Meet Julie: Adjunct faculty, English as a Second Language, mom of three sons, ages 9, 7 and 5

“One technique that I have found helpful to juggle my professional duties and personal duties is to have a morning meeting with my kids where we develop a schedule for the day. The schedule is not set in stone, but it does give the kids, my husband who is working from home, and me some structure for the day. ”

Julie Laeder, adjunct faculty

• What do you do at HACC?
  I teach English as a Second Language (ESL) from the beginner to advanced level.
   
• How old are your children?
  I have three boys, 9, 7 and 5 years old.
   
• How are you effectively juggling your professional duties and your personal duties of having your children at home while you work?
  • One technique that I have found helpful to juggle my professional duties and personal duties is to have a morning meeting with my kids where we develop a schedule for the day. The schedule is not set in stone, but it does give the kids, my husband who is working from home, and me some structure for the day.
  • Also, I have to remind myself that everything is not going to go perfectly and to just move on when things don't go right! Moving on might mean taking a break, going outside or playing with the kids.
     
• What tips (things to do and things to not do) would you offer to other parents who are struggling with this?
  The best advice I have received from several people at the College is to just take it one day at a time. I am sure the students are struggling to adapt to the current changes just as much as we are, so we all need to give ourselves a break. At the end of the day, I believe we are all doing the best we can with what we have at this time.
   
• Is there anything else you would like to share that we did not ask?
  Another teacher mentioned this in a Zoom session: Remote learning/teaching has really humanized all of us. The students get to see me in my natural habitat with my family, including my dog! And alternately, I get to see them in their houses occasionally interacting with their families.