A Secret to Success as a Working Mom: Turn Burn Out Into Bliss and Embrace Joy

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Last weekend my youngest was committed to going to the "Water Steps" a man-made water fall in Pittsburgh by the rivers. (Fun Fact: Three rivers converge in Pittsburgh--The Ohio River, The Monongahela River, and the Allegheny River.)  He kept asking. I knew he was serious when he said, "If you won't take me, I'll ask  daddy!" Given that it was highly unlikely that would happen on an unscheduled day, I relented. So, we went. It wasn’t planned in the way most things in my life are. No calendar block. No checklist. No “productive” purpose attached. And, so in some respects it was uncomfortable. And yet, it seemed necessary. It was the idea of my 8-year-old—offered with the kind of urgency only children possess when something is profoundly important to them.
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The Kindness of Strangers, a Working Mom's Key to Survival

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Dinner at the Germantown Commissary


I am on a work trip. Yesterday, I traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to participate in a training about "Conflict Resolution". The irony is, this trip has created conflict in my home...


One of the things I love about being a mom is that my life is interconnected with my children. They are both under seven and need help to navigate the day. Generally, I serve as that help. I am their primary care giver. And although it is exhausting, I enjoy it.

Subtracting me from their daily routine is disruptive to everyone. It means that my husband is responsible for everything. Instead of helping me, he becomes the primary caregiver. While he is highly capable, he is not me.

Last night, while I was having BBQ at an iconic Memphis restaurant called, "Germantown Commissary", I tried to Face Time with my family. I thought that would be a way for us to stay connected. It worked well until my daughter said, "Come home now!" That phrase incited the baby who began crying. Then, the Facetime session devolved into a crying session for like five good minutes. I didn't cry because I didn't want to cause a scene, but I wanted to. 

Despite my efforts, I must have become visibly sad because a stranger bought my dinner. While this gesture didn't erase my heartache, it did make me smile. In a small way it made be believe that everything would be alright. So, I will be eternally grateful.

 NOTE TO ALL: Memphis is not where you go if you're on a diet...

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