Dropbox moms share their best Virtual First parenting lessons and tips
We can all pretty much agree: mothers have one of the hardest and most special jobs in the world! With the transition to Virtual First, we wanted to give Dropboxers, and working Dropbox moms, more flexibility and freedom to control how they work (for example, their schedules and their working environment).
To celebrate Mother’s Day, we followed up with Dropbox mothers to hear their tips and tricks for successful parenting in a Virtual First world. Here’s what they had to say:
1. Embrace the mess
“Parenting is MESSY! And I’ve only done it in this Virtual First world. I’m grateful that I’ve seen my son grow and develop these 9 months more frequently than I would have commuting to work. Because of VF, he gets to wave “hi” when I go to the kitchen for water; but really, the best part is always having family lunches, even with all the MESS it entails! (chili anyone?)”
-Angela Bates, Engineering Manager, Core — DocSend
2. Be comfortable with interruptions
“One of the things that I have learnt from Virtual First Parenting is to feel comfortable with interruptions that may occur during Zoom calls, and learning how to manage those, along with maintaining my calendar more stringently. “
-Diya Patel, Senior Enterprise Applications Manager
3. Invest in useful tools
“Virtual First has reenergized my Mom Heart — it is a GIFT of presence for family and work! From our mornings being less rushed to all of the extra hugs and everything in between. At first, I was overwhelmed with every interruption, but now it is a norm to see their smiles pop into a zoom meeting. My biggest tip: invest in Bluetooth noise canceling headphones! They drown out the bickering between siblings, the dog barking at birds, and the voices of Anna and Elsa. You can also use them to take a meeting on the road while commuting to your son’s hockey game.”
-Liz Nuzzo, Executive Recruiter
4. Fit in more family time
“Among a million other things I’ve learnt during VF Parenting, one thing I really enjoyed was to take a little time during the workday and spend it with my son — take him for a walk, color with him in his favourite book or have a quick dance party! This not only helped me get a break from Zoom fatigue but also be present for my 4 yr old during strange times.”
-Neha Sura, Product Manager Custom Applications
Thanks to our Dropbox moms for sharing their Virtual First parenting tips with us! And thanks to all Dropbox parents for helping us make the world work better. If you loved reading this blog, check out our Instagram @lifeinsidedropbox for more Dropboxer features.
