Bringing Up Babies: A Prescription For Busy Parents

Juggling work and family can often seem overwhelming. Here are some practical advices for easing the strain on working parents, those two-job couples who are so much a part of our world today.

• Learn to compartmentalize – when you work, be there, and when you are at home, be at home.

• Prepare yourself for separating each day. Then prepare the child. Accompany him or her to the care giver.

• Allow yourself to grieve about leaving your baby – it will help you find the best substitute care, and you’ll leave the child with a passionate parting.

• Let yourself feel guilty. Guilt is a powerful force for finding solution.

• Find others to share your stress – peer or family resource groups.

• Include your spouse in the work of the family.

• Face the reality of working and caring. No supermom or superbaby fantasies.

• Learn to save up energy in the workplace to be ready for homecoming.

• Investigate all the options available at your workplace – on-site or nearby day care, shared-job options, flexible time arrangements, sick leave if your child is ill.

• Plan for children to fall apart when you arrive home after work. They’ve saved up their strongest feelings all day.

• Gather your entire family when you walk in. Sit in a big rocking chair until everyone is close again. When the children squirm to get down, you can turn to chores and housework.

• Take children along as you do chores. Teach them to help with the house work, and give them approval when they do.

• Each parent should have a special time alone with each child every week. Even an hour will do.

• Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by the stress. Instead, enjoy the pleasures of solving problems together. You can establish a pattern of working as a team.