Reply to Workings parents of two -- how do you do it?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here. It helps a lot to hear everyone's schedule and juggling strategies, thank you. DH and I are both pretty flexible in terms of working from home, we are not in 9-5 jobs so that helps in some ways (on the other hand work can take up as much time as there is). Problem is when we work from home, we tend to get sucked into just tidying one thing or running a load of this or that which really breaks the work flow...

Older child is in preschool from 8-4. When he gets home we cook and have dinner. Right now we have a ton of help with the baby, although I am WAH in order to nurse. I guess when I think about it, it's really the exhausting weekends, when we don't have help, and the feeling that my day is split up from all the nursing. I think it will be easier once the sleep consolidates and the naps get more regular. Baby is also 80% sleeping without being held this month, so that helps.

In terms of house supplies, we Amazon Prime a lot. I guess I am just always discovering that older child needs water shoes or younger one needs bibs or what not. I never feel on top of that stuff.

Will look into grocery delivery. Wish WFs had a curbside service.

[/quote]

I hate to break it to you, but you've really got it easy.

Job flexibility, no commute, one kid in daycare all day (8-4), hired help for the baby.

Imagine this scenario:

Two working parents, one parent has a 90 minute commute each way, demanding careers (one involves travel 6x a year), four kids in elementary/middle school, all kids have sports/dance/religion classes throughout the week plus games and parties each weekend, no nanny, no housekeeper, no lawn service. That's my life. Plus, I have some medical issues. And, two of the four grandparents have medical issues and rely on us for assistance.

My tips: lower your expectations. Sometimes cereal and yogurt for dinner is fine. Some nights you skip the bath and just let the kid fall asleep in your bed with you while watching cartoons. [/quote]

OP here. I hear you that four kids under those circumstances are tough.

Everyone's situations are different. We both have demanding jobs, both of us travel several times a year. We do have flexibility to work at home but basically the job is as many hours as you can give and the field is highly competitive so there's no down time. Extended family lives overseas. Love DC1's school, but it can take 30 min in traffic to get there so that is 2 hrs out of the day sometimes. I realize that is a choice, same way it's our choice to parent in a certain way. It took us a long time to have kids due to medical issues and I think that might be a factor in how we think about them...but for example we try to follow recommendations for sleep even if it means moving our schedule, same with nutrition even if it means more time for us. I know plenty of kids are fine without that but it's just the way we both want to raise ours. And the main reason I wouldn't want to have a third is because I don't think I could provide for all of their needs, including attention, and stay sane. We both grew up in three-child families where the parents were under stress for reasons like what you describe and I don't think it is something we personally want to repeat. No judgment, because everyone is different...I wasn't trying to say we have it particularly hard. I guess what others are saying about work culture not being particularly accommodating to anyone who wants or needs to care for dependents is just the current reality. It impacts women disproportionately due to the expectations, but I think it also is no picnic for men like my partner who want to be involved.[/quote]

I think it's very interesting that you agonize over sleep schedules, meals and the number of kids you have in an effort to be the "best parents" yet you aren't willing to address the biggest obstacle to achieving your parenting goal: two demanding, high stress jobs that require travel. Your post actually made me laugh.

Sorry, op, but nobody can help you unless you are willing to help yourself.

And while I shared my personal deets to prove a point (that your life really isn't as difficult as you think...regardless of how many kids you have) the reality is that DH and I aren't apt to kvetch about our situation. Our schedules are hectic, but we have a happy home filled with love. DH and I don't bring our work home; we focus 100% of our attention on our kids as soon as we walk through the door. While DH and I have careers in the public interest arena and we are passionate about how our work is changing the world, our kids come first. Always. Not the work, not money, not personal career satisfaction...the kids.

You and your partner could make changes if you want to. You stopped at two kids precisely for a perceived quality of life, so why not reexamine your careers and strive for a better work-life balance? It sounds like that's your real problem. (Although you also sound like you have issues with control. If you're a classic Type A, then you might struggle with stepping back from your career to prioritize to your kids.)[/quote]

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