Shirin Pakfar - Friborg’s Post

More than 11 years ago I gave birth to this lovely boy, and today he graduated from primary school. While he didn’t think this was a big deal, I certainly did! As a working mom, who travels frequently and misses many milestones and events while trying to balance work and family life, being there today was so special. I cried the whole time!   As the kids get older, time seems to pass faster and there is a sense that they are quickly slipping through our fingers and will soon be independent young adults, who no longer look up at us with that adoring expression.   No matter how much I try to volunteer with the class or participate in sports events, it never feels like enough and certainly not as much as those mothers who have chosen to stay home or have more flexible schedules. When the boys were small, I took 3 and a half years off work - 4 months of maternity leave, 2 years of unpaid leave and then ultimately resigned from the UN because I wasn’t ready to go back to work and leave the kids as toddlers.   At this point, I started having nightmares that I would never work again, that I would be overlooked for so many interesting opportunities to support efforts in the humanitarian and development world and would one day wake up feeling lost and resentful.    I feared what I would talk about in job interviews and when I was prepping for the first one after my break, I found I had so many relevant skills and examples from parenting challenges I had faced in that time. I did get that job and I got it using examples of potty training and sleepless nights! Now, 11 years on, I am worried that the decision to go back to work has resulted in me missing out on so many important moments for my two sons. I am often overwhelmed by managing the growing school schedules, activities, homework, social calendars, as well as the pressures that come with my job. I am always asking myself… what if?   Lesson learned: there is no magic solution! ✨   You cannot be everywhere all the time and it will be difficult to balance. As a parent or carer, you will always feel like you are dropping the ball somewhere, and that is ok – don’t beat yourself up. If you are a new parent or someone who is considering starting a family, don’t be nervous – it will all come together!   Over the years, we have welcomed countless UNHCR babies, and in my team, we currently have eight people on parental leave. I have and continue to encourage all my colleagues to take the time they need after they have a child. And if you decide to take a break from work, don’t worry, you will find a job afterwards! #worklifebalance #workingmoms #careermoms #maternityleave #WorkingParents #WomenInTheUN

  • No alternative text description for this image
Besem Nkechi Obenson

Representative in Guatemala UNHCR | Global Operations Executive | Driving Transformative Change and Strategic Growth in High-Stakes Environments | Multilingual Leader and Advocate for Sustainable Development

1mo

Yep!! ❤️ right there with you. Mine just graduated from high school; he was barely two when I joined UNHCR. The older the child, the more excellent memories you get to create and enjoy with them! So, one thing I have learned (and encourage & facilitate my team to do!) is make time to enjoy these moments.

Carlo Rampini

Food Innovator - Change Catalyst - Sustainability Ambassador

1mo

Wow Shirin, very nice thoughts, thank you for sharing! It is great to be part of the life of our children and see them grow, day after day! It is very hard to find the right balance… but we should simply do the best we can, thinking at the moment they will be adults and they would not look up for our support anymore and ask to ourselves: “Could I feel proud of myself now? Are my children proud of me now?” Today the graduation has celebrated a milestone and it should be a good reflection point for every parent… being a Parent is a tough job, nobody is ready for it, but it is a great development journey full of challenges and satisfactions! 😉

Claudia Liuțe Byrne

Strategic Communications I Digital Transformation I Learning I Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner

1mo

This rings to true! After having the twins I also took 2.5 years off and resigned from the UN for the same reason. When I went back it was a struggle to come in at the level I left, and here I am still catching up 7 years later. It’s nice to hear that senior professionals struggle with the same things and same thoughts. Thank you for sharing.

Suzanne Ehlers

Executive Director & CEO, USA for UNHCR. Growing support for refugees, and fighting for everyone’s right to have a home where they find safety and belonging.

1mo

The response to this post speaks for itself-- we need to hear these reminders and this wisdom again and again! Tky for sharing your truth.

Nora Ziegenhagen

Head of Coaching, Google, Northern Europe I Advisory Board Member

1mo

Such a lovely share, thank you. It gave pause for reflection. And in the juggling, messy logistics and fomo we have to remember there is no "right" way or wrong way and either way we have it good 🙏🏽

Charlotte M. Giuliani

External Relations and Programme Management - International Relations and Cooperation

1mo

Thank you for this strong message Shirin! As a new mother myself that has, gratefully, been able to take some extra time off work after my maternity leave, I do have nightmares about not being able to find work again, when the time come, or maybe not in the career of my choice. Your words are very comforting, thank you!

Anna Tunkel

Business Diplomacy | Global Public Affairs | Strategic Partnerships | Societal Impact

1mo

Thank you for sharing this important and uplifting perspective, Shirin! My eldest's elementary graduation is coming up next week and I can relate to all of this (and am prepping our tissues ;). We certainly need to normalize the notion that there is no silver bullet and work, family and well-being are a constant balancing act.

Charlotte Berquin

Private Sector Partnerships Officer at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

1mo

Thank you for sharing this Shirin, it's lovely to read. I've never dared to talk about parenting skills in interviews and yet what you say is so true! It's really inspiring!

Sabine Le Stum

Consultante et Déléguée générale.

1mo

Bravo Shirin this is so well said. We can’t have it all, at the same time - let’s face it ! And I wish that men could have more opportunities to think about and act about this life question - how to balance. We would all benefit from it.

Amos Halder

Telling the stories of people in need I photography I audio-visuals I social media I career gossip I

1mo

This is a great as well as an inspiring testimony. We want to be everywhere, always and obviously we can't, and it becomes frustrating! Thanks for sharing your experiences! However, in Bangladesh (not only Bangladesh but globally I guess) career breaks are seen as a negative move and often are questioned, by employers, society and peers! Therefore, many people, mostly women try to continue their jobs, with tremendous hardship and constant failures, I mean missing joyful family moments, kids' achievements, milestones and so on! How can we create an environment where career breaks can be seen as a normal phenomena like changing jobs or going for a holiday?

See more comments

To view or add a comment, sign in

Explore topics