by Caitlin McCormack

Welcome to the monthly series about finances and single parenting. A reminder that subscriptions ($2/mth) go towards paying writers who appear here.

There’s a version of me from a few years ago, sitting in a specialist’s waiting room with a laptop balanced on my knees, trying to make a deadline between back-to-back appointments. I was freelancing full-time then. I did so because I not only love my work, I needed to have flexibility in my calendar.   

Both my sons have medical needs that come with a long list of appointments, therapy sessions, and unexpected sick days. I also have my own health to manage, and like every parent, I’m juggling school drop-offs, pickups, snow days, and surprise “we need you to come and get him” calls. Freelancing gave me the ability to do all that without needing to explain myself or ask for time off. But, I wanted more — for myself and my career. I missed being part of a team, building something bigger, and growing professionally in a way that’s hard to do solo.   

So I went back to work full time, with one non-negotiable: I needed a workplace that understood flexibility isn’t just a perk. For single parents, caregivers, people managing health conditions or disabilities, and anyone navigating complex life stuff (which, let’s be honest, is most of us), flex work offers a lifeline where rigid schedules simply don’t fit. Here's how I get it to work.