I really have not found Mom and business woman to be difficult overall, but rewarding just like you say. My greatest struggle came when I was confronted by a friend when I was pregnant. Not having children herself and being my 10 year hiking buddy, she really grilled me about what I would choose after coaching families to their own goal lines. Would this child have a higher priority than my career or would she be in daycare while I did my thing? Trust me she wasn't gentle with me. Although I was challenged, I thank her today for what she did. Kind of like the auto mechanic with the car that is always broke down, I was just humming along before this last child, mostly selfish in my motives and I didn't even consider it. But she did. I never would have thought to strategize the way I do now without her help. The wounds of a "true" friend are faithful. So being intentional in my actions has freed me of alot of the struggle that is common to the parenting/professional "juggle". I have chosen to adapt to each one of her growth stages during these formative years especially.
When I have a meeting I almost always balance it by giving her time for something she'll enjoy afterward. The thing I notice alot is how groups of children are herded through museums, acquariums and other activities whether they are inspired by a particular exhibit or not. There is no room for them to go deeper in their observations because the group is the focus and not the child. So my daughter has stared at something of interest to her for over 30 minutes and come away with questions that last for days afterwards, even making some of the most curious analogies from her own observation of creation as she encounters it. It is a contrast that I had being in the herb as a child and feeling frustrated that I either couldn't see what the ones in front could, or that there was no one interested in answering my questions once I finally got a turn to look. So for the time being I choose to keep her social encounters just that. Social only. Again this is based on the child that I've been blessed with. I see the balance that her special needs require and respond accordingly. My husband says I am heeled through loving them my way. I believe he's on to something cause I'm feeling more fulfilled in my ultimate purpose in life than ever before. I pray the same is true for you too Kristin. Take care. :)
There's a fearless parent in all of us. Seen yours lately?
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Good call on the prison piece!
I really have not found Mom and business woman to be difficult overall, but rewarding just like you say. My greatest struggle came when I was confronted by a friend when I was pregnant. Not having children herself and being my 10 year hiking buddy, she really grilled me about what I would choose after coaching families to their own goal lines. Would this child have a higher priority than my career or would she be in daycare while I did my thing? Trust me she wasn't gentle with me. Although I was challenged, I thank her today for what she did. Kind of like the auto mechanic with the car that is always broke down, I was just humming along before this last child, mostly selfish in my motives and I didn't even consider it. But she did. I never would have thought to strategize the way I do now without her help. The wounds of a "true" friend are faithful. So being intentional in my actions has freed me of alot of the struggle that is common to the parenting/professional "juggle". I have chosen to adapt to each one of her growth stages during these formative years especially.
When I have a meeting I almost always balance it by giving her time for something she'll enjoy afterward. The thing I notice alot is how groups of children are herded through museums, acquariums and other activities whether they are inspired by a particular exhibit or not. There is no room for them to go deeper in their observations because the group is the focus and not the child. So my daughter has stared at something of interest to her for over 30 minutes and come away with questions that last for days afterwards, even making some of the most curious analogies from her own observation of creation as she encounters it. It is a contrast that I had being in the herb as a child and feeling frustrated that I either couldn't see what the ones in front could, or that there was no one interested in answering my questions once I finally got a turn to look. So for the time being I choose to keep her social encounters just that. Social only. Again this is based on the child that I've been blessed with. I see the balance that her special needs require and respond accordingly. My husband says I am heeled through loving them my way. I believe he's on to something cause I'm feeling more fulfilled in my ultimate purpose in life than ever before. I pray the same is true for you too Kristin. Take care. :)
There's a fearless parent in all of us. Seen yours lately?
Adelaide Zindler, FP (Fearless Parent)
April 30, 2008 - 5:26amwww.FearlessParenting.com
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