PATRICIA JANGAH TALKS ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT, MOTHERHOOD AND BEING A WIFE

I had a dream as a child and that vision did not die when I became a wife and a mother. Being a wife and a mom was just part of the dream. My children are my highest priority and that will never change, but attaining the top most level of my career is something that can also bring me fulfillment in other areas of my life.
Life is a pie chart, with various segments; every mastermind must crave to see growth in all areas as you progress into owning your life. That in essence is part of growing up.

Patricia Jangah (Nèe Buckle) has been working as a human resource professional for the past 11 years. She is a career driven individual with a Master Certificate In Human Resources  from Cornell University USA, a Corporate Certified Trainer (CTC) from Management Strategic Institute (MSI). Currently she is pursuing the CHRP (Certified HR Professional) from EduQual UK.

Being an HR professional she has worked in the following industries; logistics and supply chain, mining, the government of Sierra Leone and presently the non-profit sector.

Married at the age of 25 to Mustapha Jangah, she has a decade plus one year full of memories.

‘As I continue to carve my career and future by God’s guidance with moral support from family and loved ones. I wish to become the best HR professional in Sierra Leone. My desire is to not just work but to create; I want to impact the general human capital development in our nation Sierra Leone. I have a special interest in training and development. My desire is to become an expert in this field, re-building how performance and attitude is viewed in workplaces and eventually our beloved nation’.

MOTHERHOOD BLESSINGS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

I believe that there is a mother in every woman; all it takes is an opportunity to show it. We have mothers that are connected biologically with their children and some that are connected by being a guardian.
Whatever scenario, it is a blessing, because it’s a gift from God as stipulated in the holy books. I compare the opportunity to have and take care of children to that of the parable of the talents in the bible. When you take good care of them, they will yield the best results but if you don’t ,you will lose them. Not by death but you lose them as children. They will not be the child that was imagined.
I think a good mother must be loving, caring, disciplined, supportive, be willing and able to fill in the shoes of a friend, a dad and be a listening ear.

WHY I CHOSE IT ALL: BECOMING A CAREER WOMAN, WIFE AND MOTHER

Ideally good husbands must make a safe space for ladies to shine . Insecurity from a husband can be dangerous as you will have a boiling pot of jealousy, bitterness and anger waiting to explode on some funny issue. On some days it might even get  worse, it’s like living with the enemy. I have been very lucky to have a very supportive husband that fuels my dreams any day.

I was pregnant with my second son Kabandei when I was doing my Masters Certificate in HRM. Since then I have hung my birthing boots, certain that I am raising great men. 
I see new opportunities to explore; I am driven to think like someone who is newly graduated. I ask myself regularly, what else I can I do to add to the quality of my life.

Interestingly I  had similar thoughts, a time before when I was fresh out of university and getting a job was delayed.

MY RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

I am ready to continue the pursuit of living my best life with my family; these are some of my daily habits that support me:

• I chose a mentor that has a similar story just to help me see myself achieving what I am set to do.
• I study, I try to read (remember the boys are there to disrupt at any time).
• Self-Care: On a daily basis I try to check my energy level and find time after all are comforted and in bed to put some time into giving life to my dream.
• Have a desire- my desire is to see my dreams mature with my children.
• Choose the right employer: As an employee presently working for eHealth Africa in Sierra Leone, I can say I am in the best environment to fuel this motivation. Adam and Evelyn are very young; I can see what they’ve done for themselves at this age. Knowing the full story, keeps me believing that “I can”. They are very busy getting things done in the health sector in Africa through the use of technology but I am glad to reveal here that they are distance mentors; their actions, decisions and principle inspire me a lot.
• Make Sacrifices: I work hard as an employee but at night I see myself as an employer. Therefore I put in the hours on the days that I can muster enough energy, as and when possible.

THINKING OF BECOMING A CAREER WOMAN, WIFE AND MAMA?

Let’s start with the pros, being a career wife and a mama helps you to live a balanced life. It’s so easy to get engulfed with our careers but blending career with these two blessings, will just help you stay on track. You will be able to see all aspects of your life moving at the same time. That brings so many fulfillments.

Being a career wife enables you to contribute your bit to the piggy bank of the home, you can always move faster as a team. That will fuel your desires and help fulfill dreams.

Now the con’s, time is a delicate resource when you put the word, career, wife and mama together. Time is never enough.
Sometimes, even spending an hour or two on your career driven activities when the kids are up, leaves you feeling guilty.
If your spouse is supportive, get them to fill in the gaps, otherwise it’s always a guilty ride when you are both occupied.
Remember that you have to create time for personal development and family engagements. You will have to create room for love time to build memories through experiences and travelling.
In my case, the only people that can step in for me to have some social life are my husband or our dear domestic worker, auntie Amie. In order to sustain good points as a career wife and mama, my social life is in a bit of a coma. (It can never die (haha); I am fighting hard by snapping out of it from time to time. It is so necessary to stay sane).

IT AIN’T EASY

It is visible that the age gap between my youngest sons; Kabandei and Tegloma is not too big.
I joined eHealth Africa as a pregnant HR. Who does that? eHA yes, I declared that I was pregnant and I was still hired. With such an excitement I worked like a non-pregnant staff and was given my full maternity leave. I felt valued and appreciated. It got uncomfortable for me when I got pregnant with Tegloma and it was 1 year nine months apart.
Right around that time my Executive Director and I were having some discussions around getting some women friendly policies at eHA, by then, I did not know I was pregnant, so when I discovered I was pregnant after taking all sort of medication for anemia.
I was hesitant in furthering the conversation, as I felt like; I’d wanted to take advantage of the new policy, that’s why I got pregnant again in a relatively short time.
However I find myself in an organization that is very flexible and women friendly. They were supportive of my maternity days off but just to make up for my guilt, I did my best to proceed on the maternity leave at a later date, almost close to my due date.

HOW CAN WE RESPECT, VALUE AND SUPPORT WOMEN WHO OWN IT ALL

Firstly, it starts in the home community. The husband must see the wife as a partner and not a competitor. He must help the wife achieve and get better and not find ways to suppress that gem in her or to cage her in as the African wife and mother package.
Domestic workers in the community must help by being the best they can in looking after the kids and the home, people we can trust with our kids and home.
Early childhood development centers must be reliable institutions that can help you bond with your child, help you manage your time better, while finding the balance between the three factors.
One centre in Sierra Leone is doing just that and I must say bravo to this team. Without Narnia Daycare, my guilt level would have kept me out of a fulltime job. The work they do has allowed me to achieve my dreams.
Finally, child friendly workplaces, can help us bring these words; career, mom and wife together with less hassle.
I think in everything that we do, love is key. Be disciplined, be responsible, be emotionally intelligent and be a positive example for the kids to follow.
As a Mom, I dream on a daily basis of how my children will grow up and become great icons in this world, God fearing, confident, loving, caring and emotionally sensitive individuals. I pray they live a fulfilled life as an individual and be happier than I am for the rest of their lives. As a wife I know I will grow old with my husband of my youth by the grace of God.