It’s time to tune into your favourite tv show - the snacks are out, the PJs are on, and in the few opening scenes you feel a sense of dread only reserved for a certain episode type: the cross over.
Your favourite characters are all there but the regular plot line takes a turn from the weekly medical drama to its parallel universe fire station series that isn’t doing quite so well in the ratings so they attempt to hook you by tying the plots together. A force watch if you will.
That’s kind of … sort of … approximately what we have here. A crossover substack post marking the return and re-framing of a familiar friend: The World View, and the launch of a new endeavour: Second Shifting. So let’s kick off with an outline of what to expect:
A New World View
Introducing: Second Shifting
The Soap Box
A Whole New World (View)
When I kicked off The World View (TWV), it was inspired by the need for my own outlet on pressing policy issues - my poor friends and family were hearing way too much about crypto policy for their own liking and mental health. The parallel imperative, which I never really fulfilled, was a desire to highlight and create platforms for other leaders and friends to discuss various issues around the world. I sensed there were a lot of outlets for U.S. based colleagues, but with so much happening around the world - and frankly, a lot the world can do to teach and inform U.S. debates, I wanted to create that space.
We accomplished the first bit for the most part, but as I return to writing (slowly and a tad more succinctly) I want to broaden topically beyond crypto to other policy issues, and make good on my promise to profile other voices. We may still touch on digital assets, but I’m really excited to broaden the aperture of issues and individuals you get to hear from.
Second Shifting
Since we last chatted, I started a new role. It’s been thrilling, demanding, awe inspiring - and truly, the best role I’ve ever had. Were it not for the pay (I’m running a deficit), I’d love to do it full time in perpetuity. But realistically, we’re a DIWK household (dual income with kiddos) and I’ll eventually return to work, combining that job with this new favourite and forever role: mom.
There’s a lot involved in the returning.
We can’t really return to who we once were. And though we all return to what we were doing, we’re different.
And then there’s all the things outside of parenthood and profession - hobbies, passions, partnerships, and more. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking of how to either reclaim or integrate all these facets of myself.
How can I be the most excellent, dedicated, fun-loving mom and excel in my career and write the things I want to write and conquer the athletic feats that make me feel alive and show her the beautiful world we call home?
How do we return to, and also evolve as?
The way I’ve come to see it, regardless of how my time will be divided in the not-so-distant future, my first shift, my full time role is mom. Now and always. Everything else - though demanding and important and prioritised - is still part of that second shift.
Rather than explore these themes in the echo chamber of my own thoughts (oh what a fun place that’s become!) I wanted to create a space for reflection and possibly inspiration for other parents in the same position. My hope is that our conversations permeate beyond parenthood and resonate with anyone who lives a life of “ands”. To highlight, champion, and dip into the well of inspiration that we all provide.
The Soap Box
So now we get to the cross-over of it all. A way of reintroducing The World View and saying Hello! to Second Shifting. Quick caveat - as a woman in a heteronormative relationship, I’m going to be speaking to my experience as a working mom, recognising there are several other dimensions to parenthood that equally warrant time, attention and discussion.
I’ve been working on this post for over a month, initially targeting Mother’s Day, and now on the other side of Father’s Day. But alas we’re in a velcro baby stage and I’m currently alternating typing this bit with the same hand that’s delivering my lunch to face, while the other is holding my bundle bub who would rather be perched with me, on me, than anywhere else. It’s bewildering, beautiful, and utterly exhausting.
Ever searching for my face (but beaming smiling when she finds it)
Ever searching for my arms (and being a tad less cheery lest she’s in them)
Ever needing me (as I need her)
And yet in many countries around the world this is exactly when most women go back to work. The time will come too where I’ll need to forgo being the primary provider of her most basic visceral needs - of time, attachment, and sustenance and return as the provider of our family’s pragmatic needs as our breadwinner.
Becoming a mother has only sharpened my assessment that we continue to fail not only working parents, particularly those who carry and deliver our children, but society as a whole when we don’t grant financially supported parental leave for a sufficient period of time - be that by companies, or governments. Here’s what I’ve observed:
The Spectrum of Experience
When I joined my first mum’s group on WhatsApp (a cornucopia of knowledge, far too many pictures of various baby rashes, and some fairly amusing night-feed anecdotes), the intro icebreaker prompted everyone to share how long they’d be out on mat leave. Responses varied:
6 months paid leave
1 year of paid leave
2 - 4 months of paid leave
Unpaid leave
N/A as impacted by RIF while on maternity leave, or just prior
Mums often grapple with whether to take additional time unpaid if their firm’s paid leave felt insufficient, or whether to spend the newborn bubble interviewing for roles as they found they didn’t have one to return to (exceedingly common this year). Others have been blissfully supported with generous policies and sometimes supplemented time atop that. Some have decided to take a semi-permanent career break. Many have been keen to go back to work as soon as possible as doing so revitalizes a part of their identity they feel missing in full time motherhood.
I’ll admit a fairly difficult truth: I wish I had more time. I wish I had a full year with her (and I’m sure even then it wouldn’t feel enough). I also want to be the model I had in my own mother. She was faced with a similar conundrum and did take 18 months with me. She then returned to work and was not only dedicated to it, absolutely stellar at it, but was also helping people (and our country) along the way. So much of who I am is because of her as my guide. What kind of compass can I be for my little one?
As my daughter fell asleep in my arms, I put down a book and scrolled my phone to discover a post from The Economist titled “How Motherhood Hurts Careers” - and the facts are there. By a significant margin, women who become mothers earn less and are promoted less frequently than their counterparts. They’re also more likely to drop out of the workforce entirely - and that’s not often due to the luxury of choice but rather due to the challenge of circumstance (i.e insufficient childcare options). I’ve witnessed firsthand mothers making the concerted decision to under-employ themselves in order to get certain benefits, stall an otherwise meteoric rise to care for their children, and yes, forego financial gain for priceless moments of raising their child.
For years I’ve seen these facts in infographics - in textbooks, on social media, in long form and meme form alike. But it felt different experiencing the phenomenon first hand and simultaneously reading as a periodical I’ve long admired explored the topic in full. Equally jarring is that with the scroll of a thumb, I read another piece - this time in the Wall Street Journal - about the impending demographic crisis. TL;DR - too many old folks, and not enough new bubs. And while there are certain countries (Japan and South Korea) that have been the focal point of this phenomenon for some years now, increasingly more and more countries around the world are facing a similar fate.
… But isn’t it obvious?
The Journal’s coverage appropriately depicts a complex set of contributing factors as to why the global birth rate is in decline. More women are pursuing careers over families. Economic uncertainty - the 2008 recession and current economic uncertainty coupled with high interest rates have had a compounding freezing effect on major milestones across millennials (home buying and having children). Still, it remains clear that the infrastructure to support dual income households who wish to have children is lacking and lagging
The vast majority of women in my ether - highly educated, extraordinarily talented, ascending to their career prime who also want to raise a family feel like they’re faced with impossible choices. And yes, faced with choices their partners still don’t have to make with quite the same implication. And yes, faced with choices in part because their partners don’t themselves have sufficient support and time off to continue to excel in career while taking time dedicated toward raising a family. We need to see investment in supporting working parents as what it is - an investment in the overall health and vitality of a flourishing economy. Such support incentivises women to continue to work and excel in their careers and makes it more attractive to raise families.
Our societies and our economies need both.
A (Radical) Wishlist
I asked other parents what their dream list would be if they were to design paid parental leave programmes. Consider this non-exhaustive and fodder for dreaming, debate, and perhaps even a blueprint for attracting world class talent:
Minimum standard of 6 months of paid parental leave - either by company or country
6 months is the recommended minimal duration for breastfeeding by the World Health Organization.
Work from home flexibility (fully remote or hybrid)
In a recent study, hybrid work improves career prospects for women particularly in fields like finance. In fact, the benefits of remote work were 3x as impactful to mothers as to fathers (Harrington & Kahn). Studies note that being fully remote in a hybrid environment reduces promotions, but when faced with the choice of continuing to work or taking a pause, hybrid and remote opportunities fill a necessary gap.
Job Protection / role guarantee up to 12 months postpartum
You shouldn't have to interview for roles while newly assimilating to one (as parent). Check out the UK’s protections for a thoughtful model.
Requirement to enable part time employment, if requested for up to 5 years
In my husband’s native Germany, employers are required to offer part time work under certain conditions. Plus it’s good economics for employers. Many of us achievers (and, yes, frequently women) have the gift of radical efficiency.
Childcare stipend if returning full time (a la gym / wellness benefits)
Gym memberships and stipends for coffees, socialising, and mental healthcare are fabulous. Let’s extend that to childcare.
Coworking spaces with progressive evidence based centres for child care (think WeWork x Montesori, compensated by one’s firm as part of WeWork membership).
There are some exploratory models (like BubbaDesk in Australia or those profiled in this article in the U.S.) and frankly, I’d love it.
Child planning benefits - fertility treatment, surrogacy, adoption support
A staple at most firms - as it should continue to be.
Grandparent Leave
We’re working and living longer, so increasingly we’re going to see the archetype of “grandparent” move from sweater clad and gray-haired to the person opposite you on your next Zoom call.
The Best Job I’ve Ever Had
I’ve loved my career thus far - and I no doubt will continue to. I hope it grows, evolves, and blossoms into even more than what I’ve worked for to date. But beyond shadow of a doubt this new, forever title is my favourite of all: Mom. And truthfully, while being here for her has come with significant financial sacrifice for our family, I’ll forever believe that being the banks to her river - her support, her guide, her comfort - is priceless.
In honour of my own mom who has a remarkable legacy - impacting our country and the world, changing countless lives and careers, and who now embarks on her next chapter as her BonBon. She has inspired me each and every day I’ve spent on this earth of what it means to live a life full of love.
Postscript
If you enjoyed this post, consider subscribing to Second Shifting.
The World View will be back soon with more policy-focused content and some fantastic guest writers.
Great post!