What We Learned As Parents During 2020

We finally made it to the end of 2020 🎉  What a relief! It’s been a particularly challenging year and I honestly don’t know how we, as working parents, managed to muddle through. 

It was some kind of magic! The good news is that while we were spinning ALL the plates, employers were making changes to make life easier for working parents. Long may it continue. 

With that in mind, let's take a moment to reflect on the year and look at some of the positives:

⭐️  This year showed us how resilient we are - and our children too. A lot was thrown at us, often all at once, and we surprised ourselves by how much we can manage. Our children showed us how to get on with life during a pandemic, and kept us distracted and entertained (as well as busy and tired). 

⭐️  We acquired new skills. Some of them were digital and tech related, like how to navigate the complexities of Zoom and other conference calling services. Others were communication skills, like how to explain to your boss that you need an extension on a deadline or comfort a colleague who’s struggling. We also improved our multitasking skills, like how to cook dinner and teach times tables while on a conference call. 

⭐️  Despite everything, our children didn't miss out on their education. We became their teachers, schools adapted lessons to deliver online, and they were as protected as much as possible from any negative consequences of the pandemic. 

⭐️  We learned what matters most, which helped us to prioritise better. When the foundations of our work life balance were challenged, we were forced to pay attention to how we felt about the amount of time and energy we were dedicating to various parts of our lives. Some of us realised we want more responsibility at work, while others noticed that we need more flexibility and time at home in the future. 

It's been a challenging year and we all need a bit of support to get back on our feet ready for 2021. This free 20-minute training course will help you assess the key components of your life, define the right set of goals and establish an action plan.

Things will never be the same for working parents. Employers will not escape the tsunami of pressure for continued flexible and remote working options post-pandemic. 

Work-life balance will be something we maintain instead of dream about having one day. 

So goodbye 2020. Thank you for all the important learnings. It's been one hell of a year.