Balancing Careers and Parenting: A Conversation with Dr. Emily Oster

About Dr. Oster

CEO of ParentData, mom of two, best-selling author, PhD graduate in economics from Harvard, and professor of economics at Brown University. Her books Expecting Better, Cribsheet, The Family Firm, and The Unexpected have sold over 1 million copies.

Emily Oster is on a mission to provide better data on pregnancy, parenting, and personal health, so you can make confident, informed decisions that are right for you.

About the Episode

In this conversation, Dr. Emily Oster discusses applying business principles to family decision-making, particularly for dual-career couples. She emphasizes the importance of structured communication and task division to manage parenting responsibilities effectively.

Dr. Oster also shares the complexities of parenting and relationships, emphasizing the importance of communication, check-ins, and understanding individual family values. She addresses common parenting myths and the societal expectations' impact on gender roles, and offers practical advice for overcoming parenting guilt.

The discussion highlights the need for couples to navigate conflicts thoughtfully and prioritize their relationship amidst parenting challenges.

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Show Notes

00:00 Introduction

03:08 In The Family Firm, you advocate for applying business principles to family decisions. 06:08 How can dual-career couples implement structured decision-making processes to manage parenting responsibilities effectively? 

12:12 When both parents have demanding careers, how should they approach decisions around parental leave to balance career aspirations and family needs? 

17:12 How can couples incorporate regular check-ins to discuss their relationship and parenting roles, and what benefits do these conversations offer?

21:04 With an abundance of parenting advice available, how can couples discern what information is relevant and make informed decisions without feeling overwhelmed? ​

26:07 In your research, you've challenged several conventional parenting beliefs. Can you share some myths that dual-career couples should be aware of, and how debunking them can ease parenting stress? ​

28:25 What approaches do you suggest for couples to align their long-term parenting goals, such as education choices and extracurricular activities, to ensure cohesive decision-making? ​

31:23 How can couples proactively address and balance traditional gender roles in parenting to foster an equitable partnership?​

39:26 Many working parents experience guilt related to balancing career and family. What insights do you offer to help couples navigate and mitigate these feelings? 

41:28 Can you please share with our listeners where they can learn more about your work – such as your online and social media presence and where they can purchase your books? 

42:01 What is one piece of simple and actionable advice you want to leave us with?

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