A Note From Amy
I believe everyone deserves to design a life that works for them and their family.
I’ve been bringing my kids into traditionally professional and adult-only events since they were weeks old, as I was living overseas when my first son was born and had been remote working for a few years.
Networking with strangers and dining solo to break the sense of isolation you often feel while freelancing and working from home became a new normal for me. I wasn’t about to let my laptop lifestyle restrict me from seeking out professional development and conversations with other adults!
When I became a parent, I felt it was essential for me to leave the house every day, get a dose of fresh air and try to speak with a person other than my baby. Call it maternal mental health, postpartum priorities or recognizing how my extroverted self ticks but I felt strongly that just because I now had a tiny person to bring along with me on life’s adventures, it didn’t mean I had to completely alter who I was. And still am.
Parenthood changes you, adjusts your priorities and amplifies the parts of your life which may no longer be serving you. It became easier for me to strip away the unnecessary in order to make room for the essential.
When you live abroad, work remotely, are away from family and friends or when your family and friends are in different life stages, it can be hard to adjust to these new changes without the traditional ‘village’ of previous generations. It’s on you to recreate those ties and connections wherever you are and on terms which work for yourself and your family. But I believe if you lack personal resources, it shouldn’t prevent you from accessing professional ones–parenthood and career development don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
I’ll continue to post my adventures with kids in tow as I incorporate them into my interests and make room for theirs. I like to think of it as part of actively living out a growth mindset: parenting adds another layer of challenges to attending events in person and can stretch you beyond your comfort zone. But the confidence I’ve gained and delight I’ve experienced from complete strangers encountering a child at a conference or workshop, during a webinar or even a job interview, far outweighs the negatives and unknowns of mixing the babies and business.
Follow along on our adventures by subscribing to the newsletter, tuning into the podcast or exploring my digital resources using the links below.
You can also read more about my experiences as an expat, freelancer, remote worker and parent here: amymaureenlynch.com
Speak soon + keep exploring with your kids,
– Amy (+ Family)
The Professional Bio
Over the past decade, Amy Maureen Lynch has negotiated remote work arrangements, freelance client work and validated business ideas, in between living and working in Canada, Europe and Australia (and having three kids).
She produces and hosts the Mixing Babies And Business™ Podcast, parent-friendly professional development events, digital resources and advises others on creating inclusive and flexible work solutions.
She writes about travel, international family life, creativity and flexible work on her blog, where you can read about her experiences bringing her children into business settings and access flexible and remote work resources to help you navigate the future of work: amymaureenlynch.com
Amy’s first book, Startup Blogging: Validate A Business Idea and Build Your Audience, is based on her journey as a blogger, writer, founder and parent to date.
Join our movement. Bring your kids.
Learn more:
Parent-Friendly Professional Development | Mixing Babies And Business™ 