December 2001
Strive Magazine
"Integrating Work and Family Life in a Virtual Environment"
Dr. Karen S. Miller, Assistant Director of Career Counseling at ReadyMinds

So many women wonder how to effectively manage the relationship between maintaining a professional identity and raising a family. After spending over six years pursuing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology, I struggled with how to find the right balance between advancing my career and raising a family. For a few years, I was “getting my feet wet” in an academic employment setting and a private practice. I never seemed to find the right balance. I was either working too much, not leaving me enough time for my family and personal needs, or I felt unsatisfied due to the lack of challenge, teamwork and collegiality inherent in some part-time positions.

In 1998 I responded to an intriguing job posting in a professional journal. Soon afterwards I met Randy Miller, the founder of an innovative distance career counseling company called Ready and Motivated Minds (ReadyMinds). Randy was looking for a few qualified individuals to help him design and deliver a program that could provide individuals with the knowledge and motivation to pursue their personal and career goals.

I began working for this company as a consultant. The majority of my “tasks/ assignments” were completed at home and either faxed or e-mailed to the New York City corporate office. I frequently completed my assignments during evenings and weekends. While the nature of my work required some phone collaboration with colleagues during “regular business hours”, other responsibilities were accomplished within the confines of my already hectic schedule. My activities were exciting, challenging, and the work environment was non-traditional. While starting a family wasn’t an immediate goal at that time, I began to envision a role for myself in this company which would effectively integrate my needs for motherhood with professional growth (Hey, I really could have it all J).

My work role at Ready and Motivated Minds has grown and developed as the company has expanded over the last 3 years. My progression to Assistant Director of Career Counseling at ReadyMinds evolved as the company’s presence increased in the world of distance education/counseling. This change has made telecommuting an even more acceptable practice within ReadyMinds. Currently, my main responsibilities involve program development, training and supervision.

ReadyMinds (www.readyminds.com), as we are currently known, is now a fully operational and privately held company which provides telephone career counseling to a wide range of individuals. This telecounseling is supported by e-mail and web-based applications. One of the main benefits of receiving career counseling through the ReadyMinds Program is the availability of career counselors not just during typical business hours but in the evenings and on weekends as well. Consequently, this service is especially well-suited to women juggling family and career needs. What could be more convenient than having a career counseling session to explore educational and employment opportunities in the privacy of your own home after the kids have gone to bed?

In 1999, I had a baby boy. I was able to maintain my responsibilities effectively through telecommuting and hiring part-time child-care. This was an acceptable arrangement. However, it was often quite challenging to find reliable and committed part-time assistance. My position at ReadyMinds was such that I had a high level of flexibility in my working hours. This situation was a bonus but also a challenge. Most child-care providers, want steady, regular hours. Some weeks I needed frequent day-time child care, whereas during other weeks, I was able to complete the majority of my work at night or when my child was napping. The variability in my schedule was often related to the fact that some of my co-workers were also “moms” who were trying to balance work and family needs.

These types of child-care challenges led me to investigate the possibility of working with an “Au Pair”. While the concept of an “Au Pair” may connote a negative image, there are actually six agencies in the United States that offer a structured, legitimate program for childcare. A “legal” Au pair has a special visa which allows her to work up to 45 hours a week in exchange for a stipend, room and board and some educational expenses. The weekly stipend is this same reasonable amount whether the Au Pair works 20 hours or 45 hours. As long as the host family provides advance notice, the schedule each week can be different.

Consequently, now that telecommuting is complemented with appropriate child-care, I now feel like a full-time mother and a full-time professional. I currently take my child to “Mommy and me classes” and playdates. I also have time to maintain my position at ReadyMinds, teach a graduate level counseling course on Saturday mornings, make dinner and serve on my local community Library Board of Trustees. Of course, while finding time to exercise or see friends can be challenging, I feel fortunate that all of my efforts have resulted in creating a career which supports my multiple needs as a working mom.