Reply to Working mom with more than 3 kids?

Forum Index » Jobs and Careers

Reply to "Working mom with more than 3 kids? "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have 3 kids 5, 7, 9 and work as a senior (C-level) marketing executive. My husband is an ER doctor. I worked through all three kids' baby, toddler, and preschool years and continue to do so. During that window, my career exploded and I went through several levels at my company (director, to senior director, to product VP, to VP, to CMO). How did I do it?

First, I am a very, very organized person. I was very organized prior to having kids and was the default manager of our lives, due to my husband's residency (we had kids once he finished training). Second, I know when to fold 'em. I am not going to do things 100 percent perfectly. I view getting things 80 percent done sufficient for my own sanity. So, I didn't push myself on things. I nursed until it was too inconvenient or my supply didn't keep up with demand. My kids were sleep trained around 6 months or so. I didn't get bogged down on the baby stuff. The kids were fed, clean, and loved. Whether or not I made food from scratch or from a pouch wasn't a hill I was willing to die on.

Third, we had a nanny. My oldest went to daycare, but with costs, it became cheaper just to bring her on. It costs the equivalent to our mortgage, but it was absolutely worth it and I was able to work through two levels of promotions due to her support. We even kept the nanny on board as a house manager/nanny now that the kids are in elementary school. She's just an amazing, amazing person.

Fourth, my husband and I both handle meal planning, logistics, etc. Sometimes when things are hectic, he will work overnights or two doubles on the weekend so we can drive the kids to sports, etc.

Finally, I simplified my own life. I have a capsule wardrobe so I don't spend more than a few minutes determining what to wear (my sister who I love dearly admitted to spending 30 minutes trying clothes on. I ain't got time for that. I have a cute chin length bob that is easy to style. I have a fairly simple makeup routine. And I exercise pretty much daily at the gym at my office during lunch, opting to eat at my desk (where I eat pretty much the same salad from the restaurant below for the past 10 years). So, I'm boring in ways, but get things done.

I thought long and hard about being home, but I realized I enjoyed working and have seen a dramatic increase in what I make. I actually outearn my husband by 3 times. So, for me, it worked out.[/quote]

Wow, amazing! Can I ask, how did you handle maternity / paternity leave? Your kids are pretty close together. Did your husband take time off?[/quote]

I went back at 12 weeks with each kid. My husband took off for a month after this either because he had just finished residency and had a start date for a new job that he was able to push (1st baby), started at a new job (2nd baby) or just took unpaid FMLA (8-weeks) for the third baby. For my second and third, I took the 12 weeks and went back. I nursed each of them for roughly 5 or 6 months before I threw in the towel. My oldest was the most challenging because I did pick-ups and had hard stops at 5:30 to get him. When we got the nanny, we were able to stagger our schedules so I could work later and didn't have to do the 9-11 email clean up shift after the kids go to bed.

My husband is an involved parent, but in terms of the baby years, things were definitely more on me. What's funny is that now that the kids are older, I think he does way, way more than I do for the kids. He coaches things and knows more about their school stuff. I still manage the day-to-day details like bills, etc. but I openly admit having older kids really did change the dynamic.

The other thing is that my husband's job is very, very flexible. He can move his schedule around a bit depending on the needs of our family. Sometimes he works overnights, weekends, etc. if there are kid things he wants to do at school or in sports. That's helpful as is the nanny.

Financially, I was sort of at a wash when my first was born in terms of working. I was putting money into retirement, etc. but I think we only cleared a few hundred bucks a month. The promotions came through and eventually over the course of 10 years I went from a mid-career marketing professional to a C-level marketing professional. It blows my mind, but I really enjoy what I do and the company I work for so making the choice to work was the right thing for me. I am glad I didn't stop, but completely understand why someone would choose differently.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics