The balancing act: how to manage work and family life

Most of us parents need to work for one reason or another – financially, for personal satisfaction, to pursue our careers – but juggling work with family life can often be tricky and we feel like we’re pulled in every which direction. We talk to three women who are business owners, single mothers, full-time employees and find out just how they manage it all.

Emma Price: CEO/Founder of Source Kids, wife to James and Mum to Charlotte (9), Ollie (7) and Arlo – our very new addition!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK/LIFE BALANCE?

I’m lucky enough to own and run a business that doesn’t feel like work – as the CEO/founder of Source Kids I love getting out of bed every day and going to ‘work’. I’m also lucky enough to be able to balance my career and business and enjoy plenty of family time with my husband and three kids.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU FACE?

Time management is always the biggest challenge for me and ensuring I set realistic expectations and allow enough time to tick off my various work/life lists.

WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU USE TO BALANCE THIS?

Lists, lists and more lists! With so much going on if it’s not on a list somewhere it doesn’t get done, I’ve tried many different online tools/apps to help manage this but I’m a bit old school and tend to revert to a good old fashioned hand-written list (on pretty paper!) and love the satisfaction of physically ticking it off.

HAS THE NDIS CHANGED ANYTHING FOR YOU?

Absolutely, it has allowed us to ensure we have the right supports in place so that I can work, spend quality time with my family and also have time to myself when I need it.

ANY TIPS FOR STAYING ON TOP OF EVERYTHING?

Get organised – have a calendar and a list that sit in one central spot.

Be in the moment – be present in the situation be it at work, with family or friends or doing your favourite activity.

Carve out time for yourself – as parents we always put ourselves last, but even for ten minutes a day it’s important to do something you love – for me it’s running!

Get your support network in place – you often don’t have time to coordinate a new team or brief family members to care for your loved one in times of need, so make sure this is in place before the you know what hits the fan!

Tennile Graham 

Owner: ‘Apikali’ and ‘The Cloth Nappy Doctor’. Blogger: ‘Voice of a Carer’ and ‘365CareAbbey’ Mum to Abbey (13), Daniel (11), Nathan (8) and Alistair (7). Wife to James.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK/LIFE BALANCE?

Thinly-disguised yet mostly-controlled chaos. Balance, for me, is not about how many hours work I do in any given day, or trying to package it into a nice timetable with set moments for people or projects. My work is part of my escape and my contribution to society. My family is my greatest joy and deepest struggle. It’s a fine, kinetic balance that is never truly mine to control. Yet I need them both.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU FACE?

Unpredictability. My daughter has a palliative condition, so we have limited time, but we don’t know how long. As such we try to live as dynamic a life as possible with the normal influences and interruptions that come with three healthy boys, husband’s work and the day to day running of a small family business. We know that one day it’ll all change, but can’t really plan for it. Nor can we ignore it, so we choose to live in the moment as much as we can.

WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU USE TO BALANCE THIS?

I use a big A4 diary, with a pen and whiteout. Everything goes in here for work, school, medical and family business. We review it at the beginning of the week and ensure we are ready to roll!

I also have a daily list that reminds me to do the dishwasher, clothes washing and to exercise. Those are the 3 jobs I MUST do every day. Then the list becomes longer with all the other stuff.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE CRISIS SITUATIONS?

We try to be prepared. We face crisis situations every day with the violent and life-threatening seizures that Abbey endures, so we run a tight ship at home. We have contingencies in place for the family business. We have bags packed for hospital trips. Ultimately we build resilience, and allow time to recover afterwards.

ANY TIPS FOR STAYING ON TOP OF EVERYTHING?

Organise yourself. If your current methods don’t work, find others. Invest in tools and equipment that can help you stay organised. I just bought a backpack to replace as my handbag, as I carry around so much stuff. It may not look very fashionable, but it gives me the organisation I need.

Emma Benitez

Self Employed – Business Consultant – Single parent

Mum to Jordan (15), Max (13), William (10) and Lucy (6)

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK/LIFE BALANCE?

I’m a contractor, so there are no sick days or annual leave days. I work, I get paid. I don’t work, I don’t get paid. I find myself working as much as I possibly can during school term so I can take some time off during the holidays. I don’t have work/life balance on a daily, weekly or even monthly schedule, it’s on a school term basis!

WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU USE TO HELP?

Organisation, organised chaos, organisation. And being able to accept that not every meal is meat and three veg, or that the house does not have to look like a display home every day. I have a calendar in the kitchen that I write EVERYTHING onto and then I read through it with the kids on a Sunday night so they know what the week ahead looks like. Also, it’s all about putting my support people – friends and parents of my kids friends, to use; if they offer help, I accept it.

WHAT DO YOU NEED MOST FROM THE PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH?

The people I work with understand that I achieve just as much working from home as working in the office, sometimes more! Before I sign a new contract, I give full disclosure on my home life and the demands it places on me.

HAS THE NDIS CHANGED ANYTHING FOR YOU?

I have just received approval for most of my requested plan. Unfortunately, I am not receiving the 1:1 in home support I was receiving prior to transitioning.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE CRISIS SITUATIONS?

I have the best friends a girl could ask for, and the kids are old enough to call ambulances and give the phone operator all the instructions necessary. Last crisis, while one was on the phone to the ambulance, the other was calling a friend. Employers understand that health ALWAYS comes first and funnily enough, most of them have experienced family crisis themselves and understand. While I don’t get a lot of regular support from extended family, at times of crisis, I know I can call on them to collect the children.

ANY TIPS FOR STAYING ON TOP OF EVERYTHING?

Honestly – accepting that you probably won’t be on top of everything all the time is probably the biggest thing. You really need to set realistic goals for what you want to achieve. Some things may get missed, and that’s ok. I don’t beat myself up if I don’t make it to assembly every week, gosh I’m lucky if I make it to one a term!