0204 542 9837  ​
71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ
Discover. Develop. Empower.
  • Welcome to Holistan
  • CVs, Personal branding and more
  • Career Assessments & Counselling
  • Psychometric Solutions for Business
  • Start Your Own Practice or Consultancy
  • Workshops
    • Become a CV Writing Pro!
    • Chasing the Dream: A Guide to Practice Management in the South African Context
    • Diversity Appreciation
    • Scratching the Itch: How to Sell
    • Strategic Thinking
    • CRM #LikeABoss
    • Personal Branding
  • Executive, Business or Life Coaching
  • Free Resources
  • Media
  • Blog
  • Welcome to Holistan
  • CVs, Personal branding and more
  • Career Assessments & Counselling
  • Psychometric Solutions for Business
  • Start Your Own Practice or Consultancy
  • Workshops
    • Become a CV Writing Pro!
    • Chasing the Dream: A Guide to Practice Management in the South African Context
    • Diversity Appreciation
    • Scratching the Itch: How to Sell
    • Strategic Thinking
    • CRM #LikeABoss
    • Personal Branding
  • Executive, Business or Life Coaching
  • Free Resources
  • Media
  • Blog

7/8/2020

3 Comments

Parents Locked-In

 
Picture
Yesterday marked Day One, Term Three for my seven year old son, who is in Grade One this year. It was not even COB when I started to write this post, as I was already exasperated. I had a candidate I was assessing (online of course), with my little boy at my side, running between rooms to brief my client whilst keeping an ear open for my son, who is required to navigate between classes on the Zoom platform. We have just started the New Term, and I feel as though I am over it already.
​Today I called up the Centre Manager at my work premises. You see, I am looking at reinstating my business lease – the one I had to cancel when the country hit a hard lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking to her (a single Mother), I asked how on earth she could be at work (I know she has kids). She replied that through absolutely limited choices, as she has been forced to leave her 10 and 8 year old at home. Alone. She – and I’m sure many, many South Africans – is forced to leave her kids alone because (a) her job won’t allow for her to work from home and (b) she does not have the luxury of recruiting a nanny or au pair to care for her kids.

I understand and deeply appreciate the protocols that we have had to encompass as a country. Not just us, but around the globe. But there appears to be a MAJOR gap that we as South Africa may have neglected to consider when adopting International Best Practices observed from other continents: how do professionals who have children manage to work AND assume the role of teacher?

I have seen a marked change in my boy. The once care-free, athletic, happy, free spirited soul has morphed into a sad, quiet, withdrawn child. Just a few days out of the city this past weekend injected life into my little angel. This lockdown may want to protect us from a catastrophic virus, but the collateral damage is the negative psychological impact it is having on not only my young son – but humankind. According to helplines such as Lifeline and SADAG (South African Depression and Anxiety Group), calls have doubled since lockdown.

As a Registered Health Professional, the depression, anxiety, and apprehension I see in my clients’ eyes, albeit behind the lens of my web-cam, is palatable. I feel it too. How do we, as working professionals, move back into kick-starting our frail economy, when we are at our most frail? How do we, as vital economically active individuals, school our children whilst trying to keep the roof over our heads? How are we expected to support our children in their education AND keep performing in the workspace?

It appears only the rich a.k.a. the minority will be buffered against this, as full time moms, nannies and au-pairs whisk in to save the day.

I personally feel that there was a massive oversight in phasing in various industries, in tandem with phased Grades allowed back into school, WITHOUT offering appropriate support to our working parents.

Yes – Lock-down had to happen.
Yes – we need to encourage working from home.
Yes – we need to protect our children.

But where is the support? How do we adopt what First World countries have done without the support they have? What happens to the single mother whose work is dependent on being client facing (think hairdressers, beauticians, etc.), who happens to have young children at home?

What happens to working professionals who have unsympathetic bosses, who’s kids are only allowed to return to school on alternate days?
What happens to the domestic worker whose employer will not (can’t?) allow her to bring your child to work?

Although the population is at strain, it appears that proportion of hardship once again falls squarely on the shoulders of our women as they will have to sacrifice either their careers, or caring for their children.
​
We need a strategy that looks at the whole system in South Africa. We simply cannot rely on what has been done overseas and replicate it. A blanket approach is not what we need. It’s not feasible in Africa, our beautiful yet oh-so vulnerable country.  We need a strategy that encompasses and provides support to every professional, every job seeker, every father, and yes, every mother.

- Marzenna Almendro 

Picture
Trying to assess a candidate and home-school simultaneously. 
3 Comments
John McNeill
7/9/2020 01:48:20 am

Absolutely well said Marzenna. The pressure for Moms is truly incredible. Enjoy your day & be safe. Love to all. Cheers, John

Reply
Marzenna Almendro
7/9/2020 01:54:35 am

Thanks for your warm words John! And thanks for reading - I so appreciate it,

Lots of love from the three of us xx

Reply
Hayley
7/9/2020 04:47:14 am

Very good article. Unfortunately even us stay at home mom's are finding this rough. It's not easy for anyone let alone the kids who need certain therapies eg OT. There is NO support in SA unless you have an extended family to help you as we all need help at times. This pandemic has just heightened the already existing problems which is why the people that can emigrate leave, as there's more support in first world countries.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Holistanites 

    Our contributors collectively boast a wealth of experience in assessments, HR, organisational development, change management and more! 

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

GET IN TOUCH
Discover. Develop. Empower.
info@holistan.com
United Kingdom: TBC
 South Africa (+27) 10 312 6790
Picture
Ts & Cs
FAQ