Diapers, Breast Milk & Engineering

Meet Sabrina Kniesteadt

Strategic Engineering Section Leader & Mom of Three: Layna (4 months), Miles (3), Ash (5)
Company: Palo Verde Generating Station
Industry: Power Generation
Location: Phoenix, Ariz.

Sabrina’s Tips: Listen to lectures, books, or training materials while sitting with the kids as they fall asleep. Dry shampoo is your friend. Craft (or do your favorite hobby) when you can, because it’s important too.

Her Story

When I first saw the blue glow of the Cerenkov radiation emanating underwater from irradiated nuclear fuel and considered the immense power contained therein, I knew I needed to pursue a career in nuclear technology. I began my career by getting a nuclear engineering degree and applied that knowledge in a practical application at Palo Verde Generating Station—a three-unit nuclear power plant near Phoenix, Ariz. I have been with the company for nine years and have held both engineering and leadership positions.

Through those years, I have had three beautiful children—Ash, Miles, and Layna. I always knew I wanted to be a mother but hadn’t considered the immense challenge that comes with dual roles as a mother and a business professional. From deciding on a babysitter to watch the kids while I’m working to weighing whether to finish a report or come home to do bedtime, being a working mother requires so many hard decisions, none of which has a right answer. Working mothers have to decide every day whether we’re going to put work or family first.

Growing up, I often heard that women can have it all—a career and a family. And although I believe that’s true, it’s often at the expense of one’s own health. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything that’s required to balance a career and a family while also getting an adequate amount of sleep, exercising, taking time for self-care, and having a hobby. Without time to take care of myself, I know I’m less effective as a professional and a mother.

So I’ve continued to make those hard decisions each day on whether to put my family, my career, or myself first. Some weeks, one will outweigh the others (because sometimes you just need to craft a little (find me on Insta @bysabrinamarie) before you can play Legos again). Ultimately, though, my goal is to be there for the important moments and to be present while I’m with my family. While I know that means there will be times I have to put my career or myself first, it makes it easier knowing that the time I’m taking will later allow me to be present and engaged when I’m with my family.

Like many other working moms, I’ve also become a little more creative with my time and stepped up my multi-tasking game. I pump breast milk while reviewing engineering documents. I take meetings at the park while the kids run off energy. I listen to lectures for my master’s degree program while I’m sitting with the kids as they fall asleep. This hasn’t always gone off without a hitch, though; being a working mother is anything but glamorous.

I’ve had my son loudly announce (multiple times) that he needed to poop while I was talking during a meeting with our leadership team.

I’ve noticed after half a day at work that I have spit-up down the back of my shirt. I’ve had to call out to work when my son threw up all over my backseat on the way to daycare. I’ve forgotten kids’ lunches, missed meetings, and gone to work without showering for three days (thank goodness for dry shampoo). I’ve made mistakes at work and at home, forgot something important and made wrong decisions. And when that happens, I try to do what I tell my kids when they get hurt: Get back up, shake it off, and try again.

Being a working mom is complicated, messy, and hard. But it’s also rewarding and empowering. When I was presenting to the executive leadership team at my company several years ago, I distinctly remember my first son getting hiccups in my pregnant, bulging belly mid-presentation. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my belly move an almost imperceptible amount with each hiccup I could feel. I knew no one in the room with me was aware of what was transpiring, but it was ridiculously difficult to continue my presentation while my growing baby was stealing all my attention. In that moment, I knew my son and I had shared a moment, just the two of us, that no one else would ever share. That moment reminded me that I am a successful, kick-ass business professional, and I’m a mom, too. (plus naptime is over, so I’m out of writing time)