I sent out a message this weekend to friends and colleagues announcing The Thin Pink Line. I expected to get some “congrats” messages but I did not expect to receive as many messages as I did cheering us on!

One client (now a friend) wrote me mentioning that a very senior woman at her organization has just “opted out” to stay home with her three young children.  While the company is known as a leader vis-à-vis supporting women, this woman, at the pinnacle of her career,  made a different choice - for now. My friend wrote, “I, on the other hand, am still barreling down the corporate freeway while trying to raise two teenagers. The raising teenagers part is way more complicated then the corporate freeway, in my opinion.”

Oh yes!

In the next paragraph, she writes of the moment she was able to pin the Eagle Scout medal on her son’s chest, culminating years of work on his part to earn Scouting’s highest honor (and undoubtedly years of driving on her part to support him).  She described it as “beating any promotion she has ever received, by far!” 

The choices women have to make - whether they involve children or not - can be very difficult.  What I have learned at this point is that there is no right answer for all of us — only a right answer for each of us.  And whatever answer is right for you, don’t apologize for it. 

TAGS: career goals, Women at Work, women leaders