Meet Karen: Assistant professor of communication, mom of a 6-year-old

“We need to be especially mindful of our little ones’ needs, as this situation can be stressful for them as well.” 

Karen Barone, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication

• What do you do at HACC?
  I teach within the Communication Program at the Harrisburg Campus, mainly Effective Speaking, Public Relations, Media Writing, Public Relations Writing and Visual Communication.
   
• How old are your children?
  We have an awesome, active 6-year-old boy!
   
• How are you effectively juggling your professional duties and your personal duties of having your children at home while you work?
  Juggling is a great word for it! Sometimes all the balls are in the air. But I more often feel like I’m just chasing them around the yard. My husband is also working remotely from home and must adhere to a fairly strict, full workday. Since my work hours are a bit more flexible, I’m often shifting back and forth between work and tending to our kiddo during the day, while getting caught up on the remainder of work after he goes to bed at night.
   
• What tips (things to do and things to not do) would you offer to other parents who are struggling with this?
  I think that moms especially feel really pulled in multiple directions between work and family, and this situation has blurred the lines between the two. While I found this very stressful in the first week or two as I wasn’t able to actually complete anything in one time-block, I’ve really tried to embrace it and see it as a positive. I believe that we have to let go of our need for structure and learn to work with more flexibility. While there are deadlines that must be met, not everything has to be done right now. We need to be especially mindful of our little ones’ needs, as this situation can be stressful for them as well. So, if that means we drop what we are doing and take a Lego break, so be it. I’m betting both my little guy and myself are better off for it!
   
• 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!