarts

Twitter.com/paaltheatre

Instagram.com/paaltheatre https://www.playwrightsrealm.org

https://www.playwrightsrealm.org/rpi

Anna Moensch's Mothers: https://www.playwrightsrealm.org/2019-20

Book:

Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool by Emily Oster”

Article:

“End the Plague of Secret Parenting” by Emily Oster

The “Parents at Work” Podcast is sponsored by:

The Spiggle Law Firm, representing people who have been wrongfully fired, or fear they might be, with a particular focus on pregnancy discrimination.

Wiley Simmons is a single father of 2 and came to the HR field through a complete accident. Having an executive and administrative assistant background, he took an admin assistant temp job in the human resources field, and his boss was so impressed with his work, he was offered a position as a benefits coordinator. What he found was that with being prior military, the rules and regulations of the HR profession, as well as his enjoyment of helping people and interacting with staff, turned out to be the perfect career choice for him.

Adam Calli is the proud father of 2 and an HR professional. He is also the principal consultant and founder of the human resources consulting firm, Arc Human Capital, LLC. Prior to working in HR and having children, hotel operations were Adam’s specialty, but it was not especially conducive to family life. He did something quite revolutionary for 2002: he saved up his leave time and took 3 weeks FMLA leave after the birth of his son. Both HR and non-HR professionals alike will enjoy hearing this discussion on industry trends, and finding that perfect balance between work and life. There’s something for everyone here. Please join us!

Show Highlights:

1. Hard to trust HR personnel when you’re on the other side of the fence
2. HR doesn’t get the accolades as a profession that it deserves
3. Allowing time off to take care of family issues
4. A support system is extremely important
5. Parents need time off, too
6. Mandatory leave law
7. Talking to a therapist as a way to maintain balance
8. Dealing with mental health issues
9. Taking care of yourself and enjoying parenthood
10. Watching other parents and deciding what kind of parent you want to be
11. Why more companies are becoming interested in paid parental leave plans
12. How the opportunity to utilize technology makes it easier for today’s parents to be more productive
13. Why the “work/life balance” terminology is becoming obsolete
14. The “work/life blending” concept is more practical for today
15. Work and life is still just life
16. Why progressive companies will accept and embrace the blending concept
17. Old-school-mentality companies are in danger of fading out
18. Hyper-efficiency as a brand new parent
19. Which generations might be less accepting of this work/life blending
20. HR availability to remote workers
21. Helicopter parents
22. Families being committed to everything but the family
23. The value of committing to your children and your community
24. Learning how to say no and understanding the commitment of saying yes
25. Being a victim of your own success
26. Encouraging employees to tap into the employee assistance program
27. How a phone is critical technology when managing multiple people
28. The benefit of family-shared calendars/apps
29. How to teach our children time management as members of the family
30. Time management is an incredibly valuable skill to have no matter what your field

Links / Resources:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

http://www.archumancapital.com

This interview covers how to navigate negotiations with your employer, the benefits of having flexibility to set clear expectations, and the importance of giving yourself grace. To learn more about what it’s like to be a parent in HR and how to balance parenthood along with professional life, join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview.

Show Highlights:

1. Personal parent working stories
2. Retention tools for parent employees
3. Choosing HR as a career path
4. Not “leaving before you leave” as you contemplate parenthood
5. What it’s like to be a mom in HR
6. How motherhood can make you a better team player
7. Support systems that are particularly beneficial when coming back to the office
8. Using parenthood as a networking opportunity
9. Support systems that companies don’t always have, but should
10. The importance of having open communication and open dialogue with supervisors
11. Changes occurring in the industry that are impacting working parents
12. Integrating paid leave for parents
13. Providing flexibility for all employees and getting rid of stigmas
14. How firms impact families and the improvements the industry is making
15. Top tips and resources for working parents

Links:

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

Contact Lori:

Lori@mindfulreturn.com

Books mentioned:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com/back-work-baby-book/

In this episode, Justin and Kenny share their experiences transitioning back into the office after paternity leave, how to effectively communicate and collaborate with your partner, and how to make time for other valuable aspects of life. For more insight on how to navigate work life and parenthood join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in today’s interview.

Show Highlights:

1. What Kenny’s and Justin’s working parent situations looks like
2. Whether or not parenthood was a factor in deciding on a career
3. The transition to becoming a lawyer and parent
4. What it’s like to be a dad in the legal industry
5. Communicating with your spouse and navigating parenthood together
6. Workplace support systems that have been the most effective transitioning back into work
7. Making work a support system for the more important aspects of life
8. Workplace benefits that were anticipated to be helpful but ended up being unnecessary
9. Benefits within firms that are especially effective for working parents
10. Changes that would be advantageous for working dads
11. The pros and cons of technological growth and how telecommuting is improving
12. The struggle of finding affordable and flexible childcare
13. Trusting yourself and collaborating with your partner
14. The importance of not sacrificing your self-care
15. Getting creative to implement what you need into your schedule
16. Limiting and balancing technology use with your children

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

Books mentioned:

Digital Minimalism

I Like Myself

The Self Driven Child

Both mothers currently have two children ranging from the ages of 15 months to 4 years., They discuss their experience as working parents in the private and public sectors, how they found a system that works for them, and the most important things they’ve learned throughout their time as a working parent.

For more insight on what it looks like to succeed in life as a mom and lawyer, tune into this episode of Parents at Work.

Show Highlights:

1. Katy’s experience transitioning into a judicial clerkship as a mom
2. Anjali’s experience having children as a mid-level associate at a large firm
3. Preparing to be a working mom and aligning your career with parenthood
4. Looking at jobs with benefits and flexibility for families
5. Asking firms about their parental policies and finding a firm that offers what you need
6. Macro and micro perspectives about what it’s like to be a mom and a lawyer
7. Skills that parenthood provides within the workplace
8. The push and pull parents feel trying to balance parenthood and a career
9. Support systems that were effective returning to the office from maternity leave
10. Changes that are happening in law that are impacting parents
11. Advice for navigating parenthood in the workplace
12. The importance of advocating for yourself and asking hard questions
13. Learning to communicate about your needs as a working parent

Links:

Contact Lori: lori@mindfulreturn.com

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

Books mentioned:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17383921-all-joy-and-no-fun

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/769016.How_to_Talk_So_Kids_Will_Listen_Listen_So_Kids_Will_Talk

In this episode Tom Spiggle and (new!) co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin introduce the upcoming themes and scheduling for the Parents at Work podcast. In this updated podcast format, you’ll hear the perspectives of parents in a new industry or sector each month, parents from different career paths, and a plethora of advice for parents or employers will be included in these upcoming episodes.

To join Tom and Lori on this journey and for helpful insight on balancing work and parenthood, tune into this episode of Parents at Work.

Show Highlights:

1. Learning from parents in different industries
2. Issues that parents face in specific industries
3. What to expect going into parenthood while having a career
4. Insight for employers to implement in their respective fields
5. The upcoming schedule for the podcast

Links:

Contact Lori:

https://www.mindfulreturn.com or lori@mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom:

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/ or tspiggle@spigglelaw.com

About Lori Mihalich-Levin, JD: Lori believes in empowering new working parents. She is the founder of Mindful Return, author of Back to Work After Baby: How to Plan and Navigate a Mindful Return from Maternity Leave, and creator of the Mindful Return Maternity Leave E-Course. She is mama to two beautiful red-headed boys (ages 5 and 7), is a contributing author at Well Rounded NY and Fairygodboss, is the Maternity Leave Expert at Motherly, and is a partner in the health care practice at Dentons US LLP.

Show Highlights:

1. Three major hats Lori wears: Being a partner at a law firm, being a mom & running her program
2. How Mindful Return was born
3. Creating that supportive parent community at your workplace is a universal challenge
4. Tools and community for helping return to work after maternity/paternity leave
5. The four-week course to guide parents
6. Alumni group joining the Facebook group for support
7. Retreats coming soon
8. Employers are now offering this program as a retention tool
9. Relating to one another, and how universal these problems really are
10. Growing trends on dads taking paternity leave
11. Lori’s own parenting story of going back to work
12. Transitioning back to work is not a one-day thing; it is ongoing
13. Books Lori recommends for this transition besides her own book
14. Technology that helps going back to work

Resources:

Mindful Return Website

Mindful Return Facebook

Mindful Return Twitter

Book “Back to work after Baby” Available on Amazon

After a severe health scare, Dan knew he needed to make some changes. His busy lifestyle included many sleepless nights and poor choices that built up to the breaking point. Luckily, Dan believed in the power of coaching, and he sought the help he needed to balance and repurpose his life. Dan thinks that there are three questions every working parent needs to ask themselves. What do you want? Who are you? What do you stand for? Dan has managed to not just balance, but integrate his parenting into his businesses. He prioritizes time with his children and makes business decisions with the family in mind. It’s all about his mindset from the outset, and you can get that mindset too! Listen this week to start making some changes in your own life.

Show Highlights:

1. Dan has helped 12 different startups grow and get “unstuck.”
2. What being a parent has taught Dan about running businesses.
3. Be grateful for the joys that being a working parent can give you.
4. Mindset should be our focus.
5. The 3 big fears we need to overcome.
6. Integrate, rather than try to balance between work and life.
7. Dan learned from burnout that he needed to change some bad habits.
8. Get a coach!
9. The three questions you should ask yourself to change your life.
10. Dan has resources available to you who might be ready to start a business.
11. Why Marketing is like football.
12. A piece of technology that Dan would recommend for making life a little easier.
13. The books that Dan uses to bring some balance to his life.

Resources:

Dan’s Website

Dan on Facebook

Dan's Recommended Tool: Headspace Meditation App

Dan's Recommended Books:

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen

The Coaching Habit

Never Split the Difference

Daddy Saturday is a website dedicated to building resources and communities for fathers. It started when Justin’s oldest daughter was born, and he found himself being the sole caregiver on Saturdays while Mom was at work. These Saturdays with his kids became precious as he intentionally planned ways to have quality time, rather than simply checking out on his phone or becoming preoccupied with work. Now, he and his children are having grand adventures and encouraging people from across the world to do the same.

Justin is going to share all of his tips for Dads who want to transform their relationships with their kids. While it does require a mindset shift and a commitment to put the phone down, building intentional relationships with kids is incredibly easy. Fatherlessness is currently in a state of crisis, but Dads like Justin are trying to take back Saturday and encourage Dads to engage and take ownership of their responsibility. Yes, life and technology have their pressures and influences, but Justin is going to show us how easily we can build habits that will impact our children for a lifetime.

More in this episode:

• Being intentional and engaging with his kids on a Saturday became a community phenomenon.

• How Justin is encouraging other dads to change how they approach their weekends with kids.

• Fatherhood is a huge responsibility, but it’s also an opportunity.

• Be there for your kids during breakfast, or any other rallying point.

• Questions you can use to engage your kids.

• Why experiencing failure as kids can make strong adults.

• Justin tells the story of how he and his wife became business partners and life partners.

• Advice for Dads who want to start being more intentional.

• What is launching next for Justin and Daddy Saturday?

• A little bit of planning makes a world of difference.

• How to engage your kids as they get older.

• Focus on peak performance in our parenting, not just our career or our health.

• Learn all the nuts and bolts of how Justin runs Daddy Saturday.

• Sometimes, low-tech is best.

Links

Daddy Saturday

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSppCEe24NP3sJEVqaQq_DA

The Modern Dad’s Dilemma

Dr. Michael Breus is an expert sleep researcher. He is also a father, so he knows how hard won it can be to get sleep when you are a parent. With compassion and evidence-based wisdom, Dr. Breus is going to give you sanity-saving tools to get you the best night’s sleep. We will talk about everything from when you should take a nap, when is the best time to sleep train, and how to revisit your bad sleeping habits.

Whether you want more sleep or just more quality sleep, this is the episode for you! Sleep can allow us to give our all to our jobs while also giving our children the care they need. Sleeps heals and restores, and it’s time to take it seriously!

Show Highlights:

1. Dr. Breus’ best advice for parents of new babies to minimize the effect of sleep deprivation.
2. The shift methodology is a helpful tool for babies before sleep training.
3. Learn all about the powerful effects of the “Napalatte.”
4. How to make the most out of a nap.
5. Sleep deprivation is different from person to person.
6. There is no replacement for lost sleep, but extra sleep can definitely help!
7. Why you might want to sleep separately.
8. What kinds of sleep problems people develop because of their children.
9. 5 Steps to get your sleep act back together.
10. Get some sunlight!
11. Know when you need to seek professional help.

Resources:

All the info you need for sleep issues and work

http://www.thesleepdoctor.com/

On Becoming Baby Wise

Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems

This is exactly why I am so excited to have my friend Will Mount on the show today. He gets the pressure. He feels the burden of wanting to care for his son well, while also pursuing a job as an attorney for Juvenile Defense. Social justice is important to both Will and his wife, but they also feel the weight of these unmet expectations. In this episode, Will will share what has worked for his family, how he has created his priorities to serve his family, and which challenges were particularly difficult for him.

You are not alone! Let Will’s story be an example of how to make it work as a working parent.

More in this episode:

1. Why would someone want to work with Will or his law partner Judith?
2. What it is like to be a parent with a high-stress job.
3. Will and his wife both have work they believe in, but balancing that with parental responsibility is important.
4. Battling expectations of our society and the impact on our parenting.
5. Each age has their own challenges.
6. Take time out to take care of yourself and your spouse/significant other.
7. How having Liam has affected Will’s work life.
8. Find opportunities to bond with your child.
9. The surprising benefits of raising a child.
10. Why having good people around you makes all the difference.

Links:

http://dzmlegal.com/

The Modern Dad’s Dilemma

Productivity is all about reducing stress for Ari. He is a father of four kids, and he only works while the kids are in school. That means his working hours have to be productive. Today, Ari is going to share all of the systems he has in place for improving his productivity and prioritizing time with his family. After all, everything he does is to improve the quality of life for the people he loves. That passion is then imbued into each and every task he sets his mind to, and mindset is key.

Listen this week for all the tips and strategies you can use to find a little more time in your day. Ari mentions so many wonderful resources and tools that you do not want to miss.

Show Highlights:

1. Why Ari left Get Leverage and decided to work with people again.
2. How Ari works from 9-3 while his kids are at school.
3. Idea capture is Ari’s obsession.
4. What kinds of automation is Ari doing to streamline his life, and the important things he is not automating.
5. Have systems and procedures in place. Ari will show you how.
6. On-demand labor is key.
7. Ari’s personal goals for the new year.
8. How the Less Doing Lab can help you in just about every area of your life.
9. The psychology of productivity.
10. Having a virtual assistant service is invaluable.
11. Ari’s thoughts on childcare solutions.

Resources:

Find out all about Ari online

Ari Recommends:

Trello

TaskRabbit

Amazon Fresh

Suzanne is a Strategic Marketing and Business Consultant and she helps seasoned entrepreneurs to figure out their high-level marketing challenges by assisting them with the writing of their business plans and with working out their market potential. As an author, she noticed a need in the marketplace and decided to go ahead and fill it, not really knowing what she was getting herself into, at the time! She is also a Speaker and an avid international traveler. Suzanne is married to a really wonderful man, who is also her IT guy, amongst the thousands of other things that he does and she is a Mom to two boys, aged six and a half and almost four. Suzanne has been working part-time ever since her boys were born, so her career has really become woven into her family life. Listen in now, and find out how she manages to find the right balance between these two important aspects of her life.

Amanda writes under the name A.K.Turner. She has already written a parenting humour series and she's currently writing her travel parenting humour series, which is Vagabonding With Kids. She also writes a blog and has her own podcast. Amanda loves to connect with readers and parents and with anybody who is interested in parenting as a multicultural pursuit. Listen in to find out more about Amanda and the fabulous books she writes.

Show highlights:

1. Amanda explains what prompted her to start writing her books.
2. How Amanda sees her children as a real benefit in her life.
3. How travelling is an important priority for Amanda's family.
4. Dealing with the discomfort of relocating your family to another country for a few months.
5. The wonderful effect that all the travelling has had on Amanda's children.
6. What prompted Amanda to start writing her Vagabond Series.
7. Some encouragement and tips to get aspiring writers going.
8. Some advice from a seasoned family traveller about taking an extended trip with your family.
9. How the travelling lifestyle really works for Amanda's family.
10. The mindset you need to have in place to really benefit from travelling.
11. Adapting to a travelling lifestyle.
12. Steering clear of a conventional lifestyle and finding your own best way with your kids.

Links:

Amanda's website: www.vagabondingwithkids.com

Amanda on Twitter: @vagabondingkids

Resource mentioned:

Book: Vagabonding by Rolf Potts

What you’ll hear in this episode:

1. An overview of Michelle’s parenting story
2. How her son was born prematurely and she secured generous maternity leave of 5 months
3. Today, her son is in preschool and a nanny helps out at home
4. Going through the NICU experience with a husband who is a doctor
5. Balancing work and love for her career with a new child
6. Traveling as a nursing mother with a breast pump
7. What it’s like in “big law” being an associate with a young child
8. The perspective of parents with a healthy child
9. Parenting focus of the Women’s Bar Association in DC
10. Challenges for Michelle’s husband in becoming a father
11. The disparity in leave taken by moms and dads
12. Gender role differences with millennials and their differing parenting habits
13. Michelle’s advice to her younger self: “We all put this façade on Facebook and in pictures in our offices of the perfect parent life. No one posts the horrible moments and challenges or reality parenting. No one has it all together and I’m happy to share the difficulties. Every day is a new struggle and a new joy.”

Elisabeth is a Parent Educator and a Parent Coach and she will be joining us today, to talk about her her consulting practice and also about her new book, Parenting As A Second Language. She gives parents the concrete skills they really need, in order to become more effective, and she also supports them in the emotional journey of parenting. Listen in to find out what Elisabeth has to share with you today, about how to make deliberate and clear choices, when parenting your child and also about finding out if your parenting practices really are in line with your goals and your values.

Show highlights:

1. Elisabeth explains her Fifty Item Family Assessment, that she uses to give parents a chance to assess what's actually going on in their home.
2. Elisabeth explains how she got into this particular line of work.
3. The challenges that parents face, with the lack of real community, in today's fast paced world.
4. Elisabeth talks about her former life, as a teacher, where she liked to teach about the more alternative things, like character education and mindfulness.
5. Elisabeth, as a teacher, often felt that the parents were getting in the way of who their children were, uniquely and also of who they wanted to become.
6. The impact of the judgment of others and of society as a whole, on people's ability to parent effectively.
7. Elisabeth talks about her book, Parenting As A Second Language, which is really a gentle guide to parenting, with various exercises for self-reflection, to help you find your way in a variety of topics.
8. How Elisabeth helps parents to find the balance between authoritative and permissive parenting.
9. Elisabeth explains how she works with parents- it's really all about their values.
10. Family meetings- one of Elisabeth's favorite tools for families.
11. Finding the right balance between having your children independent and standing on their own two feet and staying connected, as a family unit.
12. Really knowing what you care about strengthens you and acts as a buffer against the judgment of others.

Links:

Elisabeth's website: www.elisabethstitt.com Elisabeth highly recommends that you sign up for her newsletter.

Parenting As A Second Language- A Guide For Joyful Navigating The Trials Triumphs And Tribulations Of Parenthood by Elisabeth Stitt is available from Amazon.

Karla's Parent At Work Story started before she was even technically a parent while working for the same accounting firm that she does now. Her plan was to leave work and get her house in order about a week before her baby was due to arrive. About six weeks before her due date, she woke up to find that her water had broken. That was lesson number one: Children don't give a hoot about what your plans are. After spending a day in the hospital in labor, she was given an emergency C-Section. With that, came lesson two for Karla: You really do need excellent co-workers and a supportive work environment, in order to survive the experience of becoming a parent. Fortunately for Karla, she had all of that. Listen in now, to find out more about what Karla has learned through her experience of working and becoming a parent.

Today, Karla talks to Tom about:

1. Her really supportive work environment.
2. That with parenting, there are always things to juggle and to take into consideration.
3. The often overlooked difficulties of being a stay at home parent.
4. The work she does for the accounting firm, which, is fortunately quite flexible, and she can do a lot of it on her laptop, wherever she is, or via email.
5. All the different elements that she has to balance, in her busy life.
6. Her particular blend of flexibility and freedom.
7. The stress that comes from having work flexibility.
8. The double standards in people's attitudes towards male working parents, as compared with their attitudes towards women parents, who work.
9. What she sees, as a writer, with parenting in the working world.
10. That it's sometimes a relief and a welcome change of pace, to go into work.
11. How she makes it work, as a working parent.
12. A tip she has for parents- don't over share or over justify yourself for being unavailable work, it's not necessary to share too much detail.
13. That every family is different.
14. How she landed her writing job at the Washington Post.
15. That turning a problem into a story helps you to get a better perspective on it.
16. The kinds of concerns that Managers tend to have, about their workers with children.
17. Parents will sometimes try to take advantage of their situation, to get a better deal at work.
18. Moms often learn to get much more done in much less time.
19. The sense of camaraderie that can develop between co-workers, when supporting and helping each other.
20. The advice that she would give to her 'before she had children' self.
21. The little things that one tends to miss, as a parent, like going out for a meal and being able to eat with both your hands.

Follow Karla's Work

Today, Tom explains that Jennifer Senior's book is about the phenomenon that parents generally score lower on happiness surveys, when compared with people without children and that this flies in the face of the common belief that having children is the crowning achievement in life. Ms. Senior profiles parents who struggle with expectations placed on them, often by themselves, to raise well-adjusted children, with increasingly fewer available resources, such as time, money, or a network of support from family. Thomas points out that the book does, however, have a silver lining, in that most parents do experience a significant amount of joy and meaning in their lives, due to having children. Bruce Feiler's book, on the other hand, points to some possible solutions to the dilemma of parenting. He looks to the lessons learned in business and in other fields, to see if these methods can be used to teach families to function better. He gives an example from the book, of a family who adopted the use of agile management, a project management tool used in the software industry, to help with family meetings and to streamline the hectic morning routine.

Tom says that he hasn't managed to replicate agile management in his house, however, he does dream! Today, Tom tells you what you can expect to hear in his future episodes and he explains that although solutions are great, at times, it really helps just to know that the problems faced by parents are both common and survivable. Listen in today, as Thomas shares his own parenting story by reading the relevant chapter from his book, You're Pregnant, You're Fired.

Some highlights include:

1. How he was offered a position as an Assistant to the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, in 2005, when he was thirty-three years old, married and had a ten-month-old son.
2. How little idea he had, prior to the birth of his son, of how much work it would involve to be a parent.
3. Sharing the responsibilities of parenting with his wife, who was also an attorney.
4. Their dog, Sawyer, who had health problems and added to the stress of parenting.
5. His decision to spend as much time as possible with his son.
6. His joining the US Attorney's Office in the fall of 2006 – a harrowing situation for all new prosecutor's, given the long hours and stress.
7. The stress of coming home to a strung out kid and a stressed out wife, after a demanding day at work.
8. His battle with insomnia.
9. How his own routine became more extreme.
10. He was learning a lot, but it was difficult.
11. The birth of his second son, Jonah.
12. How unprepared he was for having two children- no one ever got a break!
13. Being diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder.
14. That no one at work knew what he was going through.
15. A survey that showed that men with families have it easier than women with families do, in the workplace, yet men tend to be more heavily penalized for taking time off work.
16. His realization that he could no longer maintain the way he was working, trying to balance work and family.
17. His work move to a less stressful situation and his coming down with respiratory tract infection.
18. Opening his own firm and dealing with the guilt of his departure from the US Attorney's office- in the midst of an economic meltdown.
19. His realization that it was having children that had made his balancing act so difficult.
20. Making the choice- career or family?
21. The lack of support by the government, for working families and policy matters that are worth debating in this regard.

Link:

Tom's website: www.spigglelaw.com/podcast