I have been caught in a web of perfectionism! I am doing some cool stuff and I struggle to find the right words. I write drafts of blog posts and never publish them. One of the many projects I have going right now is that I am facilitating a book discussion on the Confidence Code. I started re-reading the book today. And you know what? I am doing exactly what that book said many women do. I got paralyzed by my perfectionism. To wait to say what the heck I am doing until I knew what I was doing.
I am the new Director of Market Development for MomSource Network for the Knoxville market. There, I said it. I am also their lactation expert, and member recruiter. And I have no idea what I am doing. No wait - that is what women tend to say. I do have an idea of what I am doing. I am getting out into our community to find flexible jobs for mamas, caregivers of wounded warriors, dads who travel too much, people who have aging parents who need help, and because this fell in my lap - possibly refugees .
I also get an opportunity to advocate for women returning to work to get accommodations to pump. Plus help corporations craft policy to support their employees who are also parents.
As the MomSource Network website says, we need to have a social revolution in how we work. Having a 9-5 M-F job doesn't work anymore. We can't let our children be raised by strangers to keep our jobs. What we need are more employers who understand that being parents(and spouses and sons/daughters) is usually more important than their corporate mission, and to give employees the flexibility raising families requires.
I am stumbling along in this new role, as I figure out how to make that societal shift. However, I am not going to wait until I have all my thoughts in a row before I get my message out there. If this message resonates with you and you are ready to hear more, please fill out my contact form at www.bloomintoparenting.net/flexible.
One of the keys to confidence is doing...something, anything. The more we exercise our confidence muscle, the more confidence we have. Go out and do something that builds your muscle (or at least pick up a copy of the book and start reading about it!)
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