This Mother’s Day is certainly outside the norm of what we are used to, which means we certainly need to thank all Beacon moms. Today, we spotlight a few of Beacon’s healthcare heroes who are doubling as superhero moms.
Meet Becky Mitchell, Vice President of Human Resources
Becky has worked at Beacon for 10 years. She and her husband have three girls ages 4-11.
What do you like about being a working mom?
I believe it makes me a better parent. It makes me feel empowered, and I’m very passionate about the work that I do. It’s important to me for my kids to see that I can parent and work at the same time. I’m so appreciative of the time that I get with my kids.
What did a normal day look like for you before COVID-19?
There has never been a dull moment in my job! Every day was – and still is – different. I would go into work in the morning and come home in the evenings to spend time with my kids, and usually settle down to get a few things done in the evenings.
Has your day-to-day changed since the COVID-19 outbreak? How has it impacted you, your job, and your family?
For me, it’s still somewhat normal. My stress level is definitely a little higher, although I think that’s the same for everyone. I’m still going into work in the morning, and we’re fortunate enough to have my mom watch the kids during the day. My husband is working from home. My kids are adapting pretty well, although the younger ones don’t entirely understand. They’ve all adapted to the new normal pretty well; I’m really proud of them.
Is there anything else you want to include about being a working mom?
I think it’s important to remember that whether you’re a stay at home or working parent, this isn’t easy for anybody. This is an adjustment to the norm, even for people who were formerly homeschooling. No one has the outlets that we had before, it’s not easy of a single person. I’m appreciative of everyone!
Meet Kimberly Castleman, Physical Therapist
Kim has worked at Beacon for 10 years. She and her husband have a daughter, Mckenzie, who they welcomed on November 10th, 2019.
What do you like about being a working mom?
Being a working mother has given me the best of both worlds. I get to be the mother of our wonderful daughter, while using my degree and exercising my brain at the same time. Overall, both have been rewarding thus far and it has been a good balance. Coincidentally, our daughter will turn 6 months old this Mother’s Day!
What did a normal day look like for you before COVID-19?
A normal day was a little less hectic prior to COVID, I will admit! We had a steady flow of patients in the clinic and taking our daughter to daycare became a usual routine. Patients would flow in at similar times throughout the day and be seen at ease, without having to go through a screening process to enter.
Has your day-to-day changed since the COVID-19 outbreak? How has it impacted you, your job, and your family?
Life has become a "new normal" for everyone. Screening measures have been implemented upon entering the work building. We are required to wear protective equipment, masks and gloves for our 10-hour workday. Staffing and patient appointments have been severely limited, and the impact has changed the way the workday flows.
While there have been times of stress and uncertainty, I am thankful to be working and helping patients progress with their orthopedic injuries. Beacon has spread a positive light and provided hope during this time of uncertainty in regard to safety and looking forward to the future and adopting a new norm.
Is there anything else you want to include about being a working mom?
While it is hard, especially during this time of uncertainty, it is rewarding to have the best of both worlds. A light of hope is spread when I come to work, and co-workers and patients ask about our daughter and the milestones that she is making month by month. My colleagues offer help and have even brought in cleaning wipes to help when my family was running low during this pandemic so that we could continue to wipe things down when I come home from work. While the balance can be challenging, it helps me, as a mother, to be connected to my family and career and learn the true importance of valuing the present time!
Meet Kristin Barnes, MA to Dr. Burger
Kristin has worked at Beacon for 8 years with Dr. Burger as his Medical Assistant. She has two teenagers, age 19 and 16.
What do you like about being a working mom?
I enjoy being a working mother because I believe it sets a good example for my kids. I want to demonstrate a good work/life balance for them. Life can definitely get hectic sometimes working full time and then coming home to my kids and responsibilities at home. I truly enjoy what I do, and I think that make me a better parent.
What did a normal day look like for you before COVID-19?
Before the pandemic my days required more planning in order to get things accomplished. I would often walk in the door from work and immediately start dinner. My schedule didn’t always line up with my kids’ busy lives. We would often see each other in passing, but we were rarely all together.
Has your day-to-day changed since the COVID-19 outbreak? How has it impacted you, your job, and your family?
The pandemic has definitely changed what our days look like! I’ve been working part time, mostly from home. My son continues to work full time and my daughter has been home doing remote learning. It’s been a great opportunity to grow closer with my kids. We have a lot more dinners and conversations together, and we’ve all worked together to get some projects done around the house. This may not have been in our plans, but we’ve definitely seen more positive outcomes than we originally expected.
Is there anything else you want to include about being a working mom?
We all look forward to getting back to some sense of normalcy, but we will continue to strive for family dinners and walks together while we share our day’s events. This is a time we will look back on and hopefully remember more of the positives than the negatives!
Meet Daniele Schum, Athletic Trainer for Dr. Argo
Daniele has worked at Beacon for 9 years. She and her husband have two boys, aged 5 and 2.
What do you like about being a working mom?
Being a working mother definitely has its ups and downs but working allows time for me to get away and do something that I really enjoy doing.
What did a normal day look like for you before COVID-19?
Pre-COVID19, it was just like any other working moms schedule: making sure the boys had their teeth brushed and were dressed for the day, packing lunches for everyone and making sure something was planned out for dinner before running out the door to drop them off and to head into work. After work, it was cooking dinner, cleaning up, laundry and making sure everyone was settled in for the nightly routine—pajamas, teeth, and a bedtime story.
Has your day-to-day changed since the COVID-19 outbreak? How has it impacted you, your job, and your family?
Life definitely has changed! I started working from home a lot more so that meant more screen time for the boys and the inability to have mommy do whatever they wanted when they wanted. It definitely was a humbling experience and I’m sure many of my patients heard little voices in the background! They all seemed to take it in stride when I apologized for the background noise since I was working from home. I think the one thing that I have learned throughout the entire process is that we are all human and we all can have bad days, including our little humans. We just need to remember to breathe and take it one day, one hour, one minute at a time.
Is there anything else you want to include about being a working mom?
Being able to provide for our family while doing something that I love was a huge goal of mine and I am blessed to have been able to do that so early on in my career!
