So you are a very modern, very organized professional woman, already juggling several professional capacities, and you add the ages-old role of motherhood.

Birthing a baby is one thing but how do you carry on your career and take care of an infant? Arizona Philharmonic Executive Director Abby Coffey in early February gave birth to her first child, adorable Asher.

A Three Month Semi-Disconnect
Abby is known to be the Alpha and Omega of proper prior planning, supremely organized and seldom missing a pivotal point. So how did this professional woman plan for the interruptions of maternity, morning sickness, birthing, sleepless nights, and make Abby’s and Josh’s professional schedules fit around a new baby?

Maternity leave went as Abby thought. “I appreciated colleagues being respectful of maternity leave but I knew they would have questions.” Time away was during AZ Phil’s crucial new-season’s program planning and grant-season applications, and it was unlikely she could totally disconnect for three months.

On the home front, probably the most crucial agreement between Abby and Josh was that they would fill in for one another when occasions arose. They agreed it is important for mom and dad to continue being the career people they each are, and they agreed on what isn’t important (folding laundry).

The Show Must Go On
Right off the bat husband Josh was to play in Tucson’s Symphony on Abby’s due date. “Josh and I feel we have to go on with our professional lives as much as possible.” Josh played in the performance, and Asher waited several days to appear.  Abby says they agreed, “If you need to be gone, go. I will fill in. We have to continue to be ourselves.”

Be Part of the Village
Time for the new mother to return to work and Abby says she isn’t worried, she is experienced at handling a variety of outside concerns. “I consider myself lucky because I have a variety of professional commitments and I learned to shuffle things.” Abby admitted going back to work with an infant is a big challenge, “but I see it as prioritizing projects,” she said. “Pacing is different, for one thing.”

Her advice is new parents need that village around them to wash dishes, bring in food, pick up the pieces as mom and dad are finding their way through managing a helpless new life. “Work it out day to day or month to month, do what works for your family. Some things are trickier, but some not so much.” The timeline of her day is very different, Abby said, as she mentioned Asher had been up eight times the night before she drove from Phoenix to Prescott to give a presentation.

“If you know new parents who are career oriented, be part of that village.”