Working Parents Day
In honor of National Working Parents Day, we asked our ASTOUNDers how they juggle work-life balance and what advice they have for new parents.
JOANNE EATON | SR. ACCOUNT MANAGER
What are the ages of your children? Jacob is ten and Parker is eight.
What advice would you give to new working parents? You can’t be everything to everyone all at once, pick and choose what’s your priority and know that you’re doing your best at trying to find work-life balance. It will all work out; you just need some practice. Find what works best for you and your family.
How do you manage work-life balance, especially with the challenges of the pandemic? It’s not easy, especially when you factor in distance-learning for two kids in different grades on top of working and COVID-19. I create a flexible work environment where my hours aren’t defined as 8:30 am to 5:30 pm every day, they flex based on the number of meetings I have, or the kid’s class schedules and where I’m needed the most. Then I set boundaries on when I’m going to stop working and stick to them or I wouldn’t have any separation between the two. A new thing I started in January 2021 was setting aside one hour a day, regardless of how crazy life is, to focus on myself – this was a hard lesson for me, but it’s really been a huge benefit from an overall mental and health standpoint. I normally use this time to do a 5 km (approximately 3 mile) walk alone.
What’s your funniest work-from-home story? We try to keep things interesting in the Eaton household but the funniest thing we’ve done during the pandemic has to be the time Parker and I played Rock, Paper, Scissors, Sugar and the loser had their face dunked in a pile of sugar-icing. He’s already said next time we play it will be Rock, Paper, Scissors, Chocolate Pudding.
How has being a parent helped you become a better employee? You build up a level of patience and tolerance for situations that may have frustrated you easily in the past and your ability to multitask will go to a whole new level.
BEN HERMSEN | DIRECTOR, DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT
What are the ages of your children? My kids are two and four.
What advice would you give to new working parents? Embrace the chaos! Plans are great but they’re just a starting point. Something will always come up that changes them and that’s ok!
How do you manage work-life balance, especially with the challenges of the pandemic? Honestly, working from home has given me a work-life balance I’ve never had before. The fact that my office is in my home means no commute and more time to get things done and spend time with my family. I love that I can take a break and go for a bike ride or walk my dog.
What’s your funniest work-from-home story? During a phone call, hearing my two-year-old, very loudly, grunting right outside my door as she’s trying to go to the restroom.
How has being a parent helped you become a better employee?
It forces you to learn patience. Embrace the chaos that comes your way!
JULIA LUECK | VP, BRAND & DIGITAL EXPERIENCES
What are the ages of your children? I have a four-year-old son and a seven-year-old daughter.
What advice would you give to new working parents? There’s no such thing as balance, you won’t be able to do everything, and things will get missed. Dress-up days, field trip forms, lunches, homework coupled with clients, meetings, and projects, it’s ALOT. Be kind to yourself.
How do you manage work-life balance, especially with the challenges of the pandemic? I try and set appropriate expectations with my team, peers, and clients. Lots of communication and setting realistic, livable deadlines is very important. Schedule time for yourself, lunch breaks, after work activities. Once it’s in the calendar, it’s locked in.
What’s your funniest work-from-home story? There were a couple months that were challenging in 2020 when we were all home together. Generally, the kids understood that we had to work but every now and again you would see a little head pop up behind me asking for snacks during a meeting.
How has being a parent helped you become a better employee? It’s increased my empathy and patience.
TODD SCHWARTZ | RENTAL & STANDARDS MANAGER / DIGITAL FABRICATION MANAGER
What are the ages of your children? Asher is 18 months and Doron is three years old.
What advice would you give to new working parents? Find the balance between work and home and remember the other parent, even if they are a stay-at-home, has a full-time job.
How do you manage work-life balance, especially with the challenges of COVID? It’s been challenging but I was coming into a nearly empty office to get my work done. This helps me when I’m home to not feel bad needing to hide away to get work done.
What’s your funniest work-from-home story? Being on Zoom calls trying to find a location that I can watch the children and reduce special guest cameos.
How has being a parent helped you become a better employee? As a parent, you learn an additional level of patience and dedication. It’s no longer about yourself but the family and in the same way, this should be how work is. It’s not about the ‘I’ but the team.
AILEEN VIROLA | MOM & SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
What are the ages of your children? I am a mother of three-year-old twins.
What advice would you give to new working parents? Have a big picture of your schedule and prioritize. It took me a while to accept that the work from home scenario is truly a mainstay in our professional life. The big lesson learned during COVID-19 is preparing for the unexpected is more productive than being too optimistic about how plans will play out. Set-up a schedule that covers work and personal activities. I also have a great support system, so I can minimize the disruptions and stay focused on work. Also — invest in a great pair of noise cancelling headphones – it’s a game changer for video calls.
How do you manage work-life balance, especially with the challenges of the pandemic? Coffee first! Then I schedule a workout every morning to help me wake up, it really clears my head for the day. Next, I look at my schedule and mentally prepare for all the meetings and tasks ahead. I always try to do at least one fun thing a day like text a friend to see how they are doing, watch a fashion vlog or Uber Eats a fancy lunch.
What’s your funniest work-from-home story? It’s not too funny but every few pages in my notebook, I see scribbles all over a page which means my daughter snuck into my office for a drawing session. Those unexpected moments give me a laugh and remind me not to take things too seriously.
How has being a parent helped you become a better employee? Being a parent has helped me stay focused and manage my time better at work so I can be just as focused when I am with my kids.
