LeapFrog is Mommy Tracked's exclusive site sponsor and we insisted that they let us interview one of their working moms.

Maureen Bunney is the Vice President of Educational Gaming for LeapFrog. Needless to say, working with modern, educational toys is a dream job for this mother of two children. Maureen describes her work as creative, innovative and strategic. She works over 40 hours a week from the Leapfrog offices in Emeryville, California. But her schedule is from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. so that she can race home to spend the late afternoons hanging out with her kids, Sarah, age 9, and Blake, age 6.

What are the best and worst parts of your job?

The absolute best part of my job is creating new ways for kids to learn while having fun. I have been doing this type of work for 13 years and I absolutely love it. I am continually fascinated with the challenge of marrying learning with new technologies and gaming trends or new play patterns.

Would you work if you could afford to stay home? If so, why?

I would definitely work in some capacity. I love to create new products and experiences and I find the expression of that creativity critical to my happiness. I know I would not work as many hours as I do now. And, I’d schedule my time so that I could be with my kids even more than I do now but I would continue to work.

Of your female friends with children, what percentage work outside the home?

About 50% of my friends with children work outside the home.

It has often been said that the key to managing a busy household with twp full time working parents is good childcare. Describe your childcare set up.

We have a wonderful babysitter who is a loving part of our family. She is an enormous help. She's there for the times that my husband and I cannot be home. My husband and I do however, set up our hours so that one of us can be with them in the morning and one in the late afternoons.

How do you and your husband divide up the domestic duties?

I have a wonderful husband who respects my work and career and has always tried to support me in my choices. We share the household chores. Sometimes one of us carries more than the other but overall it balances out. And, we both try and let the little things go and not sweat it when the house is messy or things aren't perfect.
I leave early in the morning so my husband makes lunches, on the days that they don't have hot lunch, and drives them to school. I come home earlier from work than my husband so I pick them up when I can or meet them at home. I always do the homework with the kids in the late afternoons.

Do you travel a lot for work? Is it something you enjoy or try to avoid?

I do travel for work. I do try to avoid it though as I really don’t like to leave my family. If at all possible, I bring them with me.