Yikes… It’s Back-to-School Time Again: Finding the Balance

Yikes. It’s that time again.

Backpacks. School supplies. Labeling EVERYTHING. New schedules. Earlier bedtimes. Shortened school days. Minimum days. Practices. Appointments. Holiday performances that somehow happen at 10:30 on a Tuesday morning.

And somewhere in between all of that… we have full-time jobs.

So, what do we do?

We figure it out. We show up. We do it all—or at least we try.

Back-to-school season always reminds me how complicated “work-life balance” actually is. Whether you are raising kids with a partner, you're a single parent, you're the default parent who somehow manages every appointment and school email, or you have an amazing village helping you—there is still a lot to juggle.

And if you don't have a village? I see you too.

For me, I have always looked at work this way: I need my career to survive, but I can never allow it to compromise my WHY.

And my why is my family.

I work hard. I care deeply about what I do, and anyone working in veterinary medicine knows this is not an easy industry. The days can be long, the emotions can be heavy, and sometimes there simply aren't enough hands.

But I am also a wife and a mom.

I want to be there for the school performances, celebrations, important moments and even the ordinary ones. I don't want to look back one day and realize that I was so busy working to provide a life for my family that I forgot to actually live that life with them.

As a manager, that perspective matters to me.

I try to accommodate my team whenever I reasonably can, but more importantly, I encourage communication and teamwork. If we know someone needs to be there for their child, spouse, parent or another loved one, how can we work together so they can show up?

Because I could never imagine telling someone, “No, you can't go to your child's holiday performance.”

I would figure it out.

I've worked an extra shift. I've come in early. I've stayed late. I've rearranged things so someone on my team could have one of those moments with their family.

Why?

Because those moments matter.

Your child's first day of school matters.

The awkward little holiday performance they've been practicing for weeks matters.

Being there when your spouse or loved one needs you matters.

And yes, our jobs matter too. Patients need us. Clients need us. Our coworkers depend on us. Businesses still have to operate.

That's why work-life balance requires effort from both sides.

Employees need to communicate, plan ahead when possible and respect their teammates. Employers and managers need to listen, be flexible when they can and remember that the people working for them have lives and people who depend on them outside of those hospital walls.

To me, that's part of being a good employer and a good leader: understanding and RESPECTING that balance.

So, as we head into another school year, my advice to working parents is simple:

The minute that school calendar comes home, put in those schedule requests!

Seriously. 😂

Get the minimum days on the calendar. Add the performances. Add parent-teacher conferences. Add the random Wednesday when apparently school ends at noon for reasons none of us completely understand.

Label the supplies. Pack the backpacks. Figure out childcare. Coordinate with your partner, family, friends or whoever makes up your village.

And then be intentional with your time.

Especially with the kiddos.

Whether you have an entire village supporting you or you ARE the village, give yourself some grace. You aren't going to get every single thing perfect. Some mornings will be organized, and others will involve someone looking for a missing shoe while you're trying to remember whether today was supposed to be Pajama Day.

That's life.

Keep showing up.

For your career.

For the people who depend on you at work.

But most importantly, for your WHY.

Wishing all of the parents, kiddos, teachers, caregivers, single parents, default parents, grandparents, villages and exhausted working adults out there a safe, healthy and successful school year.

Find your balance. Protect the moments that matter. Be intentional with your time.

You've got this. ❤️

Practical tips, honest insights, and gentle support for veterinary professionals navigating the realities of clinic life.

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