FPY#02 Both my wife and I would like to be stay-at-home parents, and I love my job' - with Working Dad Marty Middlebrook

This week I am seating down with Marty, an awesome working dad who works in a managerial position in a not-for-profit. He is also the father of 2 girls, Aneka (7) and Coco (5) and husband to Micha. During our catch-up at a cafe in downtown Sydney, we talk paternity leave, working as a casual vs. employee, Annabel Crabb, progressive school, long commute, evening routine, the NZ Prime Minister, camping with other families and loving our work! ------------------------------- Join the Future Proof You tribe: - Connect with me on LinkedIn where I post daily quick tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marchandjulien/ - Sign up to the newsletter where I go deep in tips for working dads: https://www.microskills.academy/workingdads/ ------------------------------- WHY THE WORKLIFE BALANCE IS IMPORTANT: Both my wife and I would like to be stay-at-home parents! We share responsibilities. There is this attitude in my workplace that family comes first. It's valued by people who apply to work there. I have 1.5 hours of commute each way but working from home doesn't work me. It's a conscious decision not to work at home. I work for a not-for-profit where I believe that the world should focus on environmental issues, for me and my kids. Work is my other identity which I love too MARTY'S SECRET WEAPONS TO BALANCE WORK AND FATHERHOOD I have a long commute but I try to make the evening routine (bath/teeth/bed) FUN! Pick up mum at her office with the kids The progressive school was a conscious choice, we moved closer to it. The goal is to make our kids confident and happy. Men and work culture, in general, should adopt more of the feminine side: the nurturing and family aspect for instance. It's also the idea that we have to work 5 days a week. We are talking about our sharing the workload with my wife. We have 4 weeks holiday but 12 weeks of school holiday! I work during my commute We do as many outdoor activities as possible, to be connected with nature. My youngest was ready for camping at 2 month-old. Recommended resources Annabel Crabb's September 2019 Quarterly Essay on Men at Work: https://www.quarterlyessay.com.au/essay/2019/09/men-at-work You can connect with Marty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marty-middlebrook/