𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 “𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻” 𝗶𝘁.

This quiet, clean hotel room? It feels like a portal—one that leads me deeper into the work I love, the mission I’m here for, and the version of myself I’m proud to bring back home.

I’m away for two nights delivering professional development and peer coaching workshops at Yale University and Women In Bio Connecticut. 😍 And while being away from my girls is never easy, it doesn’t make me a bad mom. In fact, I believe it makes me a better one. 💪

And boy do I feel like I "earned" a couple uninterrupted nights in that big, beautiful bed! The power and cell service went out in our area yesterday (and may not come back for up to a week❗), leaving me to feed, care for, and pack up myself and my girls solo and in the dark while my partner was also out of town for work. 😰 Thankfully, my girls are now safe, cozy, and cared for at their grandparents’—a reminder that parenting doesn’t mean doing everything ourselves.

But guess what?! We don’t have to "earn" the right to rest. Or to pursue our passions. Or to live a life that fulfills us.

The world needs what we’ve got. And so do our kids. I’m learning to trust that showing up fully in both roles is not only possible—but powerful. 💚

(Now the REAL challenge: can I make it to without falling asleep?? 😆)

#WorkingMom #ScientistMoms #LeadershipForMothers #WomenInSTEM #MomOnAMission #MotherMind