Leaving the Fast Lane: Prioritizing Care Over Career - Emma-Isadora Hagen's Unforeseen Decision
Choosing Care over Career: 'Had I Not Taken a Risk, I Would Have Lost doubly' - Daring to Pursue Unexpected Paths: "Losing Twice Without Taking the Risk"
Written by Tina Pokern* ~ 5 Min Read
Emma-Isadora Hagen's LinkedIn post in late 2023 surprised the corporate world. At 31, she was relinquishing her top position at Peek & Cloppenburg, a leading company with 200 employees. Her sudden departure was triggered by a personal crisis: her mother's battle with terminal lung cancer. This article shares Emma-Isadora's journey, her experiences, and insights, as she navigated the challenging intersection of career and caregiving.
It all started when the prognosis became grim. Emma-Isadora, a career-driven individual, had a five-year plan and was just about to take the next step. But as her mother's health waned, and the uncertainty of her survival loomed, action was needed immediately. The signs pointed toward weeks rather than months.
For seven months, she juggled her leadership responsibilities and constant presence by her mother's side. Every free moment, every vacation day, and many long drives were dedicated to her mother. Eventually, she felt that everyone was being shortchanged - her mother, her team, and ultimately herself. She reached her breaking point and made the tough decision to leave her permanent position.
Values Shift in an Instant
Emma-Isadora's priorities took an abrupt turn. For years, her career had been her top priority. But in those seven months, her perspective on life drastically changed. She discovered the importance of family and self-care - values that her previous 10-year career-focused life had overshadowed.
Though her superiors were supportive and hoped to keep her in the company, there was no room for compromise. Emma-Isadora was not prepared to continue working under the circumstances, and the decision to quit, though unexpected, fell upon her. In a way, she felt she had ended her career and faced an uncertain future.
Coping With the Unpredictable
In the days following her resignation, Emma-Isadora's daily life took a turn. She moved in with her mother for a few weeks, then eventually left Berlin to provide full-time care. The transition was a challenge, but her innate preference for productivity helped her adapt.
During chemotherapy and radiation, Emma-Isadora's mother faced numerous side effects and became increasingly dependent. From simple household tasks to personal care, Emma-Isadora's duties as a caregiver expanded. There were times when her mother was in remission and they enjoyed typical mother-daughter activities, like shopping or sorting family photos. However, the more challenging times came when her mother needed intensive care.
Emma-Isadora was not alone during her caregiving journey. Three official caregivers, including her brothers, assisted. The bureaucratic process for health insurance, pension insurance, and other matters was overwhelming and frustrating. Balancing familial responsibilities, paperwork, and potentially working added an additional layer of stress.
Financially, Emma-Isadora was fortunate to receive support from the ALG1 scheme due to her past earnings. She didn't have to worry about money, but she recognized that others in similar situations might not have access to these resources.
Tips for Navigating Career and Caregiving
- Put Yourself First: Care for your emotional and physical well-being by taking breaks, maintaining social connections, and focusing on self-care activities.
- Set Realistic Expectations: Prioritize your time and adjust your expectations to align with the demands of caregiving responsibilities.
- Communicate: Maintain open communication with your employer and explore flexible work options to accommodate the demands of caregiving.
- Lean on Support: Reach out to friends, family, or community support groups for emotional support and assistance with caregiving tasks.
- Explore Professional Help: If needed, consider hiring professional caregivers to lighten the load during challenging times.
Emma-Isadora's story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of balance, self-care, and prioritizing family during difficult times. Today, she's an accomplished content creator and leadership expert, graciously balancing her career ambitions with cherished memories of caregiving for her mother.
In the end, the unexpected twist of events led to a silver lining. Emma-Isadora would not have found her dream job or created lasting memories with her mother if she hadn't stepped into the unknown and followed her heart.
- Caregiving
- Resignation
- Mother
- Cancer
- After Emma-Isadora's mother's diagnosis with terminal lung cancer, she faced an unexpected challenge: balancing her top-tier corporate position at Peek & Cloppenburg with providing care for her mother.
- Emma-Isadora's decision to leave her position was driven by her inability to prioritize both her caregiving responsibilities and her job effectively, resulting in a negative impact on her mother, team, and herself.
- During her time as a caregiver, Emma-Isadora discovered the importance of self-care, family values, and a flexible work environment, which she now advocates for in her current role as an accomplished content creator and leadership expert.
