Parent Mental Health Day

What is Parent Mental Health Day?

It has become increasingly difficult to juggle a work life as well as home life since 2019, when a lot of us were forced to work from home while also managing the unexpected. A lot of workplaces have moved to a hybrid way of operation, which brings the added stress of working from home and learning how to manage time between the expected workload while also being a parent.

Here at the DAC, we have asked some of our employees how they manage this, as many of our employees also have disabilities that need to be accommodated to support them while they work. The answers have really shown how important it is for a workplace to have flexibility, as well as open and honest communication with compassion when it comes to day-to-day life.

How important is flexibility when it comes to being a busy parent?

“The flexible work environment at DAC has been genuinely life changing for me as a parent of a child with additional needs. Working from home gives me the stability to support my son day to day, especially following his permanent exclusion. Having the ability work my hours around his schedule, appointments, and unexpected situations means I can meet his needs without feeling like I’m compromising my responsibilities at work. The trust and understanding built into DAC’s approach allows me to stay fully engaged in my role while being present for him in the way he needs.”

“I know that if I need to take time away for urgent childcare, medical appointments, or School events, I can work this back in a time I agree with my manager. It means that I can do what I need to, while the company know they will get the productivity back ASAP.”

“As a parent being able to work the hours and the days that we agreed on, helps me to balance work, life, and mental health. Having time for everything lowers my anxiety levels and helps me to focus on work when I am in work as my brain isn’t full of home life.”

When it comes to balancing work and home life, what helps you the most?

“If my daughter is sick I can leave work and take care of her. I am then able to work the time back when I can.”

“The most helpful thing is the genuine compassion and flexibility. My son’s needs are not always predictable, sometimes appointments fall during work hours, or urgent situations arise with little notice. Knowing I can be upfront about this, and that I will be supported rather than judged, makes an enormous difference. DAC values outcomes and communication, and that gives me the space to balance both sides of my life without constant worry.”

“My hours are structured so that I can easily be around for my daughter when she gets back from school, if I really need to finish earlier or start later, I know that the procedures are in place ready to use. However, my hours work really well for me.”

What does a typical day look like as you navigate parenting while working a busy job?

“Once my daughter is off to school I have just over an hour to do everything else, whatever that may be. An hour after she arrives back from school, I finish my workday, so I’m here along with my wife as we share out the parental duties.”

“A typical day starts with school run for my other child and then supporting my son’s routine, which can vary depending on how he’s doing emotionally or what appointments we have booked. Once he’s settled and set up with his learning, I move into my DAC work. Throughout the day, I may need to step away briefly for scheduled or unscheduled appointments, or moments where my son simply needs me. I plan my workload carefully around these commitments and catch up when I can. Working from home gives me the ability to juggle both worlds without compromising either.”

“Wow that’s a question. I’m up at 6.30, getting ready for work and making sure that my daughter has breakfast and has everything she needs before she leaves. I’ll usually put a wash on, and do a few chores just to get a head start for when I get back from work. Next up, taxi and to work. I do whatever job I’ve been assigned and then back home. I kind of think of my taxi journey as a transition between being mum and screen reader analyst. Being a parent has taught me to use time wisely! When I’m at home then, I just do all the usual after school things that mums do.”

How do you manage the unexpected moments in your day-to-day?

“If my daughter is sick, either myself or my husband can drop everything to look after our daughter. It definitely helps to have managers who really care about what is happening in our lives. Additionally, when I struggled to manage my work life balance, DAC was willing to work with me to find a solution that worked for me and the company.”

“There have been appointments where DAC have supported me while I attend them with my daughter, knowing that I’ll just make it back on my return. I don’t have to work it all back in 1 day either, which is a big help.”

“In my situation, unexpected moments are part of daily life. There have been days when my son has struggled emotionally, when an urgent meeting with school or a support professional has come up, or when I’ve needed to pause what I’m doing to help him regulate and refocus. The ability to shift my hours, work around interruptions, or continue tasks later in the day has been vital. Without that flexibility, navigating these situations would be incredibly stressful. DAC’s approach has allowed me to respond to my son’s needs while still meeting the demands of my role.”

When it comes to any additional challenges when juggling work and family, do you have any advice?

“While I admittedly find it difficult to say no, I’ve had to get better at this both for me and my family. Rescheduling things, sometimes the occasional late finish but more often than not, pushing things back is my way of managing. I am pretty strict now about my family time and am of the view that when I log off from my machine or arrive back from a work trip, that is literally it until my next start time. Otherwise, I worry where all the missed family time would go, that’s something which cannot be returned.”

“I’ve learned to be open about my situation and communicate clearly with colleagues so expectations are always aligned. Prioritising my workload and planning ahead as much as possible also helps me stay organised, even when the day takes an unexpected turn. I make the most of productive windows when they appear. A supportive workplace makes it easier to navigate the emotional challenges that come with parenting a child with additional needs.”

What advice would you give other parents, or would-be parents, when it comes to balancing work life and family life?

“Always be open and honest with your employers if you need help with your work life balance, people can’t help you if they don’t know what you need.”

“I would encourage other parents to be honest about their circumstances and to advocate for the flexibility they need, especially if their child has additional needs. Don’t feel guilty for asking for support; balance looks different for every family, and that’s okay. Build open communication with your workplace, create routines that fit you, and remember that it’s perfectly normal for some days to feel harder than others. When you’re in an organisation that values trust, wellbeing, and flexibility, it’s absolutely possible to thrive at work while being fully present for your family.”

“Be honest about what you are able to take on and not, also be prepared that your views on that might shift over time; and as a parent that’s okay. Most of all though, switch off when you don’t need to be logged in or working. I mean this in the nicest possible way: yes your job provides income, stability and many other things, but your family will always be there, no matter what, regardless of what you do, or where you work, and time really doesn’t wait, so work hard but work harder at enjoying your family time.”

Final thoughts

It is clear that having a workplace that can support you while you’re juggling day-to-day stress is vital. If you’re struggling to manage stress, reach out to your employers to see if there are any accommodations they can put in place for you.

Article by : Kirsty Mander
Social Media and Marketing Administrator