nursingforsocialjustice

It’s sunny outside. Today we are almost two weeks into January 2023. The year is in rapid acceleration.

January is a sad and happy time. Last year at this time I was compiling archival research from the BC Archive and transcribing oral interviews. This year I’m trying to finish writing my PhD. I’m tired. And, I’m not sure of the direction I want my career to go. I feel like this is a moment where I need to recalibrate my priorities. I thought when my kids got a little older they would become more independent and easier, but they’re not. I’m sure everyone reading this who has kids over the age of 12 is doing major eye roll and saying “I could have told you that.”

I remember once, when my youngest was a baby, and the older three were either in full-time daycare or just starting elementary school and at least one of them were sick. Both my partner and I were direct care nurses at the time. We both work in a profession that, for more than 100 years has been dominated by women, often women who have children and families. And, at the time my partner and I were both living this life, both in grad school, both working, both parenting our kids. And he voiced to his supervisor at that time that he was feeling overwhelmed. And their response was something like, “well you chose to do all these things at once.” Like no empathy, no “this must be hard” or “that sounds like a lot, I can’t even imagine.” I still think about that every time I hear about psychologically safe workplaces and workplace health.

Love,

Michelle D.