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In this episode, I interview Sir Lunch-a-lot, father of 2 and someone whose job involves a lot of overseas travel and eating out! We talk about frequent work travel, flexibility as a person in a leadership role, and family teamwork. His wife Kathryn's episode can be found here: http://www.headofacodfish.com.au/kathryn.

The Lowdown

- Family of 4- 2 working parents- 1 full-time- 1 part-time- 2 school aged children

2:42 Sleep?2:48 A reliable 8 hours3:14 Who are the people in your family?3:34 What is your parenting superpower3:50 It's a joint effort and joint superpower4:18 Partners parenting super powers?4:38 Novelty factor when dad is around4:52 Framework of expectations and behaviours5:02 Developing independence in children5:56 Masterchef!6:38 Partner is better at fostering independence6:58 I am the mother hen7:06 How is the childcare managed7:20 9 day fortnight and reduced hours7:28 I do drop-offs and wife does pickups7:36 A lot of work travel so wife does all when overseas7:52 Stress on wife and relationship8:00 The reality of 2 working parents with different demands8:40 Transitions between all family home and someone away9:16 8 weeks stint overseas9:50 Sir Lunch-a-lot10:20 Which country are you going to today dad?10:30 Ability to choose your path?10:46 Very much a team effort11:00 Putting the kids first11:14 Wife ends up bottom of the list12:28 Flexibility in office work - not rigid shift work13:16 Life would be very different without that flexibility13:36 What works well?13:56 School hours and weekdays are structured14:00 Being particular about social life and weekends14:14 Weekend kids sport14:32 Comes at a cost15:08 Things you learn beyond academic pursuits15:16 Downsides15:26 Wife misses out a lot15:34 Work means I have to go back on home commitments previously made16:28 Book club villain16:36 I also would like to do more stuff outside work17:22 Learning the guitar in your 60s17:48 Learn a language in the car17:52 The cheese is old and mouldy17:58 Next steps in the evolution of family?18:18 Greater level of independence18:40 Wife could go back full-time18:54 Wife has positioned herself well professionally to go back to other challenges19:06 Not losing career momentum19:38 Do you feel like your family responsibilities are supported at work?19:42 Technology is great for working and family20:16 Outsourcing domestic work, shopping deliveries20:50 Parents have very traditional roles and couldn't conceive online shopping22:02 Do the people you work with understand your dual responsibilities?22:14 In a leadership role22:18 Open about the reason when absent for child-related reasons22:28 Make sure productivity and outcomes speaks for itself (not hours)22:40 Not clock watching and empowering other to focus on outcomes also22:54 Producing a high quality of work done more important than clocking on at exactly 9 am23:20 The difference between men and women being open about family responsibilities23:40 Mothers hiding evidence of children23:54 Does hiding it make is less acceptable in the workplace in general?24:04 A bit like smokers and smoking breaks24:40 The sickness in the first 6 months of childcare24:50 Negotiating who takes the day off with the sick kids25:34 Important that leaders walk the walk25:50 Sends emails to all explaining a child-related absence26:03 Someone in the team doing that first 6 months at childcare is going to feel much better when they have a sick child26:14 Funny or disastrous moments?26:20 Both parents turning up to school pick up on the same day26:48 Is work and family what you thought it would be?26:58 Life had always been mapped out27:12 Throwing kids into the mix changes things a bit27:24 How many kids? What gender balance?