Before motherhood, I had a clear vision of my career goals as a Registered Dietitian. My career trajectory felt linear, and I was determined to work hard to get to where I wanted to be. Then, I became a mom, and everything shifted. My priorities were reorganized and my drive to be at the top of my career was met with a level of exhaustion I wasn’t prepared for. The vision that once was so clear looked different and the trajectory no longer fit the reality of my life. Truthfully, I felt lost and insecure. I was desperate to get back to the version of me that carried herself with such confidence and certainty, but the harder I pushed toward that, the more guilt I felt if I was falling short or not being fully present at home.
As a dietitian, my days are structured around caring, educating, supporting, and guiding others. And as a mom, I do the same thing at home, just in a different way. There are days I leave work feeling accomplished, only to go home to a different set of demands. I also have days when motherhood takes everything out of me before I even step into the hospital. It took me a long time, but I learned to accept that every day doesn’t look the same or go as planned and that’s okay! I realized I had to let go of the idea that I had to keep my work and home life separated instead of allowing them to strengthen each other. Motherhood made me more patient, compassionate, and understanding which in turn deepened my ability to relate and connect to patients.
Life doesn’t pause when you become a parent and it’s rare to find a company that offers unwavering support through something so life changing. I can say with complete honesty that I would not have been able to find a balance that worked for me without the flexibility and support of HHS. They have given me space to adjust, grace when I needed it most, and most importantly embraced the version of me that is different and still navigating motherhood.
My best advice to every working mom: Find your balance, be proud of your ability to adapt, focus on what works for you, and keep moving forward. Remember, you have the support of a company that understands that your value doesn’t disappear during the struggle of finding your footing or many challenges as both a professional and mom.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Maddy Ancalade
Registered Dietitian