Motherhood Looks Great on You
As we grow, we experience different seasons of change. These changes occur through time, our experiences in life, and from the people we encounter and interact with. The biggest life change I experienced was not my involvement in college athletics, nor was it becoming a Police Officer or even getting married. The biggest change in my life occurred when I became a MOM.
I had my first child when I had six years on the job. I was in absolute awe of my son, but there was a part of me that could not wait to return to work. I took 16 weeks of leave and came back to full duty, working patrol.
Two years later I gave birth to my daughter. This was an interesting time in my life. My daughter was born in January of 2020. As you all know, the world was turned upside down in March, just two short months after bringing my baby girl into this world. Now I had a newborn and a rambunctious 2-year-old at home. I was suddenly feeling very uncertain about things. I really enjoyed my time off with the two of them. In mid-May, I again hung up my stay at home mom hat and went back to patrol, full duty. This time, my cage absolutely got rattled when two short weeks later, the Department was mobilized. My husband, who is also on the job, was assigned to B-watch and I was placed on A watch. My kids stayed at my parents’ home while I worked, and my husband slept. I ended up staying with my parents for the duration of the “Civil Unrest” in an attempt to not disrupt my kids sleep patterns and to add stability to their lives. My kids were 2 ½ years and 5 months at the time. I went NINETEEN DAYS STRAIGHT without seeing my husband, and only spent very limited amounts of time with my kids, if any, and usually around bed time. I was still nursing my daughter. Working 16-hour days caused my supply to plummet, due to only pumping once daily, if at all.
This hit me hard. My kids were so young, and they did not have a clue as to what was going on. I could not even begin to explain this to them; they were so young and just would not understand. I knew they missed their mom and I missed them too. After the mobilization, I swore to myself that I would always put my kids first and do whatever was in my power to always be there for them.
Fast-forward now to December of 2023. We welcomed our third child and second daughter into our family. From the time I had my son to the birth of my third child, I have become a completely different mother and officer. All three of my children experienced a different mother, and this is okay.
The biggest lesson I have learned and need to share with you as a mom on the job is to be PRESENT when you are home. Your children are only little for so long, and you are their absolute favorite person on this planet. Be there for them. Be at award ceremonies. Games. Dances. Any event, no matter how small, means something to them. Do not miss out on your own life. It will NOT be like this forever. The chaos will subside. The busy schedule filled with practices, meetings, games, and birthdays will only exist for a short period of time. It is easy to zone out and become lost in social media or the internet. Put your cell phone down. Stop aimlessly scrolling. Take a look into their little eyes and answer their never-ending questions. Talk with them. Laugh with them. Give them hugs and kisses.
I know home-life can be stressful at times. Toys scattered throughout the house. Baskets full of laundry, and dishes in the sink. It is okay to feel overwhelmed and tired. Please make and take time for yourself. You will be a better Mom for it. I had a “Come to Jesus” moment a few years back when I realized that in every role I fill in my life, I am replaceable…. except for the role as a mother. That realization allowed me to shift my mind set from “what do I HAVE to do today” to “what do I GET to do today.”
My kids are the greatest blessing in my life, and I love being a working mom. I strive to show up for them every day and make them proud. I want to show them that it is possible to work and be present. We are capable of whatever we set our minds to. Plus, it is pretty cool to hear my son brag to his friends about his mom being a police officer.
One last word of advice in regard to work. It is your career. Work whichever assignment allows you to be present for your kids and works best for your family! It is your life, and you do not owe anybody an explanation as to why you work the position you work. I look forward to meeting and connecting with you all and seeing each of you out in the workplace. Let’s stick together and stand up for one another. You are never alone.
Embrace the craziness. Motherhood looks great on you!
-Heidi Casasola <3
