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@mindfulreturn

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✨Working parents thrive here.✨ Newsletter. Leave benefits. Podcast. 💜 Lori Mihalich-Levin, JD: Author, Back to Work After Baby 🍼. #parentalleave

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As working parents, we spend a lot of time thinking about how we use our workday. But what about the hours after work?

In this clip from Parents at Work, @lvanderkam introduces the idea of “golden hours,” the time between finishing work and going to sleep.

Identify just 30 minutes in the evening for something that isn’t work, housework, or caring for others.

A walk. A conversation. A book. Time with family. Time for yourself.

The goal isn’t to do more, it’s to be more intentional with the time you already have.

Those small moments may seem insignificant, but over time they can make our evenings feel more meaningful and create a positive ripple effect throughout our lives.

Listen to the full episode at the link in bio.

#parentsatwork #goldenhour

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Some moments can’t be rescheduled.

In this clip from Parents at Work, Julie Talbot talks about the importance of stepping away from work to be present for the moments that matter with her daughter. This is why she encourages her team to do the same.

The conversation is a reminder that supporting families isn’t just about policies. It’s about creating a culture where people feel empowered to show up fully at work and at home.

#parentsatpodcast

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Dad jokes may be predictable and corny, but they also create moments of connection that families remember for years.

In this episode of Parents at Work, professors Eric Chitambar and Lee Pinkowitz join us for a conversation about fatherhood, academia, career growth, and family life, along with a few memorable dad jokes mixed in.

What’s the best (or worst) dad joke you’ve heard lately? Drop it in the comments. 👇

Tune in for the full conversation (and a few laughs too) at the link in bio.

#parentsatworkpodcast #fathersday

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📣 Podcast recommendation!

On our pod, we discuss the importance of building relationships with your clinicians. This episode of Parents at Work gives us a real life example.

Our friends and hosts, Lori and Jason, speak with Lori’s breast surgeon, Dr. Lucy De La Cruz, to mark the one-year anniversary of Lori’s breast cancer diagnosis.

They discuss cancer, motherhood, and purpose. And while they do, you get to see a beautiful story unfold — a patient, family, and clinician working together as a team to get to the best outcome and experience. 💙

🎧 Listen wherever you listen to podcasts.

@readysetlaunchllc @mindfulreturn @girly_surgeon

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What does it look like to support others in their growth while navigating your own as a parent?

In this episode of Parents at Work, we’re joined by Aisha Greene and Stephanie Felder. They are two leaders shaping talent and raising families at the same time.

They share:
• How professional development and parenting intersect
• Lessons from their own journeys
• What it really means to grow others while growing yourself

This conversation is thoughtful, honest, and full of perspective.

If you care about leadership and development, this one’s worth a listen. 🎙️ https://bit.ly/4tLLkq5

#WorkingParents #Leadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #ParentsAtWork

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What does it look like to lead at the highest levels and raise a family?

In this episode of Parents at Work, we talk with LaTanya Langley and Betsy Philpott. They are two incredible leaders balancing Chief Legal Officer roles and parenting.

They share:
• How they navigate career + family in real life
• The importance of strong support systems
• What they wish they knew earlier

There is no perfect formula, just real insights, intention, and growth along the way.

If you’re balancing leadership and family, this one’s for you. 🎙️ https://bit.ly/496mJUo

#WorkingParents #Leadership #Lawyerleader #ParentsAtWork

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What does leadership look like when motherhood enters the picture?

As we lead up to Mother’s Day, I’m highlighting some of the incredible mothers featured on the Parents at Work podcast (and truly, all of them are exceptional).

To start, I’m shining a spotlight on @mayor_bowser and her perspective on leading at the highest levels while raising a child.

One powerful reminder from this conversation is that motherhood strengthen one’s leadership.

From bringing her daughter into her work to how parenting has shaped her perspective, this episode is both real and inspiring.

This is a meaningful listen for anyone balancing career, leadership, and family. Tune in to hear more. 🎙️ https://bit.ly/428vcCU

#MothersDay #Leadership #WorkingParents #ParentsAtWork

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What if parental leave didn’t create stress for the team or guilt for the person taking it?

In this episode of the Parents at Work podcast, Lori Mihalich-Levin @mindfulreturn and I sit down with Beth Wanner and Kyle Robisch to discuss a growing solution: parental leave fill-in talent.

As organizations continue to rethink how they support working parents, one idea is becoming clear: coverage during leave isn’t just a logistical need, it’s a strategic one.

This conversation explores:
• How thoughtful coverage supports business continuity
• Why it improves employee well-being and retention
• What it looks like to take leave without guilt or career risk
• How organizations can evolve their approach to talent and flexibility

When leave is supported well, everyone benefits. The includes the individual, the team, and the organization.

If you’re thinking about leadership, workplace culture, or the future of work, this episode offers a practical and timely perspective.

Tune into latest episode of Parents at Work. It may reshape how you think about leave and support in your organization.

🎧 https://bit.ly/4nfUdWx

#Leadership #WorkingParents #ParentsAtWorkPodcast

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When you join The Parent Collective, you don’t just get expert-led prenatal + postpartum classes, you unlock exclusive discounts from brands and services you’ll actually use.

Think:
✨ baby essentials
✨ postpartum support
✨ gear + services
✨ local + national partners

Preparing for a baby is expensive. Let us help you out.

Register for a class in-person or online now to unlock these deals at TheParentCollective.com.

Already a member and want to use these discounts? Comment “Perks” and we’ll send ‘em to you!

#pregnant #discounts #prenatalservices #prenatalclasses #babyprep parenting

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What does it really take to build a business and a family with your partner?

In this week’s episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin @mindfulreturn and I sit down with Lisa Tan and Martin Rawls-Meehan. They are partners in both business in running @reveriesleep as well as parenting, and have many insights to share as we take a honest, grounded look at what this dual journey really requires.

One theme comes through clearly: change is the constant.

Whether at work or at home, success isn’t about having the perfect plan. It’s about staying open, adaptable, and willing to pivot. Sometimes that shift happens in two days, and sometimes it takes two years.

What stood out most is their mindset: less about control, more about collaboration. Less about a fixed formula, more about evolving together.

For anyone navigating leadership, entrepreneurship, or family life, this is a powerful (and very real) reminder that we’re all figuring it out as we go. You may just walk away thinking differently about how you work, lead, and build alongside the people who matter most.

Listen to the full episode 🎧 https://apple.co/4vmLhCm

#parentsatworkpodcast #leadership

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Parental leave doesn't work because a policy exists.

It works when four things are in place:

🔸Policy and Clarity
🔸Budgeting and Financial Planning
🔸Work Coverage and Transition
🔸Return to Work

When one is missing, the burden doesn't disappear. It shifts onto the parent, the manager, or the team.

That's the whole idea behind our 4 Pillars of Parental Leave series. We sat down with four experts to break down what actually makes leave work in practice, not just on paper.

🔗 Full recap on the blog. Link in bio.

#parentalleave #workingparents #maternityleave #employeeexperience #returntowork

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Return to work after parental leave is not a date on the calendar. It is a process.

In our conversation with Lori Mihalich-Levin of @mindfulreturn, one thing came through clearly: re-onboarding needs more than a welcome back and a calendar reminder.

It needs:

✅ manager training
✅ ongoing conversations and thoughtful touchpoints
✅ a more formal ramp-up, like 60% → 80% → 100%
✅ support that helps parents focus on the work ahead, not just everything they missed

Returning from parental leave should not feel like being dropped back into the deep end.

The first 30 to 90 days back can shape whether a returning parent feels supported, trusted, and set up to succeed.

The full video is out today. Link in bio.

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Part of The 4 Pillars of Parental Leave series. Full interviews on YouTube.

#parentalleave #maternityleave #returntowork #workingparents #peopleleaders

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