Honest Chat with Caterina
Growing up, I always was known for babysitting and loving to work with children. During my OT fieldworks, I completed one in an early intervention childhood center and a level one trauma center. I was certain I would end up in a school or some sort of job working with children however I was very wrong. I ended up falling in love with working in a fast-paced environment with very critically ill patients. I felt like I was making a true difference and loved watching patients progress so quickly.
After 5 years working at a level one trauma center, I felt I was ready for a change especially after growing our family this past year. I knew I needed a job that would provide flexibility, stability, and a community that would support our family and my beliefs. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, I joined the balanced living team in a heartbeat. I never in a million years thought I would enjoy working in a home care setting, but my mind set changed very quickly.
Home care has been one of the most rewarding experiences. I am able to see our clients for their true selves in their home environment. I’m able to understand a client’s hobbies, interests, and what drives them to return to their independence from the front lines. I can strive to maintain a client’s independence, improve their strength, and maximize safety within a familiar environment alongside their support systems. Working home care has been extremely flexible for my family and myself. Balanced living has giving me the opportunity to make a difference in my client’s lives while still feeling like I can be as present as possible in my daughter's life while being a working mother.
Becoming a mother has completely changed the way I look at my career. My family has become my first priority, and I’ve realized that having a fulfilling career doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the moments that matter most at home. For me, being a present mom means being there to comfort my daughter, celebrate her milestones, and experience all of the little moments that make this season of life so special. Everyone tells you how quickly it goes, but you don’t truly understand what they mean until you have a child of your own and suddenly realize just how fast they are growing. Having the flexibility to create a schedule that works for my family has allowed me to be both a mom and a working professional in a way that feels sustainable and fulfilling.
Returning to work after becoming a mom was emotional. Leaving my daughter was extremely difficult, but knowing that she was with someone I trusted completely: my own mother, which gave me so much peace of mind. There is so much that goes into the decision of who you trust with your child, and having my mom there to care for her while I work has made the transition so much easier. I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to watch my daughter grow while still doing work that I genuinely love. The flexibility of home care has been one of the biggest surprises for me. Being able to do my job while having more control over my schedule has shown me that being a dedicated working mom and being present for my daughter don't have to be two completely separate things.
Motherhood has also changed the way I connect with my clients and their families. I feel like I’m able to understand and connect with them on a deeper level than I could before. There is such a strong bond within the motherhood community, and becoming a mom has given me a different perspective when I walk into a client’s home and meet their loved ones. I understand more deeply how much a family’s support, routines, and environment can impact a person’s ability to heal and regain independence. Being invited into someone’s home is incredibly meaningful because it gives me the opportunity to see the person beyond their diagnosis. I can observe how they move through their actual environment, interact with their family, and navigate the routines that are important to them. From there, we can find ways to make therapy work for their life, not just treat them within the four walls of a typical clinical setting.
To keep it real, I was nervous about making the transition into home care. The idea of walking into someone else’s home can feel intimidating because you truly never know what you’re walking into. But that hesitation quickly changed once I experienced how rewarding this type of care can be. One of the things I love most is being able to see progress unfold from one visit to the next. In acute care, patients are often transferred to step-down units, rehabilitation facilities, or other levels of care before you get the opportunity to see the full picture of their recovery. In home care, I get to stay connected to that journey. I get to watch clients carry over what we work on together, build confidence, and take steps toward greater independence in the place where they actually live their lives.
Looking back, I’m so grateful that motherhood led me to reevaluate what I wanted from my career. I never expected that a change in setting would give me a completely new perspective on occupational therapy, or that home care would become such a meaningful part of my life. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a career that allows me to make a difference in my clients’ lives while also giving me the flexibility to be there for my own daughter. For me, that balance has been one of the greatest gifts of becoming a working mother.