The Work-Life Equation

Anyone who's done it will tell you—caring for an elder loved one is all-encompassing, especially when you're in the Sandwich Generation. Where do you go to find in-home help? How do you manage finances? What's the secret to having the tough conversations? Get expert answers to some of the most common caregiver questions.

On this episode of The Work-Life Equation: working parent, the sequel. You've had your first baby, you've got your whole work/parenting system down…and then number two comes along and changes everything. What do you need to know before the pitter-patter of a second pair of feet? Hear two-time working parents Erika, Evan, and Shira talk chaos, strategy…and why they wouldn't change a thing.

On this episode of The Work-Life Equation: VP Moms. What does it take to rise up the ladder with a family? Helen, Ilene, Christine, and Jessie — four of our awesome Bright Horizons vice presidents — talk very candidly about what's worked for them, what didn't, and what they had to let go of to build the career and the family they wanted.

On this episode of The Work-Life Equation: building the parenting village you need. The secret to successful working parenthood isn't doing more — it's getting more done. And the way to get more done, says our guest Daisy Dowling, is to be fearless about enlisting pinch-hitters. Get Daisy's tips for building your village, and for casting a wide enough net to get the help you need.

On this episode of The Work-Life Equation: the back-to-school shuffle! Are you ready for all that it entails: endless permission slips and school forms, book covers, parent-teacher meetings, homework, after-school schedules…and making lunch? Our guest, host of the Edit Your Life podcast Christine Koh, talks the mixed blessing of back-to-school season, and shares how you can manage the flood of obl...

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation: thinking about work-life "fit" — creating more time in your day to help you fit more of what you want into your life: family, work, or personal time. How? The secret, according to our guest, Morra Aarons-Mele, is in "place, pace, and space." Listen as the host of the Forbes podcast "Hiding In the Bathroom" explains how she took charge of her own work-life...

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation: mindfulness. You're knee-deep in work and family and feeling the chaos of everything that goes with it. What if you could stop in the moment and wrangle control of your inner turmoil before it eats you alive? Our guest Beth Jones says there's a name for that – it's called mindfulness. And she's got tips to take you from "agghhh" to "ahhh" in a few simple...

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation: twins! Can you be doubly blessed, and still have a career, and your sanity? Our guest says you can. Jessica Alpert Silber, mom of twins and creator of the WBUR children's podcast Circle Round, shares her best twin survival strategies, and why surviving two crying babies might just be the best thing for a working mom's career.

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation: Peaceful Parenting 101. We've all been there…the get-out-the-door chaos, the after-work frenzy, those toddler-parent moments when things just seem to go, "kaboom." Is there a better way? Parenting expert and psychologist Jennifer Gillette says unequivocally…yes. She's got the tips, tricks, and strategies to tame the tantrums and put what she calls Peacefu...

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation: millennial dads. What does fatherhood look like in 2018? Our very candid panel of modern working dads told us about stepping up as parents, dance classes on football Sundays, sharing the load with mom, redefining self-care, and "embracing the poop" in a job that's harder – and more fun – than they ever imagined.

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation: the "mental load"—the constant need to think about the family's whereabouts. As a mom, you're likely more than just a parent; you're also the unofficial manager of everything your family is doing and when. Turns out, this is weighing many working women down. Here we present research from Bright Horizons showing the mental load is real, and offer tips on h...

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation: how to navigate parental leave. From the pre-leave side of the equation, working plus parenting can seem impossible. But Karen Rubin, managing director of employee coaching company Talking Talent has coached many employees on successfully navigating this important time. Here she offers important steps, from how to make the announcement, through the busy m...

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation, learn why your health is good for the whole family. It's not always easy to take care of yourself when you're busy taking care of the family, but it's important for everyone. Wellness expert Christina Reale tells us some of the realistic ways working parents can fit in nutrition, sleep, and exercise into their lives and how to pave the way to everyday hea...

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation, turn those parenting lemons into lemonade! It might not seem like it, but your child is more predictable than you think—and each stage of your child's development, along with every meltdown, is a gateway to skill-building for your little one. Hear from early childhood experts Ellen Galinsky, the Chief Science Officer at the Bezos Family Foundation and Exe...

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation, real working parents talk surviving the busy holiday season. From taming the "I wants" to surviving the "You need two dozen cupcakes…by when?!" and forgiving yourself for cranberry sauce from a can, Bright Horizons working moms Kate, Aili, Rachel, and Michelle share their real-life strategies for creating festive, satisfying holidays for their families…mi...

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation, we learn how to take back our countertops! Clutter seems to grow with children, moving steadily from bedrooms to playrooms until it creeps into every corner of your house. But it's not hopeless. Mary Lou Andre, founder of Organization by Design, Inc., and editor of Dressing Well Online, offers tips, tricks, and advice on how to control kid-related clutter...

In this episode of the Work-Life Equation, we are celebrating the work of mothers and discussing why you should never feel guilty about a having career. Our guest, Pam Lenehan, is a director of three public companies and two non-profits, and author of My Mother, My Mentor, a book about how now-adult children thrived from having working mothers. Her research shows that the benefits of going to work...

In this episode of the Work-Life Equation, we're revisiting a webinar from the archives all about getting organized and family routines. Our guests Ruth, Megan, and Mary, Bright Horizons parents just like you, reveal their day-in-life routines, from heading out in the morning, to winding down in the evening, and getting ready for the next day Pick up a few tips from these working moms to help you...

In this episode of the Work-Life Equation, we're dispelling myths about working mothers and fathers and finding out how both can get the most from careers and families. Our guest Jodi Detjen, author of The Orange Line: Integrating Career, Family, and Life and professor at Suffolk University, shows how breaking out of gender stereotypes—and truly sharing the load—gives everyone more time and less s...

In this episode of the Work-Life Equation, we revisit a webinar about new perspectives on old ideas on work-life balance. Our guest, Stew Friedman, Director of the Work/Life Integration Project at Wharton, discussed his book Leading the Life You Want: Skills for Integrating Work and Life, which guides working parents through an exploration of the most important areas of their lives and through str...

In this episode of the Work-Life Equation, we revisit a webinar about striking a balance between parenting, working, and the rest of your life. Drs. Marti and Erin Erickson, parenting experts and co-hosts of the Mom Enough podcast, tackle evergreen work-life issues, such as managing time, letting go, setting boundaries, and "good enough" parenting.

In this episode of the Work-Life Equation, we revisit a webinar about being a caregiver for your elderly parents from a distance—another city, state, or even country. Elder care expert Sharon Roth Maguire from BrightStar Care speaks to the pragmatic side of long distance caregiving, with actionable tips for managing everyday needs and responsibilities.

In this episode of the Work-Life Equation, we revisit a webinar about surviving the challenges of being in the Sandwich Generation, especially as a working parent. Elder care expert Noreen Guanci answers questions about organizing your family care plan, managing guilt, and balancing your time between work, parenting, and caregiving. Resources Mentioned ● Lotsa Helping Hands ● "Being Mortal" by Atu...

In this episode of the Work-Life Equation, we revisit the parent webinar, Edit Your Life: Making Modern Family Life Work, featuring Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest, co-hosts of the Edit Your Life show, that covered the concept of "minimalist parenting." Christine and Asha offered ideas for "editing your life" and making modern family life easier to manage.

In this episode of the Work-Life Equation, we talk to Sheila Murphy, co-founder of the professional staffing firm FlexProfessionals, LLC, about returning to work after parental leave or longer career breaks. Sheila provides guidance about the new realities of being a working parent for the first time and practical tips to help you feel confident about your return.