Hybrid work arrangements and parenting

I was on my three-month maternity leave when the COVID-19 pandemic affected the entire world, including my home country. My original plan was to enroll my daughter in daycare and return to work after my maternity leave ended. However, life has a way of changing plans. With the pandemic, many restrictions were imposed, including the closure of all schools and various social distancing policies at workplaces in my country. 

It was ironic that the government shut down all schools but allowed traditional office settings where employees commuted daily, leaving parents without options.  As a mother, I hoped for a change in policies, but I dreaded the day my maternity leave would end and I would be called back to work—especially since I had no one to care for my children while I resumed my job. That day finally arrived, and with schools still closed, I was faced with the difficult decision to quit my job so I could be available for my kids. The fear of the pandemic itself was overwhelming, and now, to make matters worse, there was the issue of not having anyone at home to care for my children while I worked from 8:00 am - 5pm. To get straight to the point, a generous teacher friend, who had days off because schools were closed, stepped in to babysit my kids. Thanks to her support, I was able to close that chapter of my life for good. 

A few years later, post-COVID, I moved to a different country and then I got to learn about how the workspace changed to companies offering Hybrid working as part of the employment packages in aid to improve work-life balance. Having experienced that myself, I think the hybrid model offers a flexible solution that accommodates the demands of parenting while maintaining a career. The advent of the hybrid model has significantly improved my ability to be present in key moments of my children's lives, such as school drop-offs. This flexibility has allowed me to effectively balance my professional responsibilities with my role as a parent, ensuring that I can fulfill both my career goals and my family's needs.

Additionally, I cannot stress enough the reduction in commute time that comes with working from home. My work situation has improved significantly, especially with the option to work from home on some days of the week. In the past, my daily routine was consumed by nearly six hours of grueling commutes. My sleep was severely affected, as I would go to bed after 10:30 PM and wake up at 4:00 AM. The pursuit of a work-life balance felt like an unattainable dream, forever just out of reach. 

Since relocating to a new location, my work situation has improved, especially now that I have the option to work from home part of the time. On the days I work from home, I save an hour that I would typically spend commuting. I sometimes use this extra time for self-care or to do some chores. 

Overall, working from home and flexible work hours have opened up new possibilities for parents and have continued to support the varied needs of many.