Bethanne Patrick: Why is this book something new?
Balance Work and Motherhood
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Paige Hobey: I tried to create the book I really needed when my son was born, so there are a lot of unique solutions not found in other parenting books. There’s information on how to make the most of maternity leave, deciding what to do about work as a new mother, negotiating a family-friendly work arrangement, connecting with new moms, finding affordable child care and even things like emotionally transitioning from independent career gal to mom.
Bethanne Patrick: When you're a working woman and you become pregnant, what’s the first thing that you should think about or ask yourself?
Paige Hobey: First, I would take time to relish the experience. Pregnancy offers a great opportunity to focus on something personal, and it puts those stressful projects in perspective. Also, start thinking about how you might want to combine work and family when your baby arrives. There are more flexible work options today than ever before, even if you need your full-time salary. Think creatively about what might work for you. If you need your full income or you know you want to go back full-time, for example, you could still request flex-time, compressed workweeks or a work-from-home arrangement. If you can afford an income drop, you could consider cutting back to part-time, job sharing, freelancing, or even starting your own business.
Bethanne Patrick: As your pregnancy progresses, when do you tell your boss and your colleagues?
Paige Hobey: Women start to show at different points in their pregnancies. Most women meet with their managers early in their second trimesters—when the risk of miscarriage is much lower but before they’re showing. If you’re starting to show earlier, however, you could go ahead and schedule that meeting. And once you’ve shared the news with your manager, it’s a great time to tell colleagues and friends as well.
Bethanne Patrick: What should you expect from your workplace while you’re expecting?
Paige Hobey: I would expect a positive experience in the workplace during your pregnancy. Most employers these days will be supportive, and they’re savvy enough to know that even if they have some frustrations about managing the workload during your time away, they need to keep it to themselves. It’s human nature to be excited about pregnancy, and most people—colleagues [and] managers—should be thrilled for you.
Bethanne Patrick: What’s the greatest benefit of working from home and freelancing for new moms?
Paige Hobey: Today, about 30% of U.S. employees have access to a work-from-home arrangement, and many others decide to strike out on their own and provide their services as independent contractors. I made this choice, and I love it. You save wasted commuting time, you feel physically closer to your child (even if she’s downstairs with the babysitter), and you have a greater sense of control over your schedule.
Bethanne Patrick: Bringing a little bit [of control] back can be very important. What about the downside, if there is one?
Paige Hobey: The downside I hear most often from women who work from home is the risk of falling out of the loop. If you’re not in the office regularly, you may not be the person your manager thinks of when promotions or new projects come around. If that’s a concern, think about strategies for staying connected or consider a partial work-from-home schedule so you get some face time.
Bethanne Patrick: What kind of adjustments should working women expect during that first year of parenthood?
Paige Hobey: Your priorities inevitably shift, so your boundaries between work and home need to become much clearer. As soon as you return from maternity leave, meet with your manager and be very clear about your schedule. Also, as a working parent, you have to be more organized and have emergency backup plans determined in advance. Talk to your employer and request a work-from-home-if-needed policy, or set up an arrangement where a relative or friend could fill in as an emergency babysitter.
Bethanne Patrick: When should soon-to-be-parents start investigating child care options?
Paige Hobey: First, consider the type of child care you want. If you’re interested in daycare, investigate your options as soon as you can. Many of the better daycare centers, particularly in larger cities, have waiting lists several months long. Even if you’re debating your options, it doesn’t hurt to put your child on some of those waiting lists in advance. If you’re planning to hire a babysitter or nanny, you could look into referral agencies in advance, but you’ll start interviewing candidates during your maternity leave—a couple of months before returning to work. Nannies and babysitters available for interviews generally want to start work immediately.
Bethanne Patrick: What surprised you the most about this issue as you as you wrote the book?
Paige Hobey: As a new mother, I was surprised by the intensity of that conflict you feel between work and parenthood when your baby arrives. Today, so many of us have worked for years before starting our families. We’ve developed friendships at work and built up a skill set. We’ve become very comfortable with the full-time working lifestyle, and our careers are often a significant part of our self-image. Then our babies are born, and there’s an unexpected paradigm shift. It’s always challenging to reconcile that infant attachment we have as new mothers and our longstanding career commitments. Hopefully the advice in this book will help make the transition easier for women.
Bethanne Patrick: I think it will. It's got so much actionable advice in it. Thank you so much, Paige, for being with us today.
Paige Hobey: Thank you.
Bethanne Patrick: This is Bethanne Patrick with AOL Coaches. I've been speaking with Paige Hobey, author of 'The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville: Your Must-Have Manual for Life with Baby', from Da Capo Press.
Bethanne Patrick: When you're a working woman and you become pregnant, what’s the first thing that you should think about or ask yourself?
Paige Hobey: First, I would take time to relish the experience. Pregnancy offers a great opportunity to focus on something personal, and it puts those stressful projects in perspective. Also, start thinking about how you might want to combine work and family when your baby arrives. There are more flexible work options today than ever before, even if you need your full-time salary. Think creatively about what might work for you. If you need your full income or you know you want to go back full-time, for example, you could still request flex-time, compressed workweeks or a work-from-home arrangement. If you can afford an income drop, you could consider cutting back to part-time, job sharing, freelancing, or even starting your own business.
Bethanne Patrick: As your pregnancy progresses, when do you tell your boss and your colleagues?
Paige Hobey: Women start to show at different points in their pregnancies. Most women meet with their managers early in their second trimesters—when the risk of miscarriage is much lower but before they’re showing. If you’re starting to show earlier, however, you could go ahead and schedule that meeting. And once you’ve shared the news with your manager, it’s a great time to tell colleagues and friends as well.
Bethanne Patrick: What should you expect from your workplace while you’re expecting?
Paige Hobey: I would expect a positive experience in the workplace during your pregnancy. Most employers these days will be supportive, and they’re savvy enough to know that even if they have some frustrations about managing the workload during your time away, they need to keep it to themselves. It’s human nature to be excited about pregnancy, and most people—colleagues [and] managers—should be thrilled for you.
Bethanne Patrick: What’s the greatest benefit of working from home and freelancing for new moms?
Paige Hobey: Today, about 30% of U.S. employees have access to a work-from-home arrangement, and many others decide to strike out on their own and provide their services as independent contractors. I made this choice, and I love it. You save wasted commuting time, you feel physically closer to your child (even if she’s downstairs with the babysitter), and you have a greater sense of control over your schedule.
Bethanne Patrick: Bringing a little bit [of control] back can be very important. What about the downside, if there is one?
Paige Hobey: The downside I hear most often from women who work from home is the risk of falling out of the loop. If you’re not in the office regularly, you may not be the person your manager thinks of when promotions or new projects come around. If that’s a concern, think about strategies for staying connected or consider a partial work-from-home schedule so you get some face time.
Bethanne Patrick: What kind of adjustments should working women expect during that first year of parenthood?
Paige Hobey: Your priorities inevitably shift, so your boundaries between work and home need to become much clearer. As soon as you return from maternity leave, meet with your manager and be very clear about your schedule. Also, as a working parent, you have to be more organized and have emergency backup plans determined in advance. Talk to your employer and request a work-from-home-if-needed policy, or set up an arrangement where a relative or friend could fill in as an emergency babysitter.
Bethanne Patrick: When should soon-to-be-parents start investigating child care options?
Paige Hobey: First, consider the type of child care you want. If you’re interested in daycare, investigate your options as soon as you can. Many of the better daycare centers, particularly in larger cities, have waiting lists several months long. Even if you’re debating your options, it doesn’t hurt to put your child on some of those waiting lists in advance. If you’re planning to hire a babysitter or nanny, you could look into referral agencies in advance, but you’ll start interviewing candidates during your maternity leave—a couple of months before returning to work. Nannies and babysitters available for interviews generally want to start work immediately.
Bethanne Patrick: What surprised you the most about this issue as you as you wrote the book?
Paige Hobey: As a new mother, I was surprised by the intensity of that conflict you feel between work and parenthood when your baby arrives. Today, so many of us have worked for years before starting our families. We’ve developed friendships at work and built up a skill set. We’ve become very comfortable with the full-time working lifestyle, and our careers are often a significant part of our self-image. Then our babies are born, and there’s an unexpected paradigm shift. It’s always challenging to reconcile that infant attachment we have as new mothers and our longstanding career commitments. Hopefully the advice in this book will help make the transition easier for women.
Bethanne Patrick: I think it will. It's got so much actionable advice in it. Thank you so much, Paige, for being with us today.
Paige Hobey: Thank you.
Bethanne Patrick: This is Bethanne Patrick with AOL Coaches. I've been speaking with Paige Hobey, author of 'The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville: Your Must-Have Manual for Life with Baby', from Da Capo Press.
