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I also have 2 kids as an Associate, and had the first while still in law school. I do not regret it at all. If anything, it made me realize that it would have been much harder later. Kids require a lot of time and energy, which you have when you are younger and early in your career. Professionally, the amount of time required does not reduce as you get senior and become partner! Sure, you can hire more help to manage kids, but it is no replacement for spending time and bonding with kids.
I understand it hard right now, but I believe that you will look back at this time in a few years and miss these days!
I had two kids when I was an associate and I’m a first year partner now. Hang in there. It’s brutal but I’m here to tell you that it gets easier. Hopefully you have supportive co-workers…
Childfree but I hope you get some honest answers to your question, so you can feel supported in this moment. 💐
I just want to say, I see you. It is hard and you should be able to acknowledge that without judgement.
I had my kids in law school, then as a third year Associate. There were days when it felt like I was hanging in there by the skin of my teeth and I even went on reduced schedule for a while. I won’t say a reduced schedule helped, because you still have to manage your schedule and some Partners don’t take well to being told no, but it took out some of the anxiety of meeting hours and I was able to look like a high achiever when I hit the regular hours.
That said, if you feel regret, it is because something about your life needs to change right now. Maybe you need to be more deliberate about building out your support system, or you need to go on reduced hours, or you need to change jobs. Another thing that people don’t tell you is that you don’t need to get there fast. You can slow down and do what works for your life right now, then ramp up the effort in a year or two. Either way, use this as a prompt to figure out what needs to change right now, then start working towards that.
Kids eventually grow up (and I mean, you start seeing more independence around age 7), so it’s not a permanent problem.
I am a 5th year associate and I wish I had children sooner. You just have to be ok with the fact that you are not perfect and things will inevitably suffer but it gets better as they grow (at least I am told).