I think in my mother’s generation, sacrificing your career was common. She raised 3 of us daughters and we’re all successful but I know she had to sacrifice her career for it. We are first generation immigrants. Of course, this was expected where she grew up in that generation. Still, she took countless jobs, volunteered, and is always seeking different job opportunities and ways to bring income in even though my father has worked really hard to be secure there too. I admire her a lot for it and I know I remember to persevere when I am feeling unhappy in my career.
This verse by Rupi Kaur resonates with me:
as a father of three daughters
it would have been normal
for him to push marriage on us
this has been the narrative for
the women in my culture for hundreds of years
instead he pushed education
knowing it would set us free
in a world that wanted to contain us
he made sure that we learned
to walk independently
-rupi kaur