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Pragmatic parenting: The recipe for success is different for everyone

Every family is different and will need to work out for themselves what works for them when it comes to their family and working life, argues blogger Drake Peabody in his final post.

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Let’s go on a journey together as we explore how the recipe for success is different for everyone.

To start today’s journey, I will share a bit about my personal situation:

 My wife (Kara) and I are both American, we have lived in London for over six years with all of our family still in the US
 We are parents to a 3-year-old boy (Magin) and love being part of his life
 We are both career driven and each have full time highly demanding jobs

Now let’s compare this with two hypothetical other households. Household one is a couple with two teenage kids, have parents that live close to them, and only one person works full time. Household two is a couple with three children under eight, have an elderly and sickly parent living with them, and both parents are working full time.

The reality is that the recipe which works for Kara and me in our personal life will most likely be different from the other households above. While each household has a different number of children at different ages, there are also differences in career dynamics, caring for elderly people, support network around them, etc. For example, in our household I love to cook, do the food shopping on the weekends, and make the bed every morning whereas Kara puts our Magin to bed every night, does the laundry and manages Magin’s social activities.

Because of the natural differences we have as individuals and household dynamics, the recipe for what works for each household will be different. It is important to understand what works for you, for your partner, and how that will continue to change as other dynamics evolve (children age, caring for elderly, career shifts, etc.).

As we wrap up today’s journey together, I encourage you to reflect on two key things:

1. What you like to do vs what your partner likes to do.
2. What the right recipe is for you to achieve equality at home and accept that will look different when compared to your peers.

**Drake Peabody is a global finance leader as well as a Trustee with Equality Starts at Home, a charity focused on creating a world where equality at home is a reality for all. In addition to this, Drake serves as a Trustee for Village Water, is a member of the Leaders Plus Network Council, and a diversity and inclusion advocate with Men For Inclusion.

Drake and his wife, Kara, are both American and have called London home since 2018 and welcomed their son at the end of 2020. In his free time Drake enjoys cooking, spending time with friends and family, going to the cinema, and staying active.