04/08/2026
Ollie is also applying for jobs too because have you seen the cost of daycare? 😅
I was hesitant applying for jobs again because it would then lead to an interview and I knew I had to take my baby with me. I was worried on how he would be during the interview. Would he stay quiet? Perhaps nap? Or cry the whole time? That gave me a lot of anxiety…not knowing what was going to happen and knowing that there’s not much I could do to control that. I did everything I could including prepping his diaper bag the night before and laid out our outfits, scheduled interviews around his eating and nap time, fed him within 30 min of the interview, changed his diaper within 20 min of the interview, got to the interview site early to feed and change him and hoped he would nap as I walk into the interview and of course brought toys to entertain him and lots of snacks.
Did it work? Absolutely not 😅 babies do what they want to do. Ollie stayed up past his nap time (over two hours late!) and was fussy and crying. I was trying to answer interview questions like “why are you a good candidate for this position” while I wrestled with him and try to calm him down as I try to make eye contact and answer as confidently as I could.
I figured out that Ollie wanted to get in the floor (ew 😅 germaphobe mom 🙋🏻♀️) so I learned to bring an extra blanket for him to sit on, spread his toys out and gave him my purse/backpack for him to dump out and pick at. Was it ideal? No. Did we have to think on the spot and pivot? Yes. Is this not what we do as PTs and PTAs? 🤔
At the end of each interview I thanked the person for making time to see me and for being open and understanding as well as supportive of me to bring my son to the interview. I tried my best not to apologize for because I can’t apologize for being a mom. And babies are going to be babies they will cry and get fussy that’s what they do.
My anxiety went away when most of the people that interviewed me were women and were also moms. One person applauded me bringing my baby in for an interview. All were understanding and I felt supported and hopeful that I can do this.
