There's Nothing She Can't Do
Since Human Investing has shifted to remote work for 5 months, I wanted to peek into what daily life looks like for two of our fabulous and industrious moms. Shelly Chase and Eve Bell are candid, funny, and share some family tips!
JILL: Shelly, you are a seasoned Client Service Specialist, so how has it been working remote these past 4 months while managing your work and your family?
SHELLY: Multi-tasking is key! I’m never far from my computer while working from home, and when the “ding” comes in for an email or message (if I’m not right in front of it), it’s a sprint back to the computer so I don’t miss anything and reply in a timely manner. Of course, I sometimes trip over the dog….
JILL: That is a funny image! I’m sure all dogs—yours included—are wondering why we’re all home, and if it means they get more snacks. Eve, as our Workplace Advisory Administrator and young mom, you have also had a lot going on. What was your before- and after-work routine with your young daughter prior to COVID, and how has that changed?
EVE: Pre-COVID our nanny picked up our daughter every morning, and my husband and I took turns picking her up after work. We were in for a shock when we all went remote on March 15th. Having an active little toddler means my husband and I are re-evaluating routines every few weeks and upping our communication game. Our almost 2-year-old is home most days, so we have to communicate A LOT about our meeting and project schedules, work together to make adjustments, and have at least one parent watching out at all times, so that our toddler isn’t having a tea party with the dog’s food and water.
JILL: What a full plate, Eve! How long did you think you would be working remotely? I would love to hear your initial thoughts.
EVE: I thought it was only going to be for two or three weeks! I knew it was going to be a challenge, but I Pinterest-ed all the DIY toddler activities and bought a two-week supply of snacks (for both my baby and me).
SHELLY: I kept thinking how can I work from home and stay focused….kids’ noise, dog barking, FedEx knocking…how can I work from the dining room and keep my home life under control while serving our clients?
JILL: Let me say you each have done an incredible job and probably did not realize just how much strength you had within you to manage it all.Shelly, with summer in full swing and school on the horizon, how are you working through the options for schooling and what is top priority?
SHELLY: The top priority is what is best for my almost sophomore son. He did okay with ending the school year online, but it did take a lot of coaxing from mom to keep him on schedule and get his work done. It was recently announced that his school will be online until at least October 30th. I better brush up on my US History facts!
JILL: I really admire you parents; whose kids are in grade school or high school. It’s not an easy feat to work and ensure your child learns new things and retain some of what they have already learned! You have seemed to weather this valiantly but being human, we all know we’ve had moments of struggle. What walls have either of you ‘hit’, what has been the biggest thing you have tackled, and how are you rising above it all?
EVE: The first wall I hit was trying to make a typical 8am to 4pm workday schedule work from the dining room table. Once I recognized that my workday would need to look and feel different, I began adjusting to new routines. As a result, both work and family life got a lot easier to navigate. And then prioritizing! I have had to dig deep, practice more patience, and become laser focused. It has been a funny balance of being super chill about some things (who needs an organized Tupperware drawer anyways) while also pushing myself to strategize and implement new ways to serve clients.
SHELLY: I have been really surprised so far. There has been no dead ends and no walls hit. I have tried to stay focused on doing my best to maintain the same work schedule at home as I did in the office. I am working a bit longer each day since I save time without a commute, but I also have more flexibility. I have grown more confident in my ability to be an earner, mom, maid, cook and as of recent, teacher. I remind myself all day long to take deep breaths and take a little time for myself by walking, listening to my favorite music, or making my homemade salsa.
JILL: Such great, practical advice and wise counsel coming from you both! Thanks for taking time out of your busy days to share your experiences with me. And Shelly, what about that homemade salsa recipe?
SHELLY: I am making it every day now and my family still loves it! It is simple and always delicious. I even think the title fits its appeal. I hope you all try it and add your own flair!
Click here for Shelly’s homemade salsa recipe!
Jill has spent over a decade at Human Investing honing her skills in the areas of service, administration, sales, operations and human resources. As a SHRM certified practitioner, Jill now puts all her past experience to work - ensuring that the Human Investing team is cared for and the operations run smoothly.
Eve helps clients navigate the nuanced and complex landscape of qualified retirement plans by providing plan design expertise and advocating for employers and their employees.
Shelly draws from her 20 years in financial services to uniquely care for clients while meeting the administrative needs of their accounts on a daily basis. She strives to always provide personalized, and honest, and up-to-date client service and plans to continue to love, care and serve our clients for the next 10+ years.
