No doubt about it, making peace with “the Juggle” is critical to being able to balance motherhood and work. But for this month’s featured member, Marisa Lonic, making peace is just the point of departure; embracing and enjoying “the Juggle” is the journey. We love her positivity, her amazing can-do anything spirit, and her commitment to supporting and uplifting working mothers in a multitude of ways. Here she is, in her own words!
Tell us your work story : Who are you and what do you do? I’m Marisa. I’m the Senior Director of Operations for AuPairCare, a global organization that promotes cultural exchange by matching au pairs from over 40 countries with American host families. I also have a blog called Mama Work It, where I write about juggling mom life, work life, wife life, and fill-in-the-blank life.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
I recently read an article that said women don’t boast about their accomplishments nearly as much as men do, yet as I sit here, knowing I’ve had so many proud moments, this question is taking me the longest to answer! As women and moms—as I know many members of the Second Shift are—I think we should take a moment every day to feel proud of ourselves. We’re doing so much more than often seems humanly possible, and yet we still don’t feel a sense off accomplishment that isn’t followed immediately by the pressure of completing the next thing on our to-do list. I’m proud of all I’ve created: a career, a family, a home, a life—and you should be, too!
What is the hardest challenge you’ve faced, work wise?
In 2016, I received a job promotion and moved with my husband and twin toddlers across the country. It was a huge shift that demanded a major adjustment for us as a family, and for me in my career, but I’m a big proponent of being outside your comfort zone to grow and this change ignited a lot of that for me, my career, and my family.
What continues to draw you to your chosen field and what do you hope to accomplish in the years ahead?
My blog gives me a voice to speak to a so-deserving community of women who need to hear, time and again, that they are entitled to, and worth, making themselves a priority in their lives. As moms, it’s so easy to get stuck in the day-to-day of serving others and forgetting about ourselves. I’m on a mission to help this community figure out how to feel empowered and strategize ways to re-prioritize themselves.
What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?
It will all work out the way it should. If you’ve truly given it all you’ve got, you have to know when to let go and let things fall into place. That’s not always easy to follow when you’re a total planner like me!
Who is your biggest cheerleader / supporter / mentor? (We love to spread the love here at the Second Shift!)
There are so many and I wouldn’t be able to do half of what I do without their constant support. My mom is a big one. I have a lot of crazy ideas and she’s never once said, no, don’t do it. I think she knows that even if it doesn’t work out, it’s going to teach me something, so it’s worth trying.
How do you make work work for you?
First and foremost, I’m organized. This is key. Second, there are things I can change and things I can’t. I accept that and work with what I’ve got. Mindset is everything. You can make any situation a good one if you look at it from a different perspective. Finally, any work situation is going to be stressful sometimes. I remind myself it’s temporary. The deadline will pass, the issue will resolve, you will figure this out and get back to normalcy soon enough!
If you would like to be considered for our Featured Member Profile please fill out this questionnaire and upload your photo!!