I'm beginning to be a
little more open about something I've mostly kept quiet about: I work
at home with my baby. This may not be surprising if know
that my baby is young, just 3 months old. My two-week maternity leave
coincided with the Christmas and New Year holidays, and I've been
working part-time ever since. I'm no stranger
to working at home. I worked at home in my previously job and only
drove into the office when it made sense to. I love working from home
and feel that I'm more productive and happier here than in an office
environment. Plus, it's a big money saver: no daycare costs, no
commute, and no office lease. It's not for everyone, but it is for
me.
With one exception that I've already already written about, I separate myself from my
baby when I attend professional gatherings. Any time I've gone out as
a professional for a meeting, workshop, or lecture, I leave the baby
at home. Thankfully, my husband also has the freedom to work from
home occasionally. Part-time daycare doesn't exist here and we
haven't interviewed any babysitters yet, so we've been fortunate that
either one or the other of us can watch the baby during working
hours.
Yesterday, it just
so happened that a meeting I had was at the same time as back-to-back
meetings my husband had. My choices were to either cancel or take her
with me. I strapped her in the car and brought her along for the
ride. Josephine's first science meeting!
I can understand the
disruption that some babies might cause. There might be screaming so
loud and continuous such that conversation is futile. There might be
banging of toys or shaking of rattles. There might be babbling. There
might be smells.
At this time, my
baby is pretty easy-going. When I wrap her to me, she discretely eats
and sleeps. When she's unwrapped, she looks about and stares. She
might start softly complaining, but I can quiet her pretty easily now
(until 10 PM when she's overly tired and just won't sleep). The
biggest disturbance she causes is just by being cute and drawing the
attention of those around her.
The meeting
yesterday at my alma mater, Florida Institute of Technology, was
productive. University faculty and students met with NASA Kennedy
Space Center scientists and myself in an effort to move forward with
a Martian regolith biochemistry experiment. We got to check out the
huge vacuum chamber that NASA KSC gifted the university, currently
being refurbished. Martian regolith simulant will be processed in
Martian atmospheric conditions. Separate temperature and humidity
controlled containers will house crop experiments in the Martian
simulant soil. It'll be fun!
 |
| Florida Institute of Technology's NASA vacuum chamber, in progress - March 24, 2016 |
A decade ago, I
walked those halls carrying a backpack filled with science books,
notes, and dreams. Yesterday, I walked those halls carrying a baby, a bit of science expertise, and even bigger dreams. How times change!
For her part,
Josephine did just great on her first trip to a college campus. She
was quiet, attentive, and only had one moment of projectile spit-up
as we were heading for the elevators. I'm grateful that the
colleagues I met with yesterday were so understanding and welcoming
of a baby.
I'm hoping that I
can continue to take the baby with me to professional meetings and
gatherings as circumstances allow. I remember my mom the lawyer
taking me with her to her office and to court when I was young. If I can
do that, if I can to set an example and help change mindsets, maybe the
business culture will change. Women who feel that they must disappear
from their professions for months after a baby is born will either
avoid those professions or avoid becoming mothers. If I can do both,
so can others.
 |
| Baby Josephine says, "Fly me to the Moon, and let me play among the stars." - March 18, 2016 |
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