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It seems like forever ago: working parents dropping the kids at child care and then heading to work. Today those same parents ARE child care — and they’re still going to work, just in the home office. We asked about strategies, trial and error, and generally, how it’s going. Here’s what parents told us.

World events shake all of us — parents and children alike. So how do you answer when your child asks, “Are we going to be okay?” On this bonus episode, we feature an important discussion from our podcast, “Teach. Play. Love.” Bright Horizons early childhood education expert Rachel Robertson gives concrete advice on all of it — supporting your child through difficult times, giving calm, simple reassurances to tough questions, and using play time to help process and express feelings.

In 2014, the first Bright Horizons Modern Family Index surveyed mothers and fathers about working and parenting. They said it was hard. This year we asked again, and guess what? It’s even harder. On this episode, Bright Horizons VP Jennifer Vena breaks down the key highlights and shares stories from working parents in the trenches — and the extremes parents are going to make work and family fit.

Four of our awesome Bright Horizons vice presidents talk very candidly about being working mothers and having high-powered careers. Listen again to this episode, as they reveal what’s worked for them, what hasn’t, and what they had to let go of to build the careers and the families they wanted.

What’s your most recent parenting success story? We asked, and parents told us about theirs — the big and little wins that made them break out in happy dances. Plus, our resident editor of our parenting blog, The Family Room, gave us the lowdown on what parents talked about in the last 12 months, trends for 2020, and why this should be the year to show yourself more love for the great job you do every day.

Holiday stress is no joke. When it seems like everyone’s in a perpetual rush to the next moment, how can you and your family just enjoy where you are? And what can you do to make the holidays more meaningful? We asked two of Bright Horizons’ own early childhood experts, Debbie Hoppy and Melanie Brooks. Listen to this episode to find out how to press pause, be present, and focus on what feels right.

We all start with the idealized image of parenting. Then comes the first night of crying (yours and the baby’s), and you wonder if you were cut out for this at all. On this episode, mother/daughter parenting pros Marti and Erin Erickson get real about new motherhood; the elation, the blues, being good to yourself, and why we all should be OK with asking for help (even from work) when we need it.

Dread making school lunches? You’ve got lots of company. A study (really!) says it’s a parent’s most dreaded task. Why no love for lunch? And what can we do to restore the love — and get your kids to eat what you pack? Listen as the Scramble’s Jessica Braider talks strategies for lunches you (and your kids) will love.

Did you celebrate the return of the school bus, or did you dread it? We asked Christine Koh, one of our favorite guests, host of the award-winning podcast, “Edit Your Life.” Listen to this episode to get tried-and-true tips straight from the host and guest extraordinaire for the new school year, including how to delegate family tasks (hint: kids can help, too!), ways to avoid overload, and why it’s ok to say “no” to volunteer gigs, guilt free. Just in time for September, we’re revisiting our conversation and Christine’s strategies for going back to school.

Nanny canceled on the day of a big meeting? Call in the reserves! That’s the principal behind back-up care: click or call (even at the last minute) and a nanny will be sent right to your door. How does it work, and how do you get it? Tune in for our expert primer on the basics of back-up care, and how it can save your workday.

In child care, as in real estate, it’s location, location, location. But is the right center for you near home or work? That’s the question! If you need help deciding, this episode — featuring two Bright Horizons moms, one ace child care consultant, and a checklist of details to consider — is for you. You can also always get help with your child care search with our Bright Horizons Center Locator at https://www.brighthorizons.com/child-care-locator?utm_source=soundcloud&IMS_Source_Specify=soundcloudWleEp31

The pumping, the storage, the oddly personal conversations with co-workers...can nursing and working ever feel comfortable? Karen Rubin, work-life coach and consultant with Life Meets Work, answers questions from expectant moms on breastfeeding at work — including laws, accommodations, and why nursing means never having to say, “I’m sorry I have to go pump.”

Cheating...bribery...athletic scholarships for sports never played—how did admissions get so wacky? Fresh from her morning-show tour, Bright Horizons educational counseling vice president, and former admissions officer, Elizabeth Heaton stopped by to give us the lowdown on admissions, why we shouldn’t worry, and the legal way to help your child land a great school (hint: no bribery required).

Not long ago, we talked to author and consultant Jodi Detjen about what it will take get women’s careers out of the second-rate zone — and give men equal cred as parents. After our episode on the Motherhood Penalty, her advice seems more relevant than ever. Listen as we revisit what Jodi had to say about upending the status quo, and why it will take men, women, (and employers) to make it happen.

It’s not your imagination — the Motherhood Penalty is real. Listen to real moms talk about real experiences. And get the not-so-surprising secret from Bright Horizons CHRO Maribeth Bearfield — that the very thing you feel might be holding you back (motherhood!) turns out to be your biggest asset.

Every podcast or webinar we do at Bright Horizons generates the same question: how does this work for single parents? So we asked. Join Helen and Christine, two working moms at Bright Horizons, as they talk single motherhood—what they’ve learned, what they wish they knew, and why parenting solo doesn’t have to mean going at it alone.

Anyone who’s done it will tell you—caring for an elder loved one is all-encompassing, especially when you’re in the Sandwich Generation. Where do you go to find in-home help? How do you manage finances? What’s the secret to having the tough conversations? Get expert answers to some of the most common caregiver questions.

On this episode of The Work-Life Equation: working parent, the sequel. You’ve had your first baby, you’ve got your whole work/parenting system down…and then number two comes along and changes everything. What do you need to know before the pitter-patter of a second pair of feet? Hear two-time working parents Erika, Evan, and Shira talk chaos, strategy…and why they wouldn’t change a thing.

On this episode of The Work-Life Equation: VP Moms. What does it take to rise up the ladder with a family? Helen, Ilene, Christine, and Jessie — four of our awesome Bright Horizons vice presidents — talk very candidly about what’s worked for them, what didn’t, and what they had to let go of to build the career and the family they wanted.

On this episode of The Work-Life Equation: building the parenting village you need. The secret to successful working parenthood isn’t doing more — it’s getting more done. And the way to get more done, says our guest Daisy Dowling, is to be fearless about enlisting pinch-hitters. Get Daisy’s tips for building your village, and for casting a wide enough net to get the help you need.