Full disclosure: Nobody on the Career Contessa team is a mom—quite yet.
However, as women, we tend to think about what motherhood would look like. How do we handle our work/life balance? What does the first year of childcare even look like? Do I have paid maternity leave? What even is FMLA?
We wanted to put together this list of things we are doing to prepare for the possible eventuality of becoming parents. We partnered up with Care.com to take a look at what motherhood looks like for ourselves, for our careers, and for our growing families.
Step One: Check in with Your Fertility
For most women, our own fertility—what's happening in our own bodies—remains a mystery until we actually start trying to become pregnant. That's what Modern Fertility wanted to tackle when they introduced their fertility testing kit. With this kit, you can track your own fertility—on your own terms. With a few simple pricks to the finger, you gain insight into what's going on with your fertility—without dozens of trips to the doctor. We even tried the test, so we highly recommend it.
Of course, if you test abnormally high or low for certain hormones, you will want to consult your doctor. Tools like Modern Fertility's home kit give us insights into what's happening with our own bodies—at any given time. In addition, taking good care of your body (and your mind) is of the utmost importance. Make sure you're checking in with all elements of your health. Taking care of you is paramount.
Step Two: Check in With Management or Human Resources
We talk about awkward conversations—a lot. When you're thinking about a family—whether in the next year or the next five years—take some time to see what it will look like at work. Our advice here is simply this: have the conversation before you have to have it.
By approaching this conversation before starting your family, you will likely feel more at ease asking about specifics. What do parental leave policies look like at your company? Is flexible work an option? Are there benefits for parents that you're unaware of?
By having conversations like these before starting a family, you might learn that your current company doesn't, in fact, have great policies around family. From here, you can decide to spearhead an effort to implement new policies or you can decide to find a company that already has better policies and benefits in place.
Step Three: Check in with Your Long-Term Finances
Many first-time parents think about the financial hardships they'll encounter when they first become parents. This includes the hospital bill, whatever unpaid parental leave they might need to take, and the first year of parenthood. For example, diapers have been—and always will be—expensive.
Consider also the long-term effects of starting a family. What does your budget look like for education, for childcare, and for other incidentals? What does it look like for the next 18 years?
Put a plan in place in order to save money for both the expected—and the unexpected.
Step Four: Check In With Your Partner or Support System
We all know the old saying, "It takes a village."
Your crew will be instrumental in bringing a child into your home, both financially and emotionally. Check in with your partner, your family, and your friends. Make sure you have a solid support system for when you're inevitably getting 36 minutes of sleep a night in those first weeks, for when your child is sent home from school with a stomach bug, or for when you simply need to leave your house for a well-needed walk alone. In short, mobilize your crew—you might need them sooner than you think.
Step Five: Check in With Care Options
Childcare can be expensive and nerve-wracking for a new parent. Luckily, Care.com is here to help. Just like you'll want to know what local nursery schools cost, you will want to do some in-depth research on one of the most important people you haven't yet met—the person who will help you to care for your child.
Whether it's an in-home caretaker, a daycare center, or an hourly babysitter for that Friday night date night, you want to make sure you're finding the best person to care for your child. Use Care.com to find anything from an after-school tutor to a special needs caretaker. Women disproportionately shoulder caregiving responsibilities—and Care.com recognizes that. As such, they provide a suite of safety tools and resources to ensure that you find the right caretaker for your family.
Whether you need help right now, in a few months, or (like us) you're just browsing, Care.com will give you insights into local nannies, babysitters, daycares, and tutors. Start browsing today.
