Single Mother: Working From Residence Saved My Relationship With My Daughter

• As a single mother working a demanding workplace job, I struggled to be current for my daughter.
• After I began working from dwelling, I used to be in a greater temper, permitting me to be a greater mother.
• My work-from-home life-style has benefited my relationship with my daughter.

My identification fully modified after I went by means of a divorce. I used to be abruptly a single working mother who had to determine tips on how to reside by myself and lift my daughter.

The primary difficulty was I had a demanding job in Silicon Valley. Fortunately, this wasn’t simply any job; it was my dream function. I used to be lastly main a group, growing a flagship innovation mission, and climbing the Silicon Valley ladder — constructing merchandise at platforms like PayPal that thousands and thousands of individuals used.

However this additionally meant lengthy hours on the workplace, intense deadlines, and little or no trip or private time. The fashionable workplace leaves little room for household wants whereas anticipating mothers to match colleagues with out childcare tasks.

I struggled to juggle my job on the workplace with parenting at dwelling. Fortunately, that modified after I began working from dwelling.

Balancing my in-office job and motherhood was practically unattainable

I wished to be current for my daughter, particularly throughout these essential early years, nevertheless it was very tough.

All the pieces was tougher with no accomplice. Even college pick-ups and drop-offs grew to become difficult as a result of college ended at 2:45 p.m., whereas my workday ended at 7 p.m.

I wanted childcare when my daughter had a vacation, and I did not. I additionally wanted to search out somebody to take her to extracurricular actions after I had a piece assembly.

The work did not cease after I obtained dwelling, both. I used to be solely liable for family duties, so I typically discovered myself cleansing at 10 p.m.

I felt continually pressured, making an attempt to steadiness a family and my kid’s schedule, all the time dashing, and by no means totally current for her.

I grew to become a greater mother after I began working from dwelling

One thing fascinating occurred: Firms in Silicon Valley started experimenting with a brand new idea referred to as hybrid work (even earlier than the pandemic), which meant extra versatile schedules. I began working from dwelling extra frequently, particularly on Fridays.

With out a commute, I had much more time within the morning. This meant there was much less yelling and dashing round, and I may drop off my toddler in school. I saved time not having to prepare and obtained two hours again every day with out the commute.

Throughout lunchtime, I may seize a fast chunk and clear the kitchen or meal prep for my daughter proper earlier than getting again to work. I used to be additionally capable of finding half an hour in the course of the day for a fast run or meditation.

Having extra time at dwelling additionally helped enhance my temper immensely, and I used to be a a lot nicer, extra current mother. I used to be the most efficient I had ever been at work, and my high quality of life improved. I felt extra in command of my schedule and my household.

My relationship with my daughter improved as I obtained my time again together with her. I may assist her with homework and attend her after-school occasions.

The pandemic accelerated the adoption of distant work, enabling moms in all places to embrace this freedom within the office.

Because of distant work, I’m a greater mom.

I hope I by no means need to return to the workplace

My daughter is now off to school, however I am pleased that I used to be capable of spend extra time together with her throughout these vital years, and we’ve a stronger relationship due to it.

I really feel targeted, calm, and motivated at work as a result of my dwelling and private life are extra below management.

I hope that the brand new return-to-office mandates are solely a short lived setback and that corporations quickly acknowledge they’re taking away one of the highly effective new weapons of the fashionable office — one which has the capability to vary the lives of working mothers in all places, identical to it did for me.

Priya Rajendran is the vp of product design and growth at a Fortune 500 firm. She’s additionally the co-founder and CEO of It is A Household Factor.