SEAHO Report - Winter 2022 - 37

FEATURE ARTICLES
meeting when we schedule it out. We openly discuss when sacrifices need to be made on our part,
so we can maximize the days we have planned to accomplish our wants and needs.
When the team meeting arrives each semester, I have my list of duty weeks I can do and duty weeks
I cannot do alongside my why. I share which ones are my non-negotiables and have oftentimes been
willing to take on an extra week or holidays to ensure that I am role modeling that my family comes
first and then my occupation. It also proves to my department that I still value my position on the
team and our department. As long as my family is good, I am great and therefore my department
and residential community I supervise is great.
I am fortunate that I have team members who respect me and my family. I am also honored that
I have been able to prove to them that being a wife and a parent is not a weakness or burden to
being a team player and professional. There are times when I am exhausted, trying to be everything
for everyone, but I am open about when I need to take some days just to prevent unhealthy
resentment and/or burn out.
For five years now, I have been honored to have a system that works beautifully when serving on call.
The reason this system works is because I have found confidence in advocating for my needs, while
still being a present help and support to my teammates, institution, department, and community.
One of the popular fears I've heard each time I've gone through pregnancy as a live-in staff member
is the fear that you can no longer commit to the job, because it is so unpredictable and it will get in
the way of you being a good parent.
Serving on call has also encouraged my partner and I to mindfully center quality time with one
another. We make sure when the little ones are down, we check in on each other. We talk, we play
some of our favorite games, watch over favorite shows or games, eat our favorite treats, etc. My goal
is to never 'other' my significant other, so to make sure he doesn't feel or experience that again, we
stick to what we do when I'm not serving on call, no excuses.
It is critical to normalize conversations about your family and their needs too; especially if their
wellbeing impacts how you show up at work. When your supervisor is aware of how everyone is
faring, everyone is always considered when you are going through serving on call and anticipating
the unanticipated.
Serving on call is mostly what you make of it, so always have a plan and communicate that plan while
assuring your family and your team that they will get the best you have to offer. Always listen to them
and ask them what their expectations are and/or concerns, so everyone can be considered in case
there are ever any reservations that need to be cleared up. Follow through and if/when you can, lean
on a team member when you can, and be willing to give and take to ensure everyone's success and
feeling of being valued and respected. "
Tip: maximize weekly 1:1s with your supervisor and those you supervise to make sure they know you
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SEAHO Report - Winter 2022

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