Guest Opinion: Answering the call
By Kristen Corey | Program planner, Iowa Commission on the Status of Women
I was recently on an extended working trip to Los Angeles and returned home on a late Sunday afternoon. After being up for 36 hours straight, I finally arrived in Des Moines. I blindly made my way to the baggage claim, found my luggage and somehow made it onto the shuttle. After making the trek out to get my car, throwing my bags in my trunk, and finally getting into my car (with big plans of taking a nap) my phone rang.
It was my husband.
Awesome.
“Hi! I’ve got the kids, and they’re excited to see you. Can we meet you for lunch?” he asked with enthusiasm.
Ugh, I thought. I was just about to get some much-needed sleep. But I knew my two kids (ages 4 and 6) were really missing their mom after a week.
“Sure, let’s go to lunch,” I said in an exhausted tone.
I halfheartedly (slowly) drove to our lunch spot of choice and was sitting in my car in the parking lot, hoping they were still 20 minutes away when my daughter — face glowing, smile spreading from ear to ear — ran to my window and knocked loudly. “Mommmmmmyyyy! Where have you been?”
It was that second — seeing her face and the utter joy of seeing me, her mom, whom she clearly missed — that brought me back. Going on 36 hours of no sleep, for the next seven hours, I put on a happy face and acted as if I wasn’t completely loopy.
“I’m so happy to see you! Mommy missed you so much!” I said, giving each of my kiddos a huge hug.
And I truly meant it.
A friend of mine recently shared an article that said most people only have time for three of the big four things that make up our lives – work, family, entertainment and health. This is why I will never run a five-minute mile and the idea of taking multiple flights of stairs thoroughly knocks the wind out of me. You can guess my priorities.
There are so many times in my life when I have moments like the one with my daughter – moments when I often don’t feel like I have the energy to do much, and I know what is required of me might be more than I can give at the time. Whether it is taking care of my kids after an incredibly long day at work, single-handedly planning a large event while juggling various other duties, taking on a new project at work, or honestly just having a conversation with my husband after a full day of life and work, sometimes these things are a struggle.
What’s most important though is how we say yes to the moments that truly matter to those we care for or those we work for. I adore my two children, but it was so tempting for me to just hit “ignore” when the call came from my husband, and the important thing in those moments is to stop, reflect, and answer the call that matters the most. That’s my work-life balance. Problem solved, one day at a time.
Kristen Corey leads the Office on the Status of Women at the Iowa Department of Human Rights; however, this article is her own opinion, and may not represent the opinions of the State of Iowa. Corey also received a master’s degree in sociology and sustainable agriculture from Iowa State University, where she started her career as an academic researcher for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. She later worked for the Iowa Department of Human Services and then moved to her current position to follow her passion for working with and for women and girls. She and her husband have two small children and are constantly renegotiating roles as working parents.
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