Working Mom Spotlight: Sarah Zinn

Name: Sarah Zinn

Occupation: Compliance Manager

Number of kids: 1

Favorite candy bar: Reece’s

Tell us about your family, and what’s your childcare solution?

I’ve been married to Aaron for seven years. We have one son, Carter, that just turned three. Carter has been attending a daycare near our home since he was three months old.

Where do you work, and what is a typical workday like for you? 

I work for the City of Durham in the Community Development Department. My department is the administrator of the city’s funding from HUD, and I’m the contracts & compliance manager. I spend most of my days in meetings, reviewing contracts, working on policy and conducting research to determine if an activity or decision is in compliance with our program rules and regulations.

Share some of your goals – personal or professional. 

Currently, my goal is to be good at my job, while also being a good wife and mom. It is hard to be all three. I did a lot of my career accomplishments in my 20s and, while there is still a lot I want to do in the future, right now, my focus is on being present where I am. I’ll pick the carer ladder back up in a few years. It is an interesting place of contentment.

What motivates you to work?

I love to problem solve! There are a lot of rules to follow with federal funding, and it can be hard to be creative. I have the unfortunate job of telling people when they can’t do something, but I also have the very fortunate job of helping them find another way to accomplish the same outcome. I also love knowing that my problem solving is directly helping people in my community.

How do you like to relax? 

Baths, reading, wine and YouTube.

What is your favorite part of motherhood? 

Watching my son grow and change. I am not a baby person, but I am here (sometimes, very tiredly so) for the toddler years. I love watching the person my son is becoming and that I get to play a part in it.

What does Restored mean to you? How has it impacted you personally? 

Restored has been a gift. During the summer of last year, I found myself at a point where my anxiety was off the charts. I wasn’t sleeping and I felt myself spiraling. Most of my stress comes from work. My husband is amazing and picks up the load more times than I can count, but I was desperately missing the social connection. I live on meetings all day and, as an introvert, am too drained to do anything socially afterwards. I found the Esther Bible Study through a few others I know and joined. It is so encouraging to be with other women who have the same faith as me, but also understand the juggle that comes with being a working mom.

What is one of your favorite Restored events to date? Why is it your favorite?

To be fair, I haven’t had the chance to attend many events, but so far, the Esther Bible Study. I did a Bible study with another group in November and it was great, but I found myself wanting more. More conversations and more studying the Bible, not necessarily what a study guide tells me I should study. The Bible study has forced me, in a good way, to really read and pick apart the book. I have to sit down and take time to read, which is what I need. I also love hearing all the different viewpoints and ideas from the women in the group. It has been a great introduction to Restored and a needed breath of fresh air.  

Can you share how you overcome challenges related to the “mom chaos” that settles in when you feel pulled in 100 directions?

I compartmentalize many things, for better or worse. And that works most of the time. I also tend to run my life like I do projects – focusing on what is most important and must be done and getting to the other things when possible. But sometimes that leaves taking care of yourself at the bottom of the list. I’ve now learned to prioritize some time for me. I work out in the morning before work, and I give myself at least 30 minutes between the end of my workday and when my husband and son come home. That gives me time to decompress, think about what I want and/or need to do. And, sometimes, I sit and think of nothing during those times. I have found that giving myself some space lets me handle the chaos a little better.  

Besides your faith and family, what are you passionate about? 

I’m passionate about providing opportunities. After working in low-income housing for 12 years, I know how important it can be to a child’s success to have a stable home life, which includes having a safe and habitable place to come home to. I am passionate about women having more opportunities to move forward in careers, especially in those fields dominated by men. But I am also passionate about women having the opportunity to make the home their career if they choose. The ability to have multiple opportunities and to choose the one you want is a privilege.   

I’m also passionate about findings ways to be creative. I’ve had multiple blogs over the years, I love to cook and experiment with ingredients and I like to play in makeup and fashion. And even though I work in compliance and federal regulations, I love to find ways to be creative within those confines.