Navigating the Rollercoaster: Juggling Parenthood, Master's Studies, and Work-Life Fusion

The past two years have been extremely intense, a true rollercoaster. Initially, I gave birth to my third wonderful child and intended to take maternity leave. In Romania, you have the option to take maternity leave for up to 2 years. However, being passionate about lifelong learning, I decided to enroll in a second master's program to prevent stagnation and keep my skills sharp. From initially seeking a balanced approach between family, self-care, and quality learning, I ended up accepting a very fulfilling job at a beloved company with amazing colleagues. As a result, I found myself stretching in all directions, dedicating myself to everyone and everything. I provided support as a pillar for my family, the company I worked for, my colleagues, acquaintances, and even strangers. Simultaneously, I underwent challenging multiple surgeries which I downplayed and carried the burden alone, with the support of my spouse. I chose not to share my personal experiences, as I didn't feel emotionally ready to console others, while I myself was quite fearful despite trying to conceal it.

Instead of taking several weeks to recover at home, I chose to "recover" at my job. After one of the complex surgeries (total hysterectomy), I hosted 11 wonderful souls from Ukraine, and within a week, I was back in the office. Work for me meant an average of at least 12 hours a day, whether from the office or home. Many times, I would arrive home after the children were asleep and only cross paths with them on our way to work/school in the morning. Even when I was home, including on weekends and vacations, I remained responsive to work and continued working. The irony is that I always encouraged my team members and colleagues to maintain a balanced lifestyle and invest in work in a way that allowed for a suitable fusion of work and personal life. My principle was "Please don't follow my example! Please do as I say, not as I do. Don't be responsive outside working hours unless it's an emergency or something urgent!"

This is just a brief summary of the rollercoaster ride I led. I stretched myself in every aspect of life. To make things even more complicated, during the final semester of my master's program, I received a scholarship to study in Norway for nearly half a year. During that time, my health was still fragile and recovering. I had classes on Mondays and Fridays, interned at a fantastic company that felt like a full-time job from Tuesday to Thursday, and maintained my full-time job in Romania remotely until May of this year. I tried my best to be present for my family, my three wonderful children, even if it was online. I always aimed to be an example for them. It's absurd to emphasize the importance of education, perseverance, and work to your children while you, as an adult, feel stagnant in one place. Leading by example it is extremely important, no matter the environment. There were nights when I only slept for around 3 hours, and occasionally a luxury of 5 hours. It was an extremely intense period that drained me of all vitality. At the end of the master's program, I had to submit two dissertations: one based on the scientific report after the internship in Norway, and the other for Romania. Initially, I firmly believed that I couldn't complete them, especially at the level of quality I desired. In the end, miraculously, I succeeded. However, it was incredibly difficult and required immense work and sacrifice. I managed to excel in both parts, achieving the highest scores possible. Well, I was the only one who could achieve the maximum score. The actual grade doesn't matter, but it warmed my heart to see that all the efforts in that direction were recognized. I still can't believe that I managed to complete everything, with a scholarship until the end and with top grades. Subsequently, I was invited to continue the research topic in a doctoral program. It meant a lot to me.

On the other hand, the professional aspect of my life was affected during this period. Circumstances were such that no matter how hard I tried, our paths needed to diverge in May. Being deeply attached to everything that place represented, affected me greatly, and I still feel the deep scars. However, they were necessary. In June, when I returned to Romania, I underwent a recovery surgery based on the medical problems I experienced during my time in Norway. Now, I am truly happy with how everything unfolded. I am grateful for every step, process, and experience that helped me reach the point where I am now. Thus, I can confidently say that my primary focus is family, followed by investing in experiences and memories with loved ones (whether from a social or professional environment), spending quality time in nature, dancing as no one is watching, continuing my education and personal development, and having a job where I can passionately dedicate myself while maintaining a healthy work-life fusion for all stakeholders.

Balancing Resilience and Common Sense: Prioritizing Self-Care for Sustainable Growth

The important lesson I've learned is the value of resilience and adaptability when managing multiple responsibilities. It's crucial to embrace personal growth and lifelong learning, while also maintaining a healthy work-life integration. However, it's equally vital to recognize the limitations of common sense and avoid burnout. Prioritizing self-care is not a selfish act, but rather a necessary step towards being able to support others effectively. By finding harmony between family, education, and career, and practicing self-awareness and time management, we can achieve sustainable growth while safeguarding our well-being. Remember, taking care of yourself is the foundation for effectively caring for others and maintaining overall happiness and success.