She may have a high-flying job as a satellite engineer for NASA, but this Mountain View, CA, Mom flexes her schedule so she can land on the beach with her girls after school.

Easier A.M.
Even if we’re running late, I strive for a relaxed and positive attitude, because I know a difficult preschool drop-off with my girls will stick with me all day. My husband, Dogan, also works at NASA. We take turns with the a.m. shift, depending on who has the tougher workday. So usually one of us packs lunches, helps Sophie (5) and Lauren (3) dress and gets breakfast ready. The girls are mostly cheerful. The little one doesn’t get the time crunch, however, so we start our mornings early.

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Almost Rocket Science
At NASA I design and build optical detection systems for satellite and Space Station payloads and design instrument concepts for future missions. This job challenges me to the breaking point and keeps me fully present and in the moment. But it’s tough with a full-time career punctuated by hard deadlines. (Despite what you see on TV, it’s terribly difficult to delay a satellite launch!) being a mom keeps me from obsessing too much about my work, and vice versa.

Flex the Day
Dogan and I take turns picking up the kids from school. We have no regular caregiver. It’s fine to leave work early as long as you arrange it with your work group and get your work done. It can be chaotic and frustrating on the job, but the payoff is that the girls always have a parent picking them up. Soon enough they won’t want mommy picking them up from school, so I enjoy it every day I can swing it. When it’s nice out, I drive them directly to the beach. I kick off my heels, and we run and play in the sand.

Enjoying Dinner
Dinnertime is a nightly celebration. While I crave the day when the girls will eat the same meal as we adults do, it’s more important that they learn to love good food and the process of preparing and eating it. They’ve already expanded their palates. The kids sit at the table as long as they’re enjoying their meal. Our 5-year-old finishes eating first, then goes and plays. Our little one can sit for an hour and a half. She loves to sample her food and talk and nibble. She’ll be great at cocktail parties!

Tired Nights
Evenings are the toughest part of my day. I’m exhausted. That’s when I’m very aware that I’m an older parent. It’s actually become easier with two kids, because they can play together while my husband and I catch our breath. Whoever’s the least weary starts the bedtime routine—we take turns. bathtime, reading, a couple of songs and then good night. Then our laptops are back open and Dogan and I work a few hours more—the price for the flex we use during the day.

NASA for women
NASA Ames Research Center is good about flex—the culture has dramatically improved in the 19 years I’ve been here. There are more women in higher positions, and NASA is giving them what they need to perform well. I bring my daughters in to work, purposely, just to visit. I brought them in last spring break, and I have a couple of offices, so I walked them from one office to another and saw heads turn as we passed. The next week I saw three other moms with kids on campus. That’s great. We also have on-site child care for ages 6 months to 5 years—right near the director’s office as you drive in.

Adults only
Dogan and I do try to go out every other week, if we can find someone to watch the kids. Sometimes we’ll pay a friend to come for an evening. We like long dinners so we can take our time eating. Or maybe a movie or hanging out in downtown in Santa Cruz. As for “me time,” it’s mostly in the car during my 45-minute commute to work. It’s actually peaceful. I do a little weight lifting at home at night, and that’s it.

—As told to Barbara Turvett