I learn something new every day. It’s something I actually pride myself on and often look to the people I engage with on a daily basis to be a source of newfound knowledge. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by very smart people and am encouraged and inspired by how everyone can truly offer you something valuable in the differences we have in our interests and experiences.
A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to participate in a panel discussion hosted by the OSDBU in the U.S. Department of Education, the wonderful Mr. Calvin Mitchell, and his amazing team! The discussions were around funding for small disadvantaged businesses and the socioeconomic programs offered to assist growth and success in the federal marketplace. The in-person and online audience engaged in amazing conversation, and I am always encouraged and impressed with the people I meet and their stories of why they do what they do and how their expertise can not only support the mission of the agency but impact the greater good.
One audience member in particular really tugged at my heartstrings. Her business suffered, like most, during COVID lockdown and beyond. Her inability to get back into the swing of things once commerce opened back up is due to her being the sole caretaker of her special needs child. As a single, working parent, her priority was to her child while the public schools were not open and operating. The gap in her work experience has been an impediment in her gaining new work now. She’s been asked what she was doing during the almost 2 years she was unable to pursue new opportunities. The lack of understanding is amazing considering the whole world was dealing with the pandemic and we all suffered stops and starts in our professional journeys, but this story particularly affected me.
I was a stay-at-home mom to my 2 girls for 9 years. When life threw some hefty curve balls at me and it was time to give my professional life another go, I faced similar challenges in my job search. Funny thing is that the 9-year gap had provided me with life experiences, patience, more motivation, and even higher work ethic than I had ever had before then. Not to mention, the now double responsibility in providing for my children. But nonetheless, I frequently heard, “what have you been doing for 9 years?” My initial thoughts: “oh nothing much, just giving birth twice, raising and caring for 2 other humans, being a role model, teacher, caretaker, cook, housekeeper, personal assistant, life coach, and coordinator of everyday life for my family.” It’s eye-opening to think back to all that part of my life entailed. The life experiences, sacrifices, and hard work more than adequately prepared me to step into all of the roles I was applying for initially.
So, I guess my point here is that taking care of your family first doesn’t present a gap in work experience as much as it does an inside glimpse into one’s character and priorities. Having a partner or employee that values family first is an asset. If the pandemic taught us anything it’s that life is precious and your family should be top priority. Single parents offer a unique set of skills and discipline that can provide many assets to a work environment. Taking time to care for your family creates empathy, compassion, time management, budgeting skills, and countless other applicable qualities beneficial in business.
We shouldn’t undervalue the time and effort parenting, especially children with special needs, requires. If we don’t encourage quality parenting and treatment of our families we are setting up the next generation of workforce to not understand and respect what it takes and possibly negating their ability to be as productive as the generation that raised them.
Don’t count out the single parent. Don’t disqualify based on resume gaps due to caretaking responsibilities. Being a quality parent shouldn’t be seen as a disadvantage to the employer, it’s actually an asset. After all, if work/life balance is really a thing in the culture of your work, the obvious should be that family comes first. IMHO