The Returnity Project:  Tell us a little bit about yourself, your beautiful family and your career:

 

Katelyn Flint: I live in Boston, MA with my husband, John, our daughter, Madison, and our dog, Baker. We are loving this journey of becoming parents and watching Madison change and grow every day but it can be overwhelming. I work for NBC10 Boston, the local Boston affiliate for NBC news, and NECN, a regional cable news outlet that airs across New England, as a reporter and anchor. When I am in the field, my mornings begin at 3:30 AM. Needless to say, waking up in the middle of the night was something I have been doing long before Madison was born!

 

TRP: What inspired you to become a news reporter and what do you love about your job?

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KF: Telling stories has always been a passion of mine. I believe it is this love of talking to people and sharing their stories that led me to journalism. In my work, I am able to meet so many people from all walks of life and learn about the issues that matter most to them. I think it is so important to maintain that human connection when you are covering the news. They aren’t just “events” or “topics,” they are situations impacting very real people in very real ways every day. I love that I don’t know what to expect each day at work. I cover everything from breaking news to feature pieces. My work has provided me with so many incredible opportunities; I have flown in a B-17 just like the one my grandfather flew in during World War II, and have even suited up in full firefighter gear inside a Burn Tower used for firefighter training. You never know where a day will take you and who you will meet along the way.

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TRP: After being back at work for some time, have your views about career and family changed? 

 

KF: Yes! Mainly because I really never gave it much thought before. I just simply saw co-workers raising their children while still coming into work each day and doing their jobs. It wasn’t until I became pregnant that I really looked around with a new perspective and realized how impressive they really are. Taking care of a new person, growing with them, and then coming back in and focusing your energy and attention to your job without missing a beat is a skill I am still learning and working through. I definitely have a newly found appreciation for all of the working moms and dads out there who do it every day and make it look so easy. It is a big learning curve, but I am fortunate to have a great support system. I think that makes a big difference.

 

TRP: Many of the stories we’ve shared on The Returnity Project focus on both the challenges and beautiful moments of motherhood; specifically the return to work. What was the return to work like for you, especially being in such a public facing role?

 

KF: I think, for me, the weeks leading up to the return to work were the toughest. I spent a lot of time focusing my energy on being anxious, worrying about pumping and how I would do it if I were at a breaking news story, and wondering about childcare for Madison. My husband really is the one who told me to just relax and let it all happen. To just let go. Once I did, it was so much easier. Being someone who is constantly on the hunt for answers and information, I had to come to terms with this new idea that “you don’t know what you don’t know”. I have to say, so far I have thoroughly enjoyed my return to work. I have found myself having to pump in the back of a live truck between live shots or in between newscasts if I’m anchoring. You just figure it out and it becomes the new normal. If I have time, I try to FaceTime with Madison so I can see her during the day. I look forward to those few minutes all morning.  It may be bumpy and there may be days you feel like you are being pulled in a million different directions, but at the end of the day I know I am a strong person and will handle whatever challenge comes my way. I like to think that I can be a role model for her one day and show her she can have and do it all. 

 

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TRP: What advice would you give to other working moms?

 

​KF: Madison was born three weeks early. We had only taken half of our two part labor and delivery class and my breastfeeding class wasn’t scheduled until the following week. I remember calling my mom in tears, telling her how we hadn’t finished our classes and I wasn’t prepared for the baby to come yet. She told me to relax and think of how parents have been having babies long before there were ever parenting classes. She also told me instincts would kick in just like hers did when I was born and it would all work out. Well, she was right. I think the only advice I have to other moms heading back to work is to try to be easy on yourself. You will figure it out. Your instincts will kick in. Also, the best advice I was given was to never be afraid to ask for help. There are so many resources out there to take advantage of. From breastfeeding support groups to mommy and me exercise classes to online forums connecting you with mothers from around the country, take advantage of them and ask ask ask. I have learned very quickly that the old saying, “It takes a village,” is so true. Having a support system -whether it’s family, a partner, or other moms on social media- makes a big difference…Oh and I’ve learned not to play Dr. Google! That can be a very hard rabbit hole to pull yourself out of. Trust your instincts and leave the rest to the professionals.

 

TRP: What are you most proud of?

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KF: One of my best friends became engaged early into my pregnancy and I told my husband I really wanted to make sure we were able to travel to the wedding. I didn’t want to feel like having a baby meant we couldn’t live our lives. The wedding was in California and Madison was only 9 weeks old when we made the trip. I asked my doctors and they said it was fine to travel with her. I am so glad we did. It felt like such a massive undertaking at the time because we were still figuring out life with this little lady. I had just been cleared by my doctor to exercise, and here I was packing up the baby and heading to another time zone. Thankfully, my mom and sister made the trip with us since I was in the wedding and had a few events to attend. It felt like such a big accomplishment to bring her across the country, and I think it gave us confidence in our abilities as new parents. It was a great reminder that you can still live your life, even if it’s a slightly different version of it. Madison will always be able to say she stuck her toes in the Pacific at nine weeks old, and mom and dad can say they survived the trip in one piece and had one heck of a great first family vacation!

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TRP: Anything else you'd like to share?

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KF: This is the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life. I absolutely love being a mother and can’t wait to see where this journey takes me. I like to think it has made me stronger both personally and professionally. I have learned a lot and am still learning all the time. I am so grateful for the strong women I am surrounded by on a daily basis. I feel like there has been a renewed focus on taking the time to support one another and I think it’s really important. We are all trying to succeed and juggle so many different hats that it makes a big difference to hear “Great job” once in a while. I think we should all take time to encourage and empower each other because it can have a big impact.

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