Tips From Working Mothers in the Veterinary Field
May 6, 2022
Motherhood & veterinary medicine: it can be a tough balancing act, as with any career when you’re a working mom. Being a caregiver at work and at home can be exhausting. But with the right support system, work-life balance, and self care, it is possible and oh-so rewarding.
But don’t take it from us! Here’s advice & words of wisdom from real-life veterinary moms here at Ethos:
For Our Doctor Moms
Who added the title “Mom” after DVM
“I like to remind myself that my daughter is always watching and listening to me.”
I absolutely want my daughter to look up to me as her biggest role model. That usually reinvigorates me to want to do my best and power through. – Gracey Welsh, DVM (Urgent Care Veterinarian & Associate Medical Director)
“The reward, love, and fulfillment are even better!”
Being an emergency veterinarian requires the ability to empathize and counsel, multi-task, compartmentalize, and sacrifice time and sleep for great satisfaction in what we do for patients and their families. Being a mom requires the same things, except the reward, love and fulfillment are even better! – Kari Severson, DVM (Emergency Veterinarian & Medical Director)
“I am forever learning to balance ‘full-time mom’ and ‘full-time veterinarian.'”
I strived to become a veterinarian since I was a little girl and in 2020, I became a first-time mom to an amazing little girl of my own. I am forever learning to balance ‘full-time mom’ and ‘full-time veterinarian’, and some days are a bit more challenging than others, but I know these are two parts of my life that I would not change for the world! – Christine Mallo, DVM (Emergency Veterinarian)
For Our Vet Tech Moms
Who wrangle cats in the hospital and kids at home
“Allow your children to help.”
Allow your children to help with decisions in the beginning and end. Teach them about safety, boundaries, and responsibility. – Malissa M., Primary Care Veterinary Technician
“You can only do what you can do.”
You can’t solve all the problems for that day. Take care of your physical and mental health. – Kris D., Veterinary Technician (30+ years!)
“My best tip is to share your work with your kids.”
If you have a cool case or go to CE, talk about it with them. Get excited and explain the what and whys and how these things interest you. Answer their questions. If you don’t know the answer, show them how to find the answer in your text books. Also share the sad stuff. Explain why you’re sad when you grieve for a patient. Share your frustrations and stress. Let them see you work through it. Sharing these things helps to include your kids in your work life. It feeds their curiosity and lets them see a side of you they otherwise never get introduced to. Allow them to be part of your work-life balance. – Rebecca W., Assistant Clinical Supervisor
For Our Boss Moms
Who are leaders in our hospitals and at home
“For me it’s dinner time with my family.”
Balance is vital. For me it’s dinner time with my family. I ensure that I make it home for dinner every night and that’s a hard line for me. This allows me to focus on work 100% when I’m here because I know that I will be home to focus on my kids 100% for dinner and family time. – Amy H., Hospital Service Manager
“There isn’t one right way to be a mom.”
I am a mom of four that has worked in the veterinary industry for the past 20 years. Over the course of that time, I have learned that there isn’t one right way to be a mom and mom guilt is totally a real thing. As a mom, we just need to remember that loving our kids and doing our best for them every day is more than enough! Be kind to yourself. – Becky B., Hospital Service Manager
“Respect your own boundaries.”
If you ever find yourself feeling like you are failing at work or home – or both! – give yourself some grace, take a moment for yourself, and respect your own boundaries. – Ann S., Hospital Service Manager
“Make time for yourself.”
It’s important to know your limitations, set boundaries and care for yourself. Don’t feel guilty for tending to your own needs- you only have the capacity for so much and that threshold is lower if your needs aren’t met. Your time with your family is so important and it is so much more enjoyable and rewarding when you can be fully present and are in a good place. – Kelli B., Hospital Service Manager
“Just when you think you can’t give anything else to anybody…”
…your child shows you a picture of you wearing a superhero cape. How can anyone see me like this? They do, and it gives you the strength to at least try to meet that expectation. – Brooke D., Hospital Service Manager
“Some things just fill your heart without trying.”
There is nothing more important to me than doing what I love to do at home and at work. I have a lot of children two legged and four legged. Some things just fill your heart without trying. – Andrea B., Hospital Director
“Your kids deserve for you to be fully present with them.”
Learn to separate your home stresses from your work stresses. Kids always can sense stress, so it’s best to leave it out! You will be ‘mom’ to more than just your human babies. When you’re a mother, you tend to try and take care of everyone else around you and nurture them. – Nicole O., Hospital Director
For Our Client Care Moms
Who handle schedules, mitigate disasters, and are a shoulder to cry on – at home too!
“Leave work at work.”
When you’re home, be present and be home. It’s really important to embrace quality time with family and keeping work separate when working in this field. Being a fur mom is just as important as being a human mom as well. – Ali V., Client Care Specialist
“Pay attention to your children’s emotional state.”
“Pay attention to your children’s emotional state in regards to pets when they are sick. Talking to your children of the benefits of taking care of your pets well.” – Maureen M., Client Care Specialist
“You might create your own holidays!”
Always tell your kids about experiences at work. They will love to hear about all the animals we get to see. Teach your children life is tough but you always keep going. We sometimes have to miss holidays at home with family to be at work, so you might create your own holidays! You will collect many fur babies and blame it on ‘my kids would love this animal, we need it!’ – Jackie, Client Care Supervisor
“Being a mother in the most important job you will ever do.”
You face a lot of emotions in the vet field and as a mother. You have to make sure to try to separate the two and keep a strong foundation within yourself to keep going with your day to day. – Jamie A., Client Care Supervisor