What do I want?
I am…..a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend, an
AF officer. I am so many things to so many people.
What do I want? To succeed in all of these areas.
Is this possible? Yes, but I do not believe that I can
achieve the highest professional level of success and accomplish the rest.
Recently I was surprised that two female Capts requested
limited travel duty so that they could focus on nursing their newborns. I
learned that there is actually an AF regulation that allows for them to make
this request. I was shocked that these ladies were asking for accommodations
because they are also mothers. Then I had to turn the mirror around and look at
myself.
I say that I don’t want the work standard lowered. That I will
meet the standard physically and mentally. But…
Can I say all of that and then ask to 1) run late because my
5-yr old had a morning meltdown or 2) call-in sick in the morning because my 2-yr old has a fever or 3) request
a flexible start time so that I can see them in the morning before school?
Am I asking for consideration?
Am I asking for a reduction in the standard?
Hmmmm…..
It used to upset me that all of the senior female leaders in
my organization were either unmarried or did not have kids. However, if wanting
a husband and kids means I won’t rise to the senior levels, I am okay with
that. I understand that my time management is not the same as a single woman or a single man or someone who does not spend time with her kids. I have come to realize that there are limitations to my professional
career in order to have other aspects of my life. I am okay with that.
All of this bothered me until I recognized that my goals are
broader than just professional success.
I also want to raise my children and have a positive marriage.
To find a way to modernize the standard to be accepting of me
as a mother, a professional, and a wife so that I can achieve the highest levels of success in all areas.