Family-Friendly Work Pays Off for Kids
Avoid Long Commutes, Take Time For Self, Author Advises
Last updated Monday, May 5, 2008 5:49 PM CDT in Your Family
By Tom McMahon
SPECIAL TO THE MORNING NEWS
A flexible work arrangement makes it easier to meet the challenges of parenting. Parents often face significant challenges in creating a family-friendly work arrangement. Lori K. Long wrote the book on this subject: "The Parent's Guide to Family-Friendly Work" (Career Press, 2007).
"I don't have creative scrapbooks, well-organized closets or homemade meals every night," Long writes. "I've put homemaking on the back burner. Instead, I have a career that I find fulfilling, and I have quality time with my family."
Long recommends: Use your family time carefully. Commit to only one volunteer organization at a time, preferably one that doesn't require too much time. Don't let your precious family time become a race to one kid activity after another. Let them pick one activity at a time.
Avoid long commutes if possible. Take time to carve out some time for yourself. To find family-friendly work, you must find a family-friendly boss. Take control of your time so you do not waste precious time doing mundane things or working more than you need to when you could be spending time with your children. The old adage "It's not what you know, it's who you know" applies more to the job search than to any other venture.
Meal Preparation
As a full-time working mom with two kids and a husband, preparing meals each evening took a huge amount of time -- and took place when I was at my lowest ebb. Then a friend invited me to try one of those dinner-prep places -- where you go and assemble dinners to take home, and freeze until you're ready to cook them. (And the shop has chopped everything in advance and cleans up after you.)
The price per meal was about the same as taking us all out for fast food. Instead, we enjoyed balanced, healthy and delicious home-cooked meals, and I enjoyed spending time with my friend when we met once a month to assemble our dinners. -- N.K.M., Chicago.
New Food
If you want a baby to try a new food, mix it in with another food he likes (cereal, fruit, etc.). It usually works like a charm. -- Debora F., Fremont, Calif.
Vacationing With Teens
When our children were teenagers, we used to go on vacation with another family who also had teenagers. Our teens had companions to hang out with, and my husband and I enjoyed the company of the other parents. Occasionally, one set of parents would stay with the teens while the other went out for the evening. Whether it was camping, renting a houseboat or going on a short cruise, we all had a great time. -- I.L.T., Spokane, Wash.
Luncheon Laughter
My daughter enjoyed getting a note in her lunchbox every day, but I couldn't always come up with something clever to write. Things improved after I bought a joke book, from which I took a daily joke. The daily joke became famous at her lunch table. I still add an occasional personal note as well. -- S.O., Pleasanton, Calif.
Friend-Inspired Success
Our 2 1/2 -year-old son had no interest in becoming potty-trained until he met Elizabeth, who was already potty trained at 2 years old. He suddenly became interested in the toilet and became potty trained almost entirely by himself. Peer pressure seems to appear at an early age. -- P.M., Los Gatos, Calif.
Send tips to tom@kidtips.com. Tom McMahon is a syndicated columnist, college professor and author. Kid Tips is distributed by King Features Syndicate.
Reader Comments (No comments posted.)
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Not already registered?
