Parenting and career: stories from those balancing both worlds
In this blog, we share real stories from parents who are balancing career and family life. From the challenges of navigating parental leave to the small wins that make it worthwhile, these experiences highlight what it really looks like to juggle both
4th Sep 2025
Balancing work and parenthood is no small feat. Behind every family-friendly policy or flexible schedule is a real person navigating the daily juggle of meetings, meal prep, school drop-offs, and deadlines. In this blog, we’re spotlighting the voices that matter most - working parents themselves.
These are their stories. Honest, powerful, and personal reflections on what it really means to work in an environment that supports both career and family. From flexible hours and parental leave to team culture and understanding managers, here’s how inclusive workplaces are helping parents not just survive, but thrive.
Jen, Software engineer at BAE Systems shares her thoughts.
"I have two little boys, aged 4 and 3. My husband and I both work and our childcare during the working week is a mix of pre-school and a childminder.
In the mornings, it’s a mad scramble to get everyone ready and out the door for 7:30am. There is usually porridge flying around and plenty of tantrums about iPads and lost school shoes. My husband does the pre-school drop off and, thanks to hybrid working, I work most days from home.
When they head off I disappear into the peace of my office at home to start work, getting stuck into coding until it’s time to pick up the boys from after-school club. On the days when I go into the office in person, my husband does both pick up and drop off and I get home in time for bath time. He often travels with work, so when he’s away I arrange my hours flexibly so that I can do the drop-offs, pick-ups, look after the boys, and catch up on work later.
When I say all that aloud, my typical day does sounds fairly exhausting and I won’t pretend that it’s not sometimes. However, after a year in this role, it’s really working well for my family and me. I enjoy the mix of being a mum but also getting stuck into a career that I love.
The team at BAE Systems, particularly the senior management, are very supportive of flexible working and a lot of the team work flexibly in some way too – not just the parents – so I don’t feel like I’m the only one."
You can read more about Jen’s experience as a working mum here.
Damien Love, Director of Enterprise Risk at ClearBank shares his thoughts.
“I’ve got two young boys aged 7 and 4, with the youngest having recently started school. I work full-time while my wife works part-time during school hours, and the week is typically a juggle. My eldest son is autistic, which also brings with it some additional challenges.
When the opportunity to join ClearBank arose, I was really excited about the role and the business model. I was particularly sold on the approach to flexibility. The messaging around our internal culture framework and the level of trust and empowerment was a strong hook.
Ten months in, and I am so glad I made the leap. I am trusted and empowered to do my job in a way that enables me to be a present and supportive dad and husband during the week, whilst delivering for ClearBank. To bring this to life with a recent example – we had a really overloaded July – my eldest son was a little worn out from school and had sports day and end of year trips to contend with whilst my youngest was wrapping up nursery which included numerous leaving ceremonies, garden parties, sports days and a random ‘yellow day’ thrown in at short notice just to keep us on our toes. Trying to navigate this during a particularly busy work period for myself and my wife before we signed off for the summer was a challenge. The flexibility from ClearBank to make my own judgement on navigating this was superb. During this period, I regularly worked odd hours, sometimes working on reports in the evening or having a very early morning session. This meant I was there for the garden party, the graduation ceremony and the sports days, whilst keeping to my deadlines and enjoying my work.
Another great example is taking the flexibility to be less present in the office during August. Saving that commute time means meals together for the family, I can be the taxi or just present on those days where my prior firm would’ve mandated me to be attending the office three days per week.
The flexibility at ClearBank is fantastic and is a strategic enabler for the firm, it’s people and me as a working dad.”
"Transitioning into a management position whilst balancing a nearly 2 year old at home has been relatively stress-free! Camunda truly embodies the flexible work environment, every employee is very conscious of the work/life balance. Having no expectation with regards to work hours but rather the trust is there on getting the work done. Personally, the ability to pop in and out of work to enjoy time with my son whilst being completely empowered to work the hours I require makes Camunda the best place to work!"
Sania Samad, Senior Manager, Revenue Operations, Camunda
“I am a first-time Mom to a now 18-month-old. She brings joy to me every day, as well as keeping me on my toes. My partner and I love to spend time in warm climates and have continued to do so with our little girl, who already has four stamps in her passport and a further 2 planned this year! Later this year, I am marrying my partner, Daniel; we have an elopement wedding planned in a destination that neither of us has been to before - exciting times!
I want to show other women that you can be a mother and still build a successful career in logistics/manufacturing. I have been given the freedom to balance my new family commitments with flexible working, and it’s working so well!”
Kerrie Shardlow, Logistics Fleet Manager, Bournville, Mondelez International
“I really enjoyed my transition back to work after maternity leave, I was really ready to come back to work which I believe is half the battle. I kept in contact with some of my colleagues throughout my leave which kept me feeling connected. I have a great relationship with my manager, near the end of my maternity leave we had the occasional phone conversation and met for lunch, this made coming back less daunting. Everyone was so welcoming, and I slotted back in quite quickly which is exactly what I wanted – like I never left!
For a lot of women, balancing work and childcare can be a roadblock to returning to the workplace and on both occasions, Mondelēz have made it seamless for me. They also offer excellent maternity cover for 6 months and are hugely supportive of growing families. They have a supportive and inclusive culture that understands the challenges and demands of being a working mother / parent. Overall, these practices have helped to create a supportive and accommodating environment for working mothers/parents, other companies could benefit from implementing similar measures to support their employees.”
Claire Murphy, Key Account Manager, Mondelez International
What to look for in family-friendly companies
Not all workplaces are created equal when it comes to supporting parents. If you’re a working parent, or planning to become one, here are some key things to look out for when considering a family-friendly employer:
1. Flexible working options
Whether it’s hybrid, remote, part-time, or flexible hours, the ability to balance work and family commitments is essential. Look for companies that treat flexibility as the norm, not a perk.
2. Parental leave policies
Check how generous and inclusive their parental leave is. Family-friendly companies offer meaningful time off for all parents, including dads and non-birthing parents, and encourage employees to take it.
3. Support with childcare
Some employers go further by offering childcare vouchers, on-site nurseries, or partnerships with childcare providers. Even if that’s not available, ask if they provide practical guidance or resources.
4. A culture of understanding
Policies mean little if the culture doesn’t back them up. Family-friendly companies normalise leaving early for school pick-up, taking time off for a sick child, and setting boundaries around family time.
5. Career progression that works for parents
Look for signs that parents are thriving in senior roles. The best companies ensure career development doesn’t stall when you start a family, and they actively support parents in balancing ambition with family life.