Flexible Work and Motherhood - Meet Priscila Melendez
Priscila Melendez finds a bottomless well of good advice at the Parents Forum.
A lot has changed since associate Priscila Melendez joined Booz Allen Hamilton two years ago.
“My children taught me that although we must keep a focus on the future, it’s just as important to enjoy things today,” she says.
Based at the firm’s Herndon, Virginia office, Priscila is the mother of a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son, a software engineer and trainer whose primary client is the Air Force, and co-chair of Booz Allen’s Parents Forum.
She says that being a busy parent with a full-time job was an enormous adjustment at first. “My biggest challenge in being a working mom was that I’m the opposite of most people—I rarely stress out at work, but I often stress out at home, because I expect things there to be a certain way. At work, I just accept that things sometimes happen that you cannot control.
“But now, once I get home, I take off my watch,” Priscila continues. “My husband and I still have a schedule, but if we’re a few minutes late to an event or appointment, we try not to worry, because we’ve come to accept things won’t always go smoothly. I’m much more relaxed now.”
Participating in the Parents Forum has been a great help, she says. “The members provide good advice and the mentoring events are great. We’ve even had some conscious parenting brown bag events that have helped me better understand my children.
“If someone is thinking about starting a family and is concerned about maintaining a work/life balance, I’d recommend they talk with their manager about their plans and always ask questions,” Priscila adds. “Don’t be afraid of what’s coming—many of us have families and jobs and make it work.”
In fact, she says, at one point she was without daycare for her children for a month. After she discussed her needs with her manager, they arranged for her to work from home two days a week. She cared for her children and still met her career performance goals.
“Booz Allen has been wonderful to me as a working mother,” she says. “Now that I have a care provider for my children, I’m back in the office and feeling great that I have the flexibility if I need it. Everyone is so supportive, understanding, and helpful.”
story posted October 1, 2008
Additional Information
