#BCSMoms Share What It's Like to Work From Home in a Digital World

Lauren, Account Manager
Mother of Jack & Jovie

DOES WORKING FOR A VIRTUAL AGENCY MAKE BEING A MOTHER A LITTLE BETTER OR EASIER? HOW?

Definitely! Working virtually gives me the flexibility that I always wanted to have as a mom. I love that I can create my own schedule and hours and get my work done when my kids are at school, napping, or with a sitter. It’s a non-traditional schedule that works well with two small children at home. Having little ones demands a lot of my time and attention, but it’s very life-giving for me to continue to use critical thinking skills and keep a pulse on the digital space through my work at Brainchild AND be able to be present as a parent at the same time.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE BEING A MOTHER AND BEING A PROFESSIONAL IN THE DIGITAL WORLD?

Honestly, I have a lot of help! Being both a mom and a professional are two completely different full-time roles. I put my kids in daycare part-time so that I can focus on work during times set aside for work, and focus on my kids during times set aside for them. My husband helps with a lot of the housework and the kids on evenings when I have to work. Finding balance can be tough, but once you find a system that works for you and your family, it’s a win-win for everyone. Being digital makes it much easier to find balance because of the opportunity to work remotely.

Absolutely. I couldn’t be happier to have made the switch from agency life to freelance life, and feel fortunate to be in a profession that allows me to freelance for a virtual agency. I look back at the past 10 years of long hours spent in creative agencies and studios with no regrets, but that time has only made me appreciate the flexibility and freedom I currently have more of. Setting my own hours and controlling the projects/workload that come through is a game-changer for both me as a mother and me as a person trying to remain sane. It allows me to do the little things with my son – like take him to a library class on Monday mornings – and make up those hours throughout the week on my terms. Amid a full workload, those little moments provide a much-needed balance to the work week.

For me, being the best mom I can be means being fulfilled professionally. I learned after three short months of maternity leave that the hardest job in the world is staying home to raise children, and I give stay-at-home moms so much credit. The roles of both mother and professional fulfill different areas of achievement in my life, and each role puts the other in perspective. I have new perspectives as a mom that influence my work and vice versa. I’ve also faced the fact that the line between work and home continues to blur, and the best thing I can do is remain in a profession that keeps me creative, inspired and happy so I can carry that over to motherhood.