A Week in the Life: E, a grad school admissions director with two young kids
E shares her life as a grad school admissions director, with a teacher partner, and 2 kids. This week, she reflects on conflicting school schedules (same) and dealing with big feelings.
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What’s your kid/family situation?
I have an 8-year-old (boy, B), a 5-year-old (boy, M) in transitional kindergarten (he was big mad he couldn't go to K on his birthday), and my husband is a high school science teacher.
What is your job situation? (Job, hours, WFH vs butts in seat)
I work as the director of admissions for a graduate program. I average one day in the office a week and four days remote. I have a two-hour commute (one way) on the days I go to the office.
What's your childcare situation? (daycare, wraparound care, nanny, magical grandparents)
My elementary-aged kid goes to before and after care at his school. He's the first one in the door on my office days but we take advantage of the program every day so he has time to run around before school. The 5-year-old is still at daycare through the summer, which luckily has a TK program. I cover most days school is off unless my husband is also off (we're all on different school schedules - it’s the worst), and he's essentially a stay-at-home spouse over the summer and responsible for camp drop-offs or entertaining kids.
A Week in the Life
Monday
Drop the kids off and go home to eat breakfast and get through my emails. I duck out to go to the gym and then get back to work. Troubleshoot a lot of things so we can finally send out admissions decisions. Once work is done, I head in to the kitchen to start dinner. My husband picks up the kids and today is particularly meltdown filled once they get home. I do a quick Zoom info session after bedtime.
Tuesday
Drop off again and work all day from home. I take a break to make something for M's daycare food festival in the evening. I drop off the food, pick up M, and B and my husband meet us there. The kids eat pita and cake, naturally. Let's pretend that's dinner.
Wednesday
Another kid drop off and work from home day. On Wednesdays, I do a group pilates class that I try my best to work meetings around.
Thursday
Same kid drop off and work at home and duck out to the gym. In the evening, go to a county PTA dinner. I got sucked into being on the board because no one else was at the meetings. Do not regret missing dinner planning and bedtime.
Friday
In office day. Get the kids up early and get out the door by 6:55 so I can run to the train. Full day of in-person meetings, then run back to the train for the 2-hour trip home. My husband took the kids to his school's play (and they get dinner there), so I got a bit of downtime to myself.
The Weekend
Saturday - went into the city to meet up with family at a museum and for lunch. Then had relaxing screen time when we got home in the late afternoon. Sunday - toured a house since we're trying to move, then went to a family birthday party. One perk of our location is close access to family.
Reflections
What was your biggest success this week?
Getting our admissions decisions out on time!
What was your biggest obstacle?
B's big feelings and helping managing them when it goes from 0-60 about something that seems innocuous on the surface.
How are you making it work?
My job is super flexible and as long as I'm getting done what I need to get done, I can duck out for the gym or errands or kid stuff or work at home when I was supposed to be in the office. I take on the majority of the kid flexing during the school year but I get the 3 glorious summer months to essentially have a stay-at-home spouse.