Parenting and Work: Share Your Opinion!
Axelle Ballieu, a dedicated mother shedding light on the challenges of parents through her podcast “Planète Darons,” is fighting to find concrete solutions to reconcile family life and work. This issue is particularly concerning in Belgium, a country among the most affected by parental burnout according to an international study conducted in 42 countries. It is in this context that the Degroof Petercam Foundation has launched an unprecedented popular consultation on parenting and work. To tackle this challenge, the Foundation is partnering with the Make.org platform, specialized in collecting citizens’ opinions, and using artificial intelligence to analyze the responses.
Axelle Ballieu, a voice without taboo on parenting
At 34 years old, Axelle Ballieu, married and a mother of a 3-year-old boy named Milo, perfectly embodies the challenges that many parents face today. Working as a project manager in a large tech company specializing in media and campaigns, Axelle juggles a high-responsibility job with her role as a mother, facing head-on the difficulties that come with it. When Milo was born, Axelle was faced with a particularly challenging situation: her baby suffers from a rare, unidentified disease. This long period of medical uncertainty generated a lot of anxiety and uncertainties, even plunging her into postpartum depression. Spending a lot of time in the hospital, she met many mothers, all carrying the same fear and sadness in their eyes. She promised herself to help them as soon as she had the opportunity.
This is how her podcast “Planète Darons” was born, a year later, a unique space where she gives a voice to parents with diverse backgrounds. Throughout the episodes, she meets single mothers, stay-at-home fathers, couples juggling demanding careers, and even single-parent families. The podcast goes further and also addresses heavy topics such as perinatal mourning with Louise, miscarriage with Lucile Rochelet, or even hiding pregnancy with Ninon. Each guest brings their personal experience, allowing the exploration of crucial themes such as time management, sharing household tasks, the challenges of remote work, and the balance between professional and family life. Everyday subjects that help shed light on the intricacies of parenting.
Axelle also tackles often taboo subjects, such as parental burnout, personal sacrifices, and societal expectations around parenting. The liberation of speech is at the heart of her project, offering everyone a platform to share their experiences without judgment. By giving voice to these stories, “Planète Darons” becomes a source of inspiration and support for those seeking to reconcile family and professional life. “It’s not normal that we don’t talk enough about this whole journey,” she says. This podcast is therefore a mirror of the daily realities of today’s parents, a space where they can recognize themselves, find practical advice, and feel that they are not alone in their challenges. Axelle Ballieu creates a community where mutual aid and listening are at the forefront, reinforcing the sense of belonging and solidarity among the listeners and allowing the breaking of silence around parents’ mental health.
Don’t miss anything from the Belgian podcast where we talk about motherhood and parenting without taboos by following them on Spotify or Instagram.
Participate in a popular consultation to make a difference
The consultation, open until June 30, 2024, invites all concerned individuals – parents, future parents, grandparents, employers, associations – to share their opinions and proposals. Available in French, Dutch, English, and German, it aims to reach a maximum of citizens. Planète Darons is part of the working group surrounding this consultation, alongside other sector specialists (non-profits, researchers, NGOs, etc.). Thanks to Make.org, participants can submit their solutions and react to others’ proposals, creating an unprecedented citizen dialogue. The proposals are varied: company nurseries, increased teleworking, paid parental leave for entrepreneurs, babysitting vouchers for night workers, “parent-friendly” company label, and ending the stigmatization of part-time parents. Participants are encouraged to share and debate ideas, with the aim of identifying clear priorities.
Why your participation is essential?
Your voice matters! By participating in this consultation, you contribute to identifying the most effective priorities and solutions to reconcile parenting and work in Belgium. The stronger the participation, the clearer the citizens’ priorities will be. It is therefore a unique opportunity to contribute to positive change for our society. Participate now and make your voice heard. Every response counts to build a better future for parents and children in Belgium. Together, we can make a difference. Share your experience here and become a change-maker!
This article was written in close collaboration with the Degroof Peterman Foundation.