I am now aware of challenges that I once regarded with polite sympathy and disinterest.
Thrust into a world impacted by child care deserts; wildly long waitlists; hefty price tags; never-ending rotations of feed, change, play, and nap; and bottle nipples with numbers that apparently provide relevant information, I have a new appreciation and respect for working parents.
Parent or child-free, most of us want to be successful in our professional pursuits. We want to manage stress, problem solve, and be assets to our organizations. We want to do our jobs and do them well.
We're all human.
We have lives outside of work that require that same skillset (the ability to manage stress and problem solve). In our homes, with our families, we are indispensable. We must do that job and do it well.
We wear many hats. Often, it all requires #flexibility, juggling, creativity, caffeine, and ample #support. Although we cannot be in two places at once, we can commit to focus in each moment and give our best.
We can do what's necessary to be present.
We can take deep breaths; recognize our own challenges and competences; and extend patience and understanding smiles to our leaders, colleagues, and neighbors.
