In the corridors of the "Weltkinder" daycare, there’s a hustle and bustle. Parents pick up their often tired but happy children. Among them is Georg Böttcher-Rebmann. As he opens the group room, his one-and-a-half-year-old son greets him with a beaming smile. The biomedical engineering professional is also relieved to have made it from the lab to the daycare on time again. "Every day is a new organizational challenge, but we have become a well-coordinated team," he says. The young father works at the MHH at the Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research, and Development (NIFE), where he initially worked part-time after the birth of his son to better balance family and career

Flexibility and Organizational Skills Required

His wife, Franziska Rebmann, took her second state examination at MHH shortly after the birth of their son in April 2022 and has been in her practical year for six months. Together, they manage family life between study and work. "We don’t have any grandparents nearby, so we are very glad that our son got a daycare spot here at MHH," explains the 28-year-old. He dresses his son for the ride home, and they leave the daycare together. Shortly after, their mother arrives from the women's clinic at MHH, and the family joyfully embraces. She has been completing her second practical year rotation just a few meters away from the daycare. "It's always a new team with different tasks, processes, and working hours. That requires a lot of flexibility and organizational skills to also meet our obligations as parents," she shares.

Funding from a Father Support Project

At first, her husband took six months of parental leave so she could prepare for her exam. This was beneficial. She also frequently used the parent-child room in the first year to study at the university while he had work commitments. He received funding from a father support project aimed at improving the compatibility of family and work. The family used this funding for supplies, transportation, and childcare at home and at his workplace. "I initiated a mobile parent-child office here. The wheeled changing table with a crib and toys is stored in a supply room and can be rolled out when needed. I wanted to create something useful from my experiences and pass it on," says the engineer.

"All of these were very helpful offerings," he confirms. However, everyday life demands more, and Franziska Rebmann sometimes wishes her role as a mother was more accepted and respected in her studies. "As a student, I’m entitled to 30 days of absence per year, which has to cover illness, childcare disruptions, and vacation. Unfortunately, that’s very little," she says. She desires official regulations for students with children and more flexible solutions for exams and absences. For now, it’s time to relax, and the family rides home together. They enjoy their time together and then organize for the next day.

Text: Bettina Dunker