Parenthood has changed how I see science. In the lab, I plan, test, and wait for results I cannot fully control. At home, I do the same. Both remind me that growth takes time and that curiosity thrives when we create space for it.

Balancing research and parenting is not about perfect schedules, but about flexibility and perspective. Some days, meetings run late, and other days I rush to make it to a school event. The two parts of my life are constantly teaching each other. My children remind me to ask why more often, to find joy in small discoveries, and to let go of perfection. Science reminds me that patience and persistence often lead to the most meaningful results.

There are challenges, of course. But there is also a kind of harmony that comes from realizing that nurturing a lab and nurturing a family are both acts of long-term care. They both grow stronger through attention, resilience, and love.