I am so proud.
It was the Mother’s Day celebration at school. 
When I dropped my son to his class, I asked to see his writing.
It was so gorgeous and of course brought tears to my eyes and made me laugh!
He had written “My mummy is so smart because she is a vet. She is gorgeous like a butterfly and she smells like dogs”. Hmmm, must remember not to go shopping after work…
Then I took my daughter to her Mothers Day celebration where I was given a crown and some beautiful gifts. She did the drawing above and at the bottom said “I love my mummy because she gives me hugs and kisses every day”. Oh, more tears!
The juggle between motherhood and our careers can be just that, a juggle. We have expectations and feel a huge responsibility to do a great job at both. I know a lot of mothers sometimes feel if they excel at one, they aren’t doing well at the other. Usually this is because of the compromises that are made & the beliefs they have about how they should be as a mother and in their career. Usually those beliefs are conflicting.
My veterinary career definitely got put to one side once I had children. I didn’t expect that I would feel that way and the incredible sense of purpose I felt for my family was surprising to me.
At times I have been very frustrated as I felt like I was putting my whole life on hold once I had kids. At times I felt very stuck. The life I was yearning for was the career life: the extra income, the mental stimulation & challenge, the coffee in peace and having an uninterrupted conversation! The times where I felt I should be doing more and everything was moving at a snails pace.
I had to realise that I had a new life which involved being both a mother and a vet. It wasn’t one or the other but choosing how much time I wanted to invest in both that would allow me to feel a sense of achievement and contribution in my career without feeling guilty about leaving my family. I also had to realise that raising children takes time & nurturing where you may not see the results of your labour for years.
I made a decision that family life is my priority and today reminded me why I did it. When I was frustrated, I couldn’t see that all the time I was giving to my family would be paying off with events like today.
I want to bring caring and compassionate children into this world who are thoughtful and considerate, who have so much fun and enjoy learning. I know I am doing that. I want to drop my kids at school and be able to take them to the park after school. I don’t want them to spend their whole school life in before and after school care.
Life is about juggling many balls. However, I know that the career balls will bounce back if I drop them. I still have a good 20 – 30+ years of career achievement in me! The family ball may not bounce back if I don’t give it the care and attention it needs.
My children will be grown up soon (hopefully not too soon) and my job is to guide them through their challenges, experiences, be an influence in their life and help them recognise their potential and to grow into the people they want to become.
Today I am glad I made my family my priority. I am so grateful to have both worlds. A great family life and career and be able to work in a practice with owners who recognise the importance of family.
I have been able to create the life that I want for myself and my family. Have you thought about what you want from yours?
My family life has enriched my veterinary career. I enjoy going to work and I love my clients. Having a family has given me lots of perspective.
I am a better veterinarian because of my family.
I have been to way too many funerals and know that life is short and is very precious. I also know that in times of crisis and tragedy, family and friends are there to support you.
Remember what is important to you and ensure that you are taking care of yourself and giving time and energy to your important relationships.
If you would like any help with creating the balance between your life and career, I can help you:
- Veterinary Career Plan was created to help you determine what you want from your life & career. To uncover what you like & dislike about practice and help you recognise why you may not be 100% satisfied in your life & career. You will complete the course with an outline of what exactly you want from a practice & life as well as the steps you need to take to get there. It is an online training accessible 24/7 with training videos and worksheets. Click here to find out more.
Natasha
