To all the mamas out there, how do you do it? Between working full time raising a toddler and dealing with daycare germs and illnesses? I feel like this is an impossible task. I’m considering moving to freelance, so I can cut back to a few days a week but I’m not sure. I need some success stories of full time parents. Or someone who went from freelance back into the full time market after a few years?

Hanging by a thread

Wanted to ask the same thing! I have no idea how you guys do it! I have a 2.5yo, work full time, 2 days at the office 3 days at home with my lo bouncing, singing, jumping on me, screaming during meetings, while I work on 5-10 jobs at the same time. And bc $ is so tight we’re dipping into our savings just to make rent, so absolutely no possibility of paying for daycare. On top of it he wakes up 6am every day and doesn’t nap. I really don’t know to survive it. How are we supposed to do this??

Sad solidarity. The only reason I am still in this biz is because I was remote for 5 years. With the exception of 2020, the kids were in daycare/school. It meant I could do the things we all have to do at random moments during the day, I could actually go to events at school, I could exercise, meal plan, invest in relationships and weekends were for fun an not chores/catching up. I’m now back to 3x/week in office and feel like I’m fighting for my life at all times. The work never stops, I’m turning into a grouch at home bc there is no outlet/break besides the brief moments my husband and I give each other. I’m also the breadwinner and I have at least one more year of daycare, so don’t feel like I can make any real moves yet. If you’re able to be remote or go PT, I think that’s the only way to do this and not lose your mind. Wishing you luck and, as sad as it is, you’re not even remotely alone.

My solution - because I felt there really wasn’t another one - was to stop working while my kids were little. I was neither the best mom nor the best employee, and I hated my life knowing that I was in a trap of sucking at both. I got back into the industry though, kept my contacts up, etc. A tough choice and maybe not everyone can afford that, but so worth it if you can.

This is all relatable. Would love to do freelance but my family is on my health care plan / 401k and all those other predictable benefits. I don’t think I’m organized enough to do all the work and the admin that comes with being a freelancer. But would love to know others success stories if they’ve swung it.

The constant sickness phase is just a phase. I promise it gets better, and it’s building up their immune system for later! I’m thankful that my husband and I could alternate days off when sicknesses hit, but the sicknesses do start to get less frequent as you go on.

I’ll let you know when I figure it out 🫠

Haven’t gotten promoted since having children 🫠🫠🫠🫠

I’m a freelancer with two toddlers and am busier than I ever was full time. It’s just hard no matter what I fear.