Parenting is a rewarding journey, but it comes with its challenges, especially when you’re balancing it with a full-time job. At Veris Insights, we’re proud to support our working parents with the flexibility and trust they need to thrive both at work and at home. In this blog, we’ve gathered insights and advice from our colleagues who are navigating this balance, whether they have babies, older kids, or are somewhere in between. If you’re navigating similar challenges, we hope these insights from our colleagues have offered some helpful advice and reassurance.

For Parents with Young Children:

Welcoming a new baby into the family is a joyful experience, but it also requires significant adjustments. Here’s how some of our Veris Insights parents with little ones have adapted their work routines and what they’ve found most supportive:

Q: How has your work routine shifted since welcoming your little one, and what’s been the biggest surprise in balancing both?

• Meaghan O’Neel: “I’ve had to be a lot more strict about my working hours and often have to work in shorter bursts. The biggest surprise has been how becoming a parent has shifted my mentality, making me more patient and comfortable with change.”

• Justin Woods: “Lots of personal sacrifices since we welcomed Calvin. Since my wife and I both work from home, we’ve really had to manage our time wisely and work on our communication. Being prepared for the week has taken on a whole new meaning.”

• Rebecca Solnit: “I prefer to work during ‘traditional’ working hours so when I log off, I’m truly logged off. By and large, I’ve been able to maintain this routine, which helps me separate my work and home life.”

Q: What has been the most supportive aspect of Veris Insights’ culture for you as a new parent?

• Rebecca Solnit: “Our flexible approach to when and where we work has been a game-changer for me as a new parent.”

• Meaghan O’Neel: “Our remote-first approach to work has been great! Flexibility has become so much more important since having my daughter, and I’m grateful that I don’t have to worry about the stress or logistics of commuting to an office every day. I have so much more free time to spend with my daughter and husband, which is invaluable to me.”

• Justin Woods: “The flexibility and freedom that Veris Insights offers have been a huge weight off our shoulders. Utilizing unlimited PTO, being able to take breaks to put him down for naps or help with mealtime is such a blessing. I love the Parents of Veris Insights Slack channel and I’m grateful for my team’s support and understanding of working with an infant.”

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to new working parents, what would it be?

• Justin Woods: “Cherish every minute, but also make time for yourself. Don’t be afraid to lean on your support system—it definitely takes a village. Live in the moment and embrace the journey.”

• Meaghan O’Neel: “Go easy on yourself! It’s impossible to predict how becoming a parent will affect you, and it’s a massive life change. Lean on your support system, and know that every challenge that comes up is just a season.”

• Rebecca Solnit: “Wait to put on your favorite shirt for your big presentation until after you’ve passed off the baby for the final time to avoid a last-minute outfit change. Also, this is advice I received from our very wise Head of People Ops—give yourself grace. You now have two full-time jobs.”

 

For Parents with Older Kids:

Balancing work with the demands of school-aged children requires a different approach. Here’s how our parents with older kids navigate the school year:

Q: How do you navigate the back-to-school hustle while keeping up with your work?

• Angie Bergner: “Both the school year and summer present their own unique challenges and benefits. During the summer, while we might get to sleep in a bit later, we also face the task of keeping our kids busy and entertained throughout the week, all while managing our full-time jobs. This often involves a mix of summer camps, activities, family support (if you’re fortunate), and some downtime. When the back-to-school season arrives, it brings less sleep, adjusted schedules to accommodate drop-offs and pick-ups, school events, extracurricular activities, and homework, all while juggling your full-time workload. Despite the demands, you make it work because you have no other choice—you rely on your support network and push through.”

• Carrie Feeney: “I have to be sure to work closely with my husband. Just like at work, I have to delegate or share tasks on a daily or weekly basis based on our work and school schedules. In our new neighborhood, the kids can take the bus both ways, which is a huge help for drop-off and pick-up duties. We expect our kids to be responsible for getting ready in the morning, getting their water bottle, snack, etc. They are getting older, so every year that gets easier. They know if they need help that they can ask, but we create the expectation and accountability for them, with getting ready in the morning but also with their chores and their school work.”

Q: What’s your strategy for managing the demands of work and parenting during the school year?

• Angie Bergner: “If it’s not on my calendar, it doesn’t exist. As a working parent, the key to staying sane is being as organized as possible with your time, learning to set and maintain boundaries both at home and at work, and being okay with asking for help when you need it. I can do all things, but I can’t do everything at once or without support. I choose my battles, prioritize what’s most important at any given moment, and I’m firm about setting and sticking to my boundaries to maintain balance. I’ve also accepted that as a working parent, I won’t be able to make everyone happy, and at some point, I’ll likely disappoint someone because unexpected things will come up.”

• Carrie Feeney: “I often think it’s easier to manage during the school year compared to the summer because the schedule is more consistent and predictable. The school year challenges are when the kids have random days off or half days. In addition to working closely with my husband, we have a group of friends that we can lean on if needed. Having friends who are parents, especially with kids in the same school, is extremely helpful for after school activities transportation, weekend events, etc. We all help each other out!”

Q: What has been the most supportive aspect of Veris Insights’ culture for you as a working parent?

• Angie Bergner: “I genuinely don’t know how working parents manage without a supportive workplace. I’m incredibly grateful for the flexibility, trust, and support I receive from Veris Insights, which allows me to thrive as a working parent. Being able to work remotely 90% of the time and only going into the office when it truly impacts the business makes a significant difference. The trust in my ability to get my work done in a way that works for me—whether that means caring for a sick child, attending a school event, or going to a doctor’s appointment—means I don’t have to worry or feel guilty about adjusting my schedule. Our unlimited PTO, along with the trust and support of my colleagues and manager, ensures that I can be both a leader at work and a present, active parent at home.”

• Carrie Feeney: “The flexibility to block my schedule and change my schedule as needed is incredibly helpful. Despite the fact that the number of parents at Veris Insights is a small group, leadership and the greater team are always supportive and understanding that the kids come first.”

 

At Veris Insights, we’re committed to helping our working parents succeed in both their careers and their roles at home. To all the parents and parents-to-be out there, you’ve got this—we’re cheering you on every step of the way!