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How Being a Parent Improved My Career

Yes, it’s hard work. And yes, I’ve learned a lot.

Anna Burgess Yang
Better Humans
6 min readNov 22, 2023

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pop art illustration of a work desk covered in papers and a large clock
Image created via Midjourney

Countless articles talk about how having kids can be a career setback.

Parents often find themselves passed over for promotions, struggling to work the required hours, or discriminated against. It’s easy for those without kids to say that a new parent’s “priorities have shifted,” and that’s what holds them back.

Women, in particular, are impacted, with their earning potential dropping 20% compared to their male counterparts after having children. These issues are very valid and frustrating for anyone who wants to have children.

My three children have changed every aspect of my life, but people rarely talk about how kids can make a working person’s life better. I’m long past the difficult early days of diapers and bottles and no sleep. It’s easier to reflect when you’re not “in the thick of it.” And my children have had a positive impact on my career.

I Have To Be Flexible

I used to think very rigidly about work. There was a right way to get things done and a wrong way. I’d find myself irritated when other people (parents or not) didn’t meet my standards.

Children completely upended my thinking. I realized that I couldn’t control…

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Better Humans
Better Humans

Published in Better Humans

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Anna Burgess Yang
Anna Burgess Yang

Written by Anna Burgess Yang

Freelance Writer. Operations Advice for Solopreneurs. Career pivots are fun. 🎉 https://start.annabyang.com/

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