Mothering Wildlife
Telling the stories of moms who work in zoo, wildlife, vet, and conservation organizations. Working with wildlife brings a unique set of challenges for working mothers. Join me weekly as I interview moms working primarily in the zoo field as we discuss their journey as moms, navigating the mental, emotional, and often physical challenges that come with caring for wildlife and caring for kids.
Mothering Wildlife
Can Being a Zookeeper Help You Find Balance as a Mom? with Leanne Parker of Niabi Zoo
We talk a lot about the “zookeeper identity” on this podcast - how being a zookeeper can infiltrate into so many areas of your life. My guest this week, Leanne, and I talk about this and about how to balance that with a “mom identity” as well. She talks about how she feels that being a zookeeper helped her to find balance as a mom!
We also talk about the difference between going back to work after your first child and going back to work after your second. Are you more prepared to go back the second time? Are the experiences the same?
Finally, we chat a bit about how being a parent changes the way you relate to coworkers. Sometimes it makes you more patient and empathetic!
Also, enjoy my son, Arlo, 4, at the end of the episode as we talk about my job and what I work with!
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Email: motheringwildlife@gmail.com