My guest this week is Melissa Farr Dacumos, Associate Director of Animal Care at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. Her and I spent a fair amount of time talking about pregnancy while working in animal care, her postpartum period during Covid, and returning to work as a breastfeeding mama (cue the pumping challenges and stories!) She shares a few stories that I’m sure others can relate to!
Melissa’s professional journey also includes a break! Although it was induced by Covid, Melissa is a great example of how once you’ve left the zoo field, it is possible to return. This is such a topic of conversation amongst working zoo moms; the nervousness to step away or branch into something new for fear that you’ll never be able to return to animal care once you’ve left. However, Melissa, along with other moms this podcast has interviewed, proves that it is possible!
Finally, we also talk about that controversial topic - work/life balance. Is it possible? Melissa’s perspective is that it is seasonal and inevitably you will flow back and forth between priorities. However, everything in motherhood is seasonal right? You’re always in one “season” or another!
Thank you so much to Melissa for sharing her journey and her stories!
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Email: motheringwildlife@gmail.com
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