Executive Director, Finance
Mom to Everly & Carter
Maternity leave: 4 months
Childcare: Nanny
What did you struggle with most about returning to work after having your kids?
I felt bad that I didn't feel bad about going back to work. With my first child, I was absolutely stir crazy and bored being home all day. I love her to pieces, but I missed work. I was excited to go back and actually went back to work a little early. With my second, circumstances were similar. I had a 16 week maternity leave and 12 weeks in started preparing to go back. When my leave ended, I was ready to go back. I had thoroughly enjoyed my time at home with my newborn, but I was eager to get back to my job. The thing about it is that my career was my first "child". I had been working towards my career starting in middle school. I realized I needed good grades to go to a good college, and go to a good college get a good job, and so on. I have worked tirelessly since then and I get a lot satisfaction out my career. I love my children, deeply, but my career also means a lot to me.
What do you find difficult about being a working parent?
My management team doesn't get how much it really takes to be 100% at work and at home.
One really annoying thing is that my management team doesn't get it. Most of their wives stay at home, so they can't appreciate that I can't travel at the drop of a hat or stay out all night drinking with clients. That relocating for a new job means asking my husband to leave his job. It is just harder and though they try to be understanding, they don't get how much it really takes to be 100% at work and at home.
What do you enjoy about being a working parent?
My job gives me perspective on my home life and vice versa. When I work really hard, I come home and I am stoked to see my kids. After a fun weekend with the kids, I am excited to get back to work.
After being back at work for some time, have your views about career and family changed?
Having kids has made me re-evaluate my priorities.
Having kids has changed my perspective on my career and that has been hard. I have been very ambitious my entire life. Having kids has made me re-evaluate my priorities. I changed jobs so I could stop traveling. I have turned down opportunities because it wasn't the right move for the kids. I want to be around to see them grow up. So, I may need to accept that I will have to slow down my ambitions while my kids are young, because I want to be there for as much as possible.
Knowing what you know now, what’s one thing you wish you could go back in time and tell yourself as you were preparing to return to work or getting ramped up in your role?
I have learned that I need to make myself and my husband a priority. There are kids and career, but there is also me and my guy. It is really hard to dedicate time to my relationship because there are seemingly so many immediate things to handle. With # 2 arriving I have made my marriage even more of a priority. I realize I miss my husband. We can spend all weekend together, but because we are with the kids, we really aren't spending quality time together. So, we are trying to make a habit of getting a sitter once a week and going to get a drink or a bite to eat so we can stay connected with each other. The other day my husband suggested I go away for a day or two, so I could relax and recharge. I admitted that I had been thinking about it for a while, but that I had felt guilty for wanting to do that. He reminded me of how much I do and said that I should make it a priority. He is right.