Share your story, meet YourOnRamp member Rona Brodrick
Rona contacted us through our Share Your Story link on our home page. Here's how this mother of 3 juggles it all.
1. Describe your current employment situation (full-time, part-time, job share, flexible)?
I work part-time (24 hours/week) as a PR contractor -
I usually work Monday thru Thursday 8:30-2:30 p.m.
2. Has your career changed since you had kids and if so how?
Prior to children, I held a full-time job as a PR
practitioner. I have been working part-time since my
eldest child was born in 1997. I took off 6 months
after she was born and went back to work 3 days/week.
I have had varying schedules but mostly working about
24-28 hours/week. After my third child was born in
2002, I kept the same # of hours, but changed my
schedule to 4 days week - I wanted to get home earlier
so we could ease into the evening, do homework
together and so that I could take them to their after
school activities.
3. What’s the best part about being a working mom? What’s the dark side?
I enjoy the work I do, interacting with co-workers,
earning a paycheck and financially contributing to the
household.
The challenge is juggling work, home, school,
homework, activities, time for myself, being a wife,
etc. etc. etc. :)
4. If you could change your current set-up, what would you change?
I would prefer working fewer hours a week (perhaps
15-20 hours/week).
5. Are you the CEO of your home or does your partner help out? How do you divide the home/family responsibilities?
My husband works full-time for a high-tech company -
which means he works more than 40 hours a week and
will sometimes travel. Over the years, we have
figured out a system to divide/conquer the tasks -
especially in the morning (making lunch, getting the
children ready for school). Since I work part-time, I
am usually the go-to person for doctor appointments,
keeping track of all our calendars/schedules/activities. I pay the monthly
bills, while he takes care of the larger investment issues (stock, 401(k).
Our communication about sharing the tasks has improved
over the years. I think, like many couples, the first
several years are very challenging for both as you try
to figure out how to share the responsibilities. It
takes a lot of talking and patience.
6. Do you make time for yourself? What do you do to reward yourself?
I have gotten much better about this over the past few
years. I will be honest and say that I was not very
good about making time for myself when my children
were infants. I really missed being around them, and
frankly, dragging a breast pump with me was not ideal!
I had a friend recently say that she noticed mommy's
seem to get their life back after their youngest is
about 3 years old. :)
For the past couple of years, I have really committed
the time and energy to an exercise regiment and my
husband is very supportive of me taking the time in
the morning, or on weekends, to run/bike/yoga. I
think this is very important for my physical and
mental health.
I prefer spending most of my free time with my family,
especially on the weekend. But do occasionally like
to take time to do errands by myself, shop, and get
together with girlfriends. Again, I think this is
important and healthy for mothers to do this.
7. Describe a time when your life was out of balance. What did you do to get back on track?
A few years ago, my work was very stressful and
working part-time was a challenge. My boss did not
understand or appreciate what I was trying to do --
work, while maintaining a work-life balance. I was
often logging onto email on my day off and my work was
going unnoticed, mostly due to the fact that I was
part-time (i.e., not there as much as the
full-timers...). I changed jobs and found work (still
in my field!) that was better suited for a part-time
schedule.
8. If you could leave the world/your children with one gift what would
it be?
Love and compassion. I am reminded of the Dalai Lama,
who has written that love and compassion bring the
greatest happiness.
9. Anything you'd like to share?
With regard to question number 7, throughout the years
I have learned a lot about what works/doesn't work
when trying manage a part-time schedule. I have
figured out the types of projects and work that is
better suited for part-time; and I have learned how to
communicate that to my employer.
I also think that other mothers are our best allies
and we should learn to support each other, no matter
what choice is made. "People take different roads
seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because the
are not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten
lost." - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
