Additional Coverage:
- For nearly two decades I was a full-time working mother. Then, I lost my job and 2 of my 3 kids moved away. (businessinsider.com)
Local Mom Navigates Life’s Next Chapter After Layoff and Empty Nest
For years, Danielle Saliman was the quintessential supermom, juggling her career as a magazine editor with the demands of raising three children. But within the span of a year, her carefully balanced life underwent a dramatic shift.
First, a layoff ended her nearly 11-year tenure at her job. Then, her two oldest children left for college, leaving her youngest navigating middle school.
Suddenly, Saliman found herself with a wide-open calendar and an unexpected abundance of free time.
“For nearly two decades, I functioned as both a full-time mother and a full-time magazine editor,” Saliman shared. She described her previous life as a constant juggling act, balancing editorial meetings with school pickups, late-night editing sessions with the demands of family logistics. The pandemic only intensified the blur between work and family life, as she found herself supervising remote learning while simultaneously leading departmental calls.
While the initial sense of relief following her layoff was welcome, the shift in her dual roles – both professional and personal – left Saliman in unfamiliar territory. Previous job losses, while challenging, were filled with the immediate needs of young children. This time, with her older children launched and her youngest more independent, the quiet was both a luxury and a source of unease.
“I didn’t realize how much of myself I had wrapped up in being busy,” Saliman admitted. She’s found herself grappling with the unexpected challenges of unstructured time. While she enjoys the freedom of sleeping in and leisurely walks, she also struggles with the loss of the constant demands that once defined her days.
Now, Saliman is embracing the opportunity to redefine herself. “Maybe it isn’t about who I am or who I was, but who I can still become,” she reflected.
Armed with years of professional experience and the resilience gained from balancing career and family, she is taking time to explore new possibilities and envision her next chapter. Saliman is a testament to the power of adapting to change and embracing the potential of new beginnings.