Being a mom is hard, being a working mom is a totally different kind of hard. It is hard to want a career and to be a mom. It is hard to provide for your family financially and emotionally when you work outside the home.
In our culture, working moms are told they must pick career or family. They must separate their personal life from their professional life.
I have been lucky to work in an environment where I don’t have to hide I am a mother or that I am serious about my career. Being a working mom has not made me a worse employee; in fact, it has made me an infinitely better one. I owe most of my personal and professional accomplishments to my boss and the work culture she has created.
Dear Boss,
Thank you for creating a narrative that encourages me to bring my whole self to work.
Thank you for having honest conversations about the struggles of modern motherhood.
Thank you for making a space where vulnerability is welcome.
Thank you for never imposing a ceiling on my career because I am a mother.
Thank you for acknowledging that care-taking is not a weakness.
Thank you for elevating and advocating for me, even when I didn’t know I needed it.
Thank you for not making my path easier but instead challenging and supporting me to pave my own road—a road that works for me and my family.
Thank you for showing me empathy and trust during a year that has led many leaders to micromanage.
Thank you for role modeling balance and understanding that balance looks different for every employee.
Your Biggest Fan,
Me
Do you work for people who allow you to be who you are? Have you told them thank you? Give us your shout outs in the comments below.
