Motherhood is a beautiful journey, but it often comes with sleepless nights, endless responsibilities, and little time left for oneself. For Shannon Leach, a mom of 5 kids, health advocate, and fitness enthusiast, the challenge has always been finding balance—nurturing her children while also caring for her own body and mind.
In this interview, she shares her challenges and smart skills to find true balance to serve as a guide for new moms.
Namita Nayyar:
Shannon, can you take us back to the early days of motherhood? What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as a new working mom?
Shannon Leach:
Some of the biggest challenges I faced as a new working Mom were honestly a lot related to breastfeeding and the need to pump. I worked in a hospital at the time, and despite being a healthcare worker, there was literally ONE room available for hundreds of nurses. Often, I would try to go pump between patients, and the room wouldn’t be available. Eventually, I requested to have a curtain/frosted window put in my office so I could pump in my office. However, at one point, a fellow employee complained about me pumping in my office. It always felt like a constant battle — I wanted to do what I could to breastfeed my baby and keep her healthy, and yet, it seemed there were so many barriers in the way. Another big challenge was finding childcare — Someone I could really trust with my kiddo (and eventually kiddos) who would nurture them, help them grow, & LOVE on them since I couldn’t be there with them 24/7.
Namita Nayyar:
Many moms struggle with “mom guilt” when trying to balance career, family, and self-care. How did you navigate those emotions?
Shannon Leach:
I definitely struggled with Mom guilt. But the way I navigated those emotions was by being intentional with my children the time I wasn’t working. Maximize the moments with them and really try to stay present. I also tried to remind myself that by being a working Mom, I was/am showing my kiddos an example of how you could be a Mom AND work… I am showing them that I was following my heart with my career as a Nurse Practitioner. I am showing them that it’s important to give to others (not just your family).
Namita Nayyar:
How do you structure your day to manage work responsibilities while still being present for your kids?
Shannon Leach:
Throughout the years of having children (my oldest will soon be 11), I have worked full-time to 32 hours a week, and now, I work just 2 days a week. It is the perfect balance for me at this time as it allows me to use my skillset and education as a Nurse Practitioner, but also have the time to run around with my kids (attend their school activities, sports, etc.). As the adage goes, “the days will feel long, but the weeks and months will fly by.” It really goes SO fast, and I’m thankful for all the time I do get with my kiddos. It’s hard to believe all 5 are now in elementary school! (Our two youngest (twins) just started Kindergarten).
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
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