A thank you to the Chattanooga women who have paved the way.

As women we face a laundry list of expectations and the list
grows exponentially as we add new titles to our names.

Adding an official title in my career is something I have spent
the last 10 years working towards. I continue to strive
for position, but with this, I have added longer hours
and feel the weight of accountability much more than before.

The inclusion of three little letters, Mrs., to a name can be fulfilling
or challenging (depending on who you talk to). But changing
your name to “mom,” is in my book the pinnacle of titles. With this
one title your life is changed. You acquire a sense of pride and pain
you never knew could exist.

Please don’t misread what I have just said. In no way, do I feel
that because I am a parent that my role in life is any grander than
those who either by circumstance, chance or choice do not have
children. What I am saying is that I have worked many 60 and 70
hour work weeks, studied through the night for mid-term cram sessions
charged only on caffeine and have at one point in time held
down three jobs while attending college, but none of that was as
non-stop as being “mom.”

So, with great respect I present you with our tribute to all women,
with mothers in our thoughts. We have included articles that inspired
us to be better people and parents. We have also highlighted
the amazing things that are happening at the hands of women in
our area.

The cover story “Women Who Lead,” is a frank conversation
with 5 local women who have helped to shape the political, social
and economic landscape of Chattanooga. These women discuss
with candor the hurdles they’ve faced in business, how they manage
to juggle family with career and have offered great insight on how
we can do it too.

No matter what stage we are facing in our journeys it is always
a source of strength to hear from those who have forged ahead to
clear the path. To the women featured in this issue who have done
just that, I say, thank you.

Darah Burkett
Editor, In the City