Everything had lined up perfectly. I had an amazing career at a Fortune 500 company. I loved my employer and the people I worked with, and I adored the work. My strong work ethic and drive to succeed landed me in a dream career, but it didn’t take me long to wake up from that dream.
My position at Walmart exposed me to different worlds. Working on causes such as Hurricane Katrina victim relief, healthcare reform, job opportunity, and women’s empowerment expanded my capacity to love. And one day, the Lord woke me from my dream life. “Sarah, what is your purpose?” He softly said. “How are you giving back to me and to others?” He spoke into my heart, and I knew I had almost missed one of the most rewarding blessings of life: Being a mom.
Soon after this intimate conversation, I was seated at a charity event with a couple who had just adopted two children from Russia. Upon hearing their experience and feeling their joy, I realized adoption was my next dream.
The adoption process took about nine months. With the support of my employer behind me, I brought home Eli, a beautiful, healthy baby boy from Siberia. After 46 years, my life felt almost complete.
Having It All Means Letting Some Things Go
The first few months after adoption are critical. Bonding is nonnegotiable, and I knew I couldn’t do both “Eli time” and “career time” well because my heart was with my son. I couldn’t go to work and give my son the attention he deserved. So I walked away from my “almost complete” life and chose a different kind of complete.
I stayed home with my son during our first months together, forging a strong relationship centered on love and commitment. I allowed my maternal instincts to take the driver’s seat, and it wasn’t long before they drove me into a fuller life.
The Ride Back Into the Workforce
Many mothers worry about leaving the career world; they fear lost skills and dried-up connections when they return—and rightfully so. After a year of unemployment, the chances of landing a job are a measly 9 percent, according to figures from the White House Council of Economic Advisers. With the odds stacked against me, re-entering the workforce seemed like an uphill battle.
Thankfully, that assumption was wrong. Because I kept my co-workers, colleagues, media contacts, vendors, and peers in the loop throughout the adoption process, they were excited to help me find a new fit. My transparency allowed them to take part in the transition and kept the relationships crucial to re-entry alive.
I received multiple offers for a new career—many of which I would have taken in a previous life. But, adopting my son changed the way I made decisions. Using my instincts as a guide, I sifted through the offers and landed on one from Mitchell. Elise Mitchell was not only the CEO and founder, but also my dear friend, and she understood my goals and appreciated my authenticity. Her integrity and work ethic inspired me, and I chose to join her company as president.
That decision landed me in a position where I could work hard, make meaningful changes, and continue to form a strong bond with my son. Adopting Eli did allow me to have it all, just not in the way many would expect.
The Maternal Advantage
Becoming a mother does so much more than make your life more hectic. Motherhood opened my eyes to a new realm of decision-making. It strengthened my instincts and made me an inspired leader. I learned to prioritize, care, and bend without breaking.
Many women downplay their maternal instincts. They downplay their God-given strength to care, sense, and strategize. Allowing natural strengths to shine leads to a more fulfilling career, and women forced to choose one or the other are at an incredible disadvantage. I became a better worker by pursuing all my passions, not just those the workforce finds useful.
For all you mothers and non-mothers alike, follow your heart and challenge your thinking. Don’t limit yourself by others’ expectations. You will be amazed at your womanly power and strength.
Photo by Sarah Graybeal
Sarah Clark
