Meet Holly: Fiscal support specialist, mom of two children, 5 and 16

“Take care of your mental health and well-being so you can continue thriving during these challenging times. You are a parent and you will survive!”

Holly Estrada, fiscal support specialist, Lancaster and Lebanon campuses

• What do you do at HACC?
  • Monitor and track financial accounts, expenses and budgets for Lancaster and Lebanon
  • Analyze budget reports for discrepancies
  • Process fiscal transactions, such as purchase orders, accounts payable and receivables, and third-party billing invoices
  • Monitor grant spending and process purchases
  • Serve as point of contact for Lancaster and Lebanon in regard to budgeting, finance and training related to my position
  • Assist with the yearly budget development process
  • Maintain capital and Facilities Maintenance Department expenditure records, including expenses for construction and renovation projects
  • Train new employees on use of the e-procurement system and all functions related to purchasing, including purchasing credit cards
     
• How old are your children?
  16 and 5
   
• How are you effectively juggling your professional duties and your personal duties of having your children at home while you work?
  Kids demand constant attention, and as a parent working from home, it is challenging to juggle conference calls, never-ending emails and meeting work deadlines. At times, it is difficult to separate my role as an employee and mother, and that adds a level of stress that can be difficult to manage because I try to fulfill both those roles and I become overwhelmed. Interruptions are inevitable and instead of reacting negatively, I have to take a step back and think about the reality of the situation and understand I cannot control everything.
   
• What tips (things to do and things to not do) would you offer to other parents who are struggling with this?
  • Establish a schedule for the day defining work tasks, appointments, etc., but also spend specific time with toddlers and school-age children so they do not feel left out.
  • If I have a conference call or Zoom meeting, I like to inform everyone ahead of time that I may be interrupted and more often times than not, everyone involved in the meeting is very understanding.
  • It is necessary to take breaks often, just as you would in the office. Take a walk outside if the weather is nice or call a co-worker to check-in. Breaks throughout the day help maintain a semblance of normalcy.
  • If you have a spouse or partner working from home also, include them in your schedule, including alternate times you work, if possible, so the other can tend to the children.
  • Take care of your mental health and well-being so you can continue thriving during these challenging times. You are a parent and you will survive!
  • Take a deep breath and remember, this situation is not permanent!
     
• Is there anything else you would like to share that we did not ask?
  I’ve realized that you really need to take some time for you. If you are in a house with family members, that may mean carving out some alone time. I recently had to drive to the pharmacy to pick up some medication, and you’d have thought I was just sprung from prison! It was my first time alone in over two weeks, and it was lovely. Similarly, if you live alone, you may need to carve out some time for connection with others. Call up your friends for a chat or Zoom session and connect. The point is to stay in touch with what you need to mentally and emotionally deal with this extended situation. You can't take care of anyone else if you haven't taken care of you!