Key learning points

1.Challenges for parents returning to work

2.Where the inspiration for the Risky Mix Parenthood Diaries came from

3.The topics that the series will cover

Here on the Risky Mix podcast we are delighted to kick off our new ten-part series - the Parenthood Diaries! For the next 5 months, we will be covering a huge range of parenthood-related topics with insurance guests who have ‘been there and done it’. We'll be chatting about things like going back to work two weeks after giving birth; managing a rising career alongside rounds of IVF; parenting children with additional needs and blended families. Whether you’re a parent in the industry, hoping to have children soon, or are working for an organisation looking to create inclusive workspaces and cultures, we think we’ve got something for everyone. In this episode, Josie and Raj chat about what’s to come in the Parenthood Diaries, and share a behind-the-scenes look at life as a new mum with our returned co-host, Katie!

A big thanks to our series partners, Genasys and The Camelot Network 🙌

First, we ask how Katie’s doing as a new mum! Seven months in, Katie tells us how it’s been tougher than expected and she has so much less time than she thought. She naively believed she could start working straight away - instead, she tells us she’s been squeezing work in when she can and living life in ‘two-to-three-hour routines’. On the flip side, Katie shares some of her wonderful bonding moments - ‘one smile makes a stressful day melt away’. She tells us how her husband, John, has been helping out alongside his full-time role, but that in July, he will become a full-time dad so Katie can return to work, which she is really looking forward to.

When asked about her motivation for producing the Parenthood Diaries, Katie shares how she is hoping to shed some light on a wide variety of challenges faced by working parents, learn from people who have been through these firsthand and inspire the insurance industry to step up its game!

We then discuss the topics we are particularly looking forward to covering in the series. For Katie, it’s the episode on parenting as a couple; she believes Dads don’t get enough credit for their role as parents. She notes that she and her hubby are aiming for an even split of responsibilities, but that they often to fall into ‘traditional’ parenting roles due to their time restrictions. Josie says that she’s keen to open up the conversation on miscarriage and post-natal depression, and what the industry is doing to help its employees, while Raj is interested to hear more about managing work alongside IVF.

We also talk about what we want to get out of this series. Josie is getting married soon, and wants to start a family at some point, so would like to hear how others juggled family and their careers! She’s also looking for her own D&I inspiration, and is excited to see what difference the Parenthood Diaries can make. Raj hopes that exploring ‘taboo topics’ will get us more comfortable talking to each other in the industry and help our collective mental health. Like Katie, she hopes that Dads can be brought more into the equation; there remains stigma associated with men taking time off to spend with their children, to the detriment of both men and women. On that front, Raj is interested in how same sex couples manage the division of childcare responsibilities - something we will be covering in the series!

Finally, Katie shares her top parenting tip with us: make the most of the daily pram walk. It’s great daily exercise in the sun, but also gives her the opportunity to pop her headphones on and catch up with work voice notes!

Do you have a top parenting tip? We would love to hear from you! Post a 60 second video on LinkedIn or Twitter using #parentlife and tag us!