Inclusion in Action

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  • 1.  Busy Season: Making Space for the Hard Parts

    Posted 02-15-2026 02:00 PM

    Busy season as a working parent can feel like a constant tradeoff. This is a photo of my 4-year-old and our dog hanging out in my office while I was working last night. It’s not a perfectly quiet workspace, and it’s not uninterrupted focus. It’s a compromise. Some days I feel grateful I can make it work this way. Other days I feel overstimulated, behind, and stretched thin. I’ve learned that pretending this season isn’t hard doesn’t help anyone — especially those of us juggling deadlines and caregiving at the same time.

    Inclusion means acknowledging that all of us are carrying responsibilities outside of work that don’t pause for busy season. It means being honest about stress, mental health, and the fact that sometimes we are just doing our best. It means sharing the hard parts so that other people don't feel like it is just them.

    For me, caregiving during busy season means telling my kids no when they ask me to play with them more than I say yes. It means more YouTube than I would like. It requires intentionally carving out quality time for each of them, because if I don't plan it, it won't happen.

    If this season has felt overwhelming for you, you are not alone. I would truly love to hear what has helped you — boundaries, routines, mindset shifts, support systems. Let’s share ideas and remind each other that we don’t have to navigate this alone.

    A little girl with a huge smile in a pile of blankets on the floor of an office with a large German Shepherd.


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    Karen Lewis
    Director
    Katz Sapper & Miller LLP
    Chapin SC
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  • 2.  RE: Busy Season: Making Space for the Hard Parts

    Posted 02-16-2026 08:48 AM

    Thank you for sharing Karen and for your vulnerability. Your Partners and teams need to hear this perspective early and often as even the most empathetic colleagues lose perspective at times. The busier things get, the more we tend to view the world through our own lenses and not the lenses of others. One of the most amazing aspects of our industry is the ability for all of us to prioritize our lives based on the stage of life we are in. Whether it's childcare, attending youth sports and events, caring for parents, or even an opportunity to pursue a passion like teaching a class at a college, we all will have moments where our priorities need to shift. Juggling it all can be challenging at times, and our ability to communicate and articulate what we are going through allows others to support us as we humanize the 'why".



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    John Geraci
    Woburn MA
    +17815694700
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  • 3.  RE: Busy Season: Making Space for the Hard Parts

    Posted 02-16-2026 08:57 AM

    Karen - as a new mom I feel this so hard!!!!! Having a supportive partner has been so helpful for me as I transition back to work during tax season. I always heard "it takes a village," but seeing it play out in real time is humbling. I am thankful and grateful to have mine.

    These days I find myself sometimes getting anxious with everything there is to do during the week between pickups, meals, and laundry. Planning and strategy is required. Setting expectations with myself and with others has been helpful!! Also reminding myself that things are only temporary has been so important.

    For me, a real challenge has been pumping and breastfeeding. My daughter is 5 months old, and I told myself I can quit whenever, but I am not ready to let go yet. I keep thinking let me just get to 6 months, but I already know I will get to 6 months and want to go a little longer. The bonding is really special, and I know it won't be forever. However, having to clean and lug pump parts each day, forgetting pieces and having to come up with a backup plan is testing my patience.

    I remind myself one day at a time, and minimize what I commute with each day. I keep a pump at work that I picked up from FB marketplace. I have spare parts everywhere so if I forget something, it doesn't throw my whole day off course, and if I skip a day of sanitizing because I am too tired one night, I have other clean parts. Having support from my local La Leche League has been invaluable. The key has been reassuring myself that I can do this and having backup plans in place help me get through the tough times.

    Once busy season is over, I know things get better. It's been nice to appreciate the days getting longer and the weather getting warmer. Although we are in a busy season of life at the moment, I am with you in solidarity, Mama!!



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    Roseleen Neville
    Manager
    EF Education First Inc
    Boston MA
    7816400918
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  • 4.  RE: Busy Season: Making Space for the Hard Parts

    Posted 02-17-2026 02:38 PM
    Edited by Crystal Cooke 02-17-2026 02:39 PM

    You got this Rose! To me, this is one of the toughest parts of being a mommy (although there are many), but you're doing great! You sound like a rockstar to me! And you're exactly right, take one day at time. Anything beyond that you'll get to it when you need to. Don't pressure yourself, do want you can and whatever that is, that is enough! I don't remember where I saw it but, someone said, "We fail at something everyday and it is okay." 😊 So if you fail, so what, aim to do better the next day and the day after that. 💪 I think our kids need to see us fail every once in a while because they will too eventually and they need to understand how to overcome those challenges with grace. 



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    Crystal Cooke
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Busy Season: Making Space for the Hard Parts

    Posted 02-17-2026 02:27 PM
    Edited by Crystal Cooke 02-17-2026 02:31 PM

    Thank you for this Karen! Since I don't work in public accounting, I don't necessarily have a "busy season," but there are often times where I'm traveling and busy and must make similar sacrifices like you mention. My kids are older and that means not being there to support them at things that are important to them, like basketball games. Parent guilt (or mom guilt for me) is super real since you can't get that time back. You feel like you are missing out and not being there for them, but someone once reminded me that yes, you are missing out, but you're doing so to provide a better life for them (and we should communicate that to them so that they know and understand). You're doing it to show them strong work ethic and drive. You're doing it to show them that they may also have to make sacrifices for the people they care about one day. You do it all for them, those that you love! That said, true inclusion happens when people feel safe being honest about what they need. I know it's hard in times when we are busy, but by practicing this, we can help foster a workplace where everyone can set boundaries without guilt. 

    For me its modeling (and supporting) conversations like, "I'm happy to travel to this event, but I must leave Saturday to get home in time for my son's birthday on Sunday." Or, "I'm signing off at 4 today to make it to my son's basketball games (ones that I sometimes miss when traveling) and will take care of things later." This helps encourage transparent conversations and normalize real belonging. We all need time, even during busy seasons. 

    True inclusion is also showing up for each other. Let's make inclusion a team practice, not a personal battle. If we notice that someone on our teams are experiencing "hard parts," offer help. There may not be anything that you can do to help give them a little space to breathe, but offering shows that you see them and that you care. When I see someone is reaching burn out, I kindly remind them to not forget to take care of themselves before they hit a wall. I also offer if there is anything that I can help take off your plate to give you a little time back (if I have the capacity to do so, that is). It's easy to keep saying yes to everything without thinking about how it will truly impact your well being at some point, but sometimes you have to stop, think, and just say no. We can look out for each other too! 



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    Crystal Cooke
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