Programming After Progeny: A New Parent's Perspective

I gave this talk at DjangoCon 2017. It covers my life as a programmer and new parent, and includes my personal experience as well as some tips and tricks for how I made my return to work, work for me.

Transcript

1. Programming After Progeny Jacinda Shelly DjangoCon 2017
4. Previous Talks • Connecting Patients to Doctors in Real-Time Using Django • Delving into the Django Admin • But, why is the admin slow? • Getting Started with IPython • Migrating to Twilio Programmable Video
5. A Few Caveats
6. Expectations
7. Reality
8. But first, a necessary detour...
9. The US has no paid maternity or paternity leave.
10. It’s fantastic that so many tech companies have fabulous leave policies, but...
11. ...that ignores a much bigger issue. • In 2014, 13% of US civilian employees had access to paid family leave.1 • FMLA provides 12 weeks unpaid leave • ~41% of US workers are not eligible for FMLA2 1.https://www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/benefits/2014/ownership/civilian/table32a.htm 2. https://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/survey/
12. Additionally... • WHO recommendations: ◦ 6 months exclusive breastfeeding ◦ 1 year as primary nutrition source • Nursing can be hard • Pumping can be harder • Good parental leave policies make this easier
13. Back on Track
14. Expectations before baby • 12 weeks would be plenty of time • Baby would sleep (maybe not easily but with swaddling, in a stroller or in a carseat) • Baby would go to childcare • Pumping would be easy
15. Reality - 12 Weeks is Short
16. Reality - Babies are Individuals
17. Reality - I Felt More Conflicted Than Expected
20. But I love my job
22. What to do? Try Different Things • Remote work • Extremely fortunate to have a flexible work environment and manager • Family support • Different childcare options
23. “Typical” Weekly Schedule @ 10 months • WFH 3 days / week with part-time childcare in the morning • In the office 2 days / week • Work during afternoon nap(s) and evenings after bedtime + weekends (if needed) • This evolved over time and continues to change
24. That still seems hard...how do you sleep? • Can’t do it all - put some hobbies on hold • Co-sleeping • Have trusted help • Learn to get “in the zone” fast • Match the work to the situation • Personal Kanban
25. Be Present
26. So what? • Gratitude • Programming can be great for parents • Flexible work schedules retain talent • Adults are individuals - so are babies
27. Thank You @jacindashelly