Hi! I’m here again! I hope you’re doing well despite the craziness we’ve had to experience in the past two years. And by doing well I mean being healthy, having a roof over your head, food, family and friends, your kids are fine too. Because everything else is just additional. Right? Being alive and having people to love and to love you back is the power that keeps us going everyday. And food. Ha ha! But today besides letting you know I’m still around here, I want to take some time to tell you a short story I have lived as a professional woman and mother for the past two or three months.
Getting a job is not hard if you want to get some money to eat, pay your bills, and have some fun once in a while. There are so many job posts opening here in Puerto Rico, specially in the fast food industry and mega stores. But if you are a woman, specifically a mother, and you need a job to add more income to your household and prosper financially, that is a mission. I am a Communications Master and digital marketing expert. 4 years ago I decided to start my own advertising business, to be able to take care of my family while generating some income. Since I wanted to make noise around my name and I also missed team work, I sent resumes to all of the companies that needed someone with the skills I have to serve them. But, every time they interviewed me, there was a hiccup. Motherhood. Me being the only caregiver for my son. And many companies in the Island have already gone back to their offices, eliminating the option of working remotely. Also, they don’t have any flexibility when it comes to picking up my child and taking him to his extracurricular stuff.
I know this topic is making a lot of noise in the U.S. since many caregivers had to quit their jobs or take family leave or licenses during the pandemic. But even though I have made my own research it seems as if caregivers are doing just fine here, or at least the majority of them. Though I know that some of my friends and acquaintances have decided to stay home taking care of their children, homeschooling and even doing remote work. Others have been creative and started doing crafts, baking and joined MLMs to start doing business while being available for their families.
Currently I am working as a freelance bilingual copywriter and proofreader for an advertising agency that has a big client I write for. I’m blessed to have returned to the workforce and I want to succeed doing business on my own. My next challenge is keeping this up while having a kid in kindergarten and taking speech language therapy and occupational therapy. Not having a big support system to help with the child is a difficulty. But we aren’t giving up here friend. So, what are you doing recently to cope with the aftershocks of the pandemic? How is parenting being viable for you in this new world? Work and life balance? I’d love to hear (read) from you to be able to support you with information, tips, and resources in here and my social media channels.
Until next time… Hugs!
~Edaliz
Mom Does It Better 