Ann Crittenden, author of a number of books and publications including If You’ve Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything and The Price of Motherhood, addressed the fears of many attendees by discussing the many synergies between the workplace and raising a family. According to Ms. Crittenden, certain skills cross over from family life into the corporate world: Multi-tasking, inter-personal skills, the art of negotiation, and the ability to motivate and inspire, just to name a few. If you are feeling threatened by younger people in the workforce, do not lose sight of the many invaluable skills that you have acquired in the process of raising kids, some of which include: the art of listening and focusing while drowning in frustration, addressing the “irrational no”, negotiating fairness and sharing, prioritizing and being organized in the midst of total chaos, letting people make mistakes and reinforcing peoples’ strengths.
Ms. Crittenden correctly pointed out that while our society recognizes women’s rights, we do not yet fully recognize our strengths. It is indeed a sad state of affairs that we live in a world where the raising of our children is arguably the most important thing we may accomplish, yet it is has not earned the respect that it deserves.
In summary, how do we find happiness? Slow down, be present, live with intention, practice S.E.L.F.-care, and know that our role as mothers has prepared us to face anything. It is only through facing our fears that we find the courage to live.
