A Working Mom's Secret to Success on Valentine's Day: Manage Expectations...

Lady celebrating Valentine's Day at Eddie V's "To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." - Oscar Wilde  Greetings from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Things have been busy. I am still a working mom of three, working full time who is trying to make a difference. I do a lot of things and try to be present so that I can learn from them. I share them on this blog so that we can learn together. Below are some thoughts, hacks, and/or lessons that I have learned from navigating my world. The roots of Valentine’s Day roots go back to St. Valentine, a priest in the early Christian Church known for his compassion and commitment to love. He was a defender of faith, hope, and kindness, reminding us that love is not just a feeling—it’s an action. And, this year I have learned that being free on Valentine's Day is better than living a lie. Valentine's Day, like Christmas, comes every year. However, unlike Christmas, Valentine's Day is about romantic love an...

Thursday Thoughts: How Motherhood Can Supercharge Your Career

Working Mom  
Because I am passionate about issues involving working moms, I am constantly in search of information about how other mothers are able to balance working and mothering. There's a lot out there. However, there isn't a ton of material about how motherhood became a career asset. For that reason, I was excited to come across the below Tedx Talk  by Gesine Thomas, an internationally recognized Architect and Speaker, who discusses how motherhood supercharged her career.


Before listening to this talk, I hadn't previously thought about how motherhood had benefited me professionally. However, upon reflection, I realize that motherhood has made me more confident, more brave, more focused, a better planner, and an excellent strategist. In a word, motherhood has made me better and that has benefited my career in spades. 

Below are five ways that motherhood has benefited me professionally.

  1. Motherhood has made me more confident. Having endured drug-free childbirth, twice, really made me feel like I could do anything.
  2. Motherhood has made me more brave. Before becoming a mom, I was more passive. However, as a mom, I have the responsibility for ensuring that my children are safe and have what they need. There is nothing I wouldn't do to make that happen. That means I advocate for myself in the workplace to get paid what I am worth and to have a schedule that works for my family. 
  3. Motherhood has made me more focused. I used to waste a lot of time. Now, I get to the core issue more quickly because I know that every moment wasted is time I don't get to spend with my kids.
  4. Motherhood has made me a better planner. Every mom that I know, including me has discovered that having a well-stocked diaper bag can help avert most disasters. The same is true at work. Accordingly, I generally have everything in my purse-- extra pens, highlighters, a jump drive, money, a snack and even a toy. The truth is the toy was snuck in there by one of my kids, but it has served to amuse me when colleagues are late to meetings!
  5. Motherhood has made me an excellent strategist.  As a working mom, the only way to get everything done is by always thinking about what has to be done next. That way, you can sneak in grocery shopping if a meeting ends early, file your nails in a parking lot, or complete thank you notes in your doctor's waiting room. I apply the same skill at work. When things are presented in meetings, I keep our company values and long-term goals in mind and try to lead the discussion so we get there efficiently. There's no time to waste!
Gesine is an engaging speaker and her description about how motherhood was a career asset is inspiring. Let me know your thoughts about her talk and how motherhood has improved your career!

Tedx Talk  by Gesine Thomas


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