Archive for the ‘Work / Life Integration’ Category
Thursday, June 19th, 2008
Yesterday was the big day. The last day of kindergarten! Pee-ba was pretty excited from the start of the day — especially since I promised a special outing for just the two of us.
It started with a special hand-made card signed by mom, dad, JoJo (little sister) and Loosh (little brother) that was decorated with stickers galore. We slipped it into her lunch box for a special mid-morning surprise. Next we did a special hair-do with fancy trimmings. And then, just as on the first day of school, the whole family swept her off to meet the bus. I couldn’t resist taking a few pictures to mark the occasion.
Several hours later, she bound off the bus anticipating our outing, which she continually referred to as our ‘out,’ with the excitement of the five year old she is! Her first question was, “can we go to the pool?” But, since we weren’t quite ready for swimming season yet (didn’t have all of our gear), and it was a tad cool for me, we’d have to take a pass. After some initial disappointment, she recalled our planned ‘out’ and the excitement and anticipation returned.
We started with some shopping to find a new bathing suit for her and found success at our first store (along with a new smaller handbag for mom!). Next, it was off to Target for some noodles for the pool. I might as well have just invented chocolate, she was so happy. We topped our afternoon off with an ice cream, which she savored slowly as we sat at under the cool cover of an umbrella at a sidewalk table and enjoyed the scenery. We topped it off with her favorites for dinner and games with Dad and her siblings before trotting off to bed with her noodle.
The day was so fulfilling, especially the one-on-one time with Pee-ba — and it was clear that she appreciated it as well. As a working mom of three, creating that one-on-one time for each child can be a challenge, but the pay-off is so immediate and so rich. In the span of an afternoon, Pee-ba and I established a new set of rituals for celebrating the last day of school that’ll we’ll repeat next year and adapt as she grows. And, this will serve as inspiration for special school-time rituals with her younger siblings as they grow into the school system. These rituals enrich our time together and serve as inspiration for creating the space for even more one-on-one time with each of little one.
How do you make the most of one-on-one time with you child/ren? And what role do rituals play?
Share
Tags: Family, Kids, kindergarten, last day of school, one-on-one time, Parenting, rituals
Posted in Connecting, Family, Life, Moms, Parenting, Work / Life Integration | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008
Tomorrow’s a pretty big day for me and my oldest child, Pee-ba (as her little brother calls her). It’s her last day of Kindergarten. It’s hard to fathom that an entire school year has passed. She has grown immensely. Truly. She’s learned so much in what seems like such a short time … She carries on conversations that I just can’t imagine I was capable of having at her age.
From her first days of school, I felt her tether stretch as she sailed out into her new world and returned with new thoughts, ideas, experiences, things; and then she would sail out again and return with even more. She formed real friendships with people that aren’t connected with me or her dad. I’ve come to know them partially from the time spent in the classroom, but much of what I know about them shows up in Priya — in the new dance moves I see her showing her little sister, the songs she sings in the car while we’re driving, in the things she asks for when we’re at a store and the little gifts she brings home.
All year long she’s said how much she loves Kindergarten and wants to stay there forever, if only. How innocent! How sweet! And now, she says she’s ready for it to be over. She doesn’t anticipate missing much about school, aside from friends. I’ve come to realize in recent days that it’s more about what she’s looking forward to (summer fun) than wanting school to end.
In some ways, the feeling is reminiscent of weaning. I’ve watched her grow so tall, so articulate, so curious and confident. She doesn’t cling as tightly as she used to. She has original thoughts and ideas and is persistent about expressing them. She’s really growing up. And, it’s bittersweet. I know all of the things that are beautiful, powerful and empowering about it; and I also know where this path leads. But, instead of borrowing from the future and focusing on what someday will no longer be, I’ll celebrate this milestone in a special way.
Stay tuned …
Share
Tags: Family, Kids, Parenting, School
Posted in Connecting, Family, Life, Moms, Parenting, Work / Life Integration | No Comments »
Sunday, June 8th, 2008
Last week the Today Show featured a story on how some companies are reconsidering the traditional five-day work week in favor of four days in the office — either four longer days with one day off or five regular days with one of them being a telecommuting day.
While I would love to think that organizations have finally seen the light on the whole work-life balance / work-life integration conundrum that most working parents face, and lots of non-parents as well, this is not the case. The impetus is the rising cost of fuel. According to the piece, many employers are now feeling the pinch in the wallet themselves and are considering alternative work arrangements to create a favorable situation for employees and employers alike.
While some organizations have had such flexible work policies in place for some time, the piece reports that the programs are becoming even more popular in face of the economic crunch.
Whatever the cause, my hope is that the experience will be positive for organizations and employees alike; that all will see the benefits as relates to the wallet and the pump, and also in productivity, workplace satisfaction, employee retention, the environment, and other areas as well.
While it’s disappointing that the countless ongoing efforts of so many to create this shift in support of the challenges faced by working families was not the main motivator, I do hope this shift will be incorporated into the work landscape on a broader scale as a permanent alternative.
What’s your organization’s policy on flexible scheduling and/or alternative work arrangements?
Share
Tags: Career, four-day work week, work, Work / Life Integration, work-life balance
Posted in Alternative Work, Career, Life, Productivity, Work / Life Integration | 1 Comment »
Thursday, June 5th, 2008
A new feature of this blog, Sanity Savers will offer tips, tools and resources to help retain sanity while addressing the challenges of managing work and life.
I’ve just discovered the SNAPWARE® Snap ‘N Stackâ„¢ Craft Organizer and I’m in love! With three arts-and-crafts-loving kids in the house, the array of tools and supplies quickly get out of control. So, when I saw this nifty looking set at Costco, similar to the large 3-layer square version here, I had to give it a try. (The Costco version is a 17-piece set that includes six smaller containers that are also stackable.)
After school today, the kids and I sat down and emptied their numerous containers of crayons, pens, pencils, markers, stickers, colored paper, drawing pads, stencils, beads, scissors, glue and glue sticks, paints and brushes, etc. My oldest enjoyed designating which container would hold what and then collecting the appropriate content.
Long after the kids had grown bored with the project, I was putting the finishing touches on our newly organized collection and it felt wonderful! Everything had a home and we even had extra space for small puzzles, games and miscellaneous odds and ends. In the process, we were able to toss lots of dried up markers, paint, play dough and other stuff that had lost its usefulness. The result … these beautiful towers of creativity that take up a fraction of the space, and look a whole lot better.
(I wish I had taken a before shot!)
To top it all off, this stackable system is expandable, so I’ll probably be returning to Costco for another set (not available online). Now there’s a tool that parents can use!
Have a great Sanity Saver? Tell us about it here!
Share
Tags: Arts and Crafts, Kids, Organization, Productivity, Work / Life Integration
Posted in Family, Organization, Sanity Savers, Work / Life Integration | 2 Comments »
Friday, May 30th, 2008
I’ve been absent from my blog for several weeks! Earlier this spring I was offered a wonderful opportunity to be the business and operations manager (part-time) of the childcare center that my two younger children attend. I’ve long been very fond of the school and had been working with the founder and manager as a parent volunteer. This opportunity would enable me to have an even greater impact on the non-profit school and be in the presence of and have access to my kids, even while working.
It would also create another stream of income while providing a whopping discount on full-time child care for two kids. I’m entrepreneur with two active ventures (Apply Within and The Enterprising Moms) and a mom who chose to develop a portfolio career with multiple streams of income as a way of achieving better work-life integration. Because I made these decisions, in part, to have more time with the kids, I initially struggled with decision to enroll them in childcare full-time.
Finding the ideal childcare situation is one of the greater challenges that working parents face. I’m fortunate to have a place where I’m thrilled to send my kids and one that’s so philosophically aligned that I’d consider working there as well. This made considering full-time enrollment a bit easier. As a pondered my options, I realized that in this situation, full-time care is just that — an option. It’s there if I need it. I can use it or not depending on my work flow — the ultimate in childcare flexibility.
This flexibility would also give me some space to focus increased attention on my other ventures. It would enable me to have more dedicated time with the kids and with work while being fully present for each. It would also provide a more consistent rich, stimulating and educational environment for my kids. And so, I took the plunge!
It’s been a couple of months since I started and there have been some challenges, which is why I’ve been away. As with any transition, there’s a learning curve and lots of adjustments to make in many areas of our lives. New schedules and routines; new time constraints and logistics to consider. The dinner time crunch has been exactly that. I’m still working on figuring out that piece!
So that’s where I’ve been. I’m still fully dedicated to Apply Within and The Enterprising Moms and look forward to continued growth both businesses. This new opportunity has just added an additional dimension to my career and I’m honing some key skills that are useful in all arenas.
I haven’t quite worked out the right mix of work and play just yet, but the picture is getting clearer each day. Being highly flexible and adaptable is key in navigating this transition as things evolve.
Stay tuned …
Share
Posted in Alternative Work, Career, Choice, Family, Parenting, Work / Life Integration | No Comments »
Monday, April 21st, 2008
I’m back! Winter was a very busy time for me. I’d been taking several classes over the past few months on everything from business to parenting and things are finally winding down. My brain is chocked full of lots of useful (and some not so useful) information.
Because of the number of things with which I was involved and the limited amount of time available, I had to make some choices about how to maximize my time. And so, this blog went into hibernation again for a few weeks until life settled down. And, now that things are settling, I look forward to getting back into a grove.
Spring has sprung and as the weather warms, new growth sprouts and birds start my days with a song, I look forward to a bit of new growth myself. Stay tuned!
Share
Posted in Life, Reflections, Time Management, Work / Life Integration | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
Did you happen to see the main cover story in the Business Section of The Washington Post on Saturday, March 22? If not, take a look …
The story, “Career or Family? Yes.” explored the challenges faced by many working moms who struggle with work-life balance issues and highlighted several local firms, coaches and consultants that address these issues. Many assist moms in finding part-time and flexible work arrangements.
I am quite excited and honored to have been included in the story. If you’re a working parent seeking more a fulfilling and better balanced life, contact me to learn how I can help.
Share
Tags: Washington Post, work-life balance, Working Moms
Posted in Alternative Work, Career, Moms, Work / Life Integration | 1 Comment »
Monday, March 24th, 2008
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I saw the concept of choice play out through the eyes of a toddler — Loosh, my 17-month-old son. Watching him figure out how to have all that he had stuffed into his hands and still grab something new that he wanted even more, was watching conscious choice in action.
When I found myself sick last week with my second cold in the past few weeks, I knew I had some choices to make, so I looked to Loosh as my example. Even though I wasn’t flat-out, shriveled-up-in-bed sick, I wanted to take some steps to avoid getting there.
For weeks my days and nights have been really full. I’ve been engaged in some really fun and interesting work and classes and have been making progress on some really big projects. And, new opportunities have been coming my way. But, I realized that in order to get healthy and do more, I had to let go of some things.
I started by looking at my calendar to see what could be rescheduled, post-poned or canceled. Last week I canceled two meetings and rescheduled an all-day class so that I could slow the pace a bit. I put off grocery shopping until the weekend, when family would be in town. I’d be able to use that shopping time to focus on my projects and go grocery shopping while the kids were engaged with Dad and Granddad. And, rather than stressing about when we were going to clean up the house before family arrived on Friday, I arranged to have the house cleaned.
The wonderful thing about living in choice, is that it’s empowering. With each choice I made about how to spend my time, I felt more energized about making the next choice, and the next. Because I was no longer stressed about how to fit it all in before the weekend while feeling under the weather, I was able to slow down, figure out where my attention was most needed, and focus my energy there. It was a reminder of how all of the stuff that I need to do, and need to do immediately, really doesn’t have to be done by me specifically, and it doesn’t have to be done today, this week, or maybe ever.
My cold is almost completely gone, and so is the pressure of doing it all, myself, today!
Work-life balance is not something to be achieved. It changes as life changes. What’s working today may or may not work next week. Staying flexible, adaptable and creative about how you address work-life challenges is key, as is living in choice!
Have you had to reevaluate and make some tough choices recently? How did you handle it? What was the impact?
Share
Tags: living in choice, Productivity, Time Management, work-life balance
Posted in Choice, Life, Moms, Productivity, Reflections, Time Management, Work / Life Integration | 1 Comment »
Friday, March 21st, 2008
As a business-owner mom with three little ones, time is precious. I’m constantly seeking ways to do routine things a little quicker and smarter so that I can spend my time where it really counts. I often find that tips and tricks that are effective in my work life translate to my home life with pleasing results.
One of the tips from Getting Things Done (which I’ve blogged about previously) that has really proven it’s worth to me recently is about ‘dating’ things. David Allen, the author, recommends putting a date on everything that goes into your in-box. I’ve taken it a step or two further and put a date on just about anything that I or someone else will need to refer back to. This includes notes from a meeting or conversation (pretty obvious, but I would often forget), brainstorming scribbles, to do lists, etc.
One place this has really come in handy is in the kitchen. I’ve started dating things like the package of lunch meat I just opened, the unfinished jar of pasta sauce, the bag of flour that’s still half full. I’ve added dates to the quick notes jotted on the white board, the shopping list on the bulletin board, and the bag slow-moving veggie chips in the pantry.
When I went to clean out the fridge this weekend, I spared myself the awful taste and smell tests I usually do to determine what’s still edible, or not. The whole process took a fraction of what it used to because I was quickly able to decide that the turkey meat from 2/29, had been hanging around for a little too long.
It seems like a really small thing, and it is — and that’s the point. When you add up all the small things, the amount of time and effort you save can be significant. Rather than trying to recall when something was bought, opened, or cooked and then determine whether or not it’s still good, I simply put a date on. By dating an item on the front end (when it goes in the fridge or pantry or on a list or white board), it doesn’t require extra time or thought later, when I need to decide if it stays or goes.
What’s a way that you take back your time from routine and repetitive tasks?
Share
Tags: business-owner mom, Getting Things Done, time saving tips
Posted in Family, Getting Things Done, Moms, Organization, Productivity, Time Management, Work / Life Integration | No Comments »
Monday, March 17th, 2008
A few days ago, I was at the playground with two of my little ones. Loosh, as we often call our 17-month-old, was off exploring in the grass and wood chips. He took a little stumble, grabbed the earth with all he could and came up with two fists full of wood chips. He was clinging to them for dear life and did not want to let them go. He paraded around the playground with hands full of chunks of earth, until he came upon something he wanted to hold even more.
It was really fascinating watching him figure out what to do next. He looked at one hand and then the other and realized that they were both full. Then he looked at the new thing that he wanted and realized that something would have to go. He looked at his hands again, and then back at the flower and then made a choice. He decided to fit as many of the wood chips as he could in one hand, letting the excess fall to the ground. Then he grabbed the wilting dandelion that his sister, JoJo, was handing to him, which he proceeded to smash under his nose and in his mouth — his dramatic way of imitating sniffing. Before long, he was off to looking for the next greatest thing.
As I watched Loosh go through this process of filling his hands, discovering something else he wanted to hold and then making a choice about what his was willing to let go of and how much, I was reminded of how we, as adults, face the same choices – particularly as working parents.
What do you do when faced with a tough choice? What process do you go through when adding something new to your plate? How do you decide what to let go of in order to make room for what’s new? Do you let go, or do you just keep piling it on?
Stay tuned for an article with tips on how to make empowering choices.
Share
Tags: Choice, prioritizing
Posted in Choice, Family, Life, Time Management, Work / Life Integration | 1 Comment »
Subscribe