The Reality Check: Staying Doesn’t Mean Settling
Ava became a mother during one of the most stressful, uncertain times in recent history—the height of the pandemic in 2020.
It was isolating. It was unpredictable. And it made her question everything.
"I was ready to give it all up to be with my family. I’ve always been a high performer—especially as a former athlete—and I thought maybe that meant I needed to walk away to be fully present."
But stepping away wasn’t her only option.
✔ She learned to set boundaries.
✔ She figured out how to maximize her work time so it didn’t spill over into family time.
✔ She realized she could shape her career around what she needed, rather than letting it shape her.
"There were so many trials and tribulations, but the biggest thing I learned was that I have the power in my career."
Instead of quitting, she redefined how she worked.
The Challenges: Guilt, Childcare & Missing Moments
- Wanting to Stay Home But Feeling Unsure
"I constantly battled guilt. Should I be home? Should I be working? Was I doing the right thing?" - Childcare Inconsistency & Pandemic Isolation
Like many parents navigating the pandemic, childcare was unreliable at best, nonexistent at worst.
"There was no routine, no certainty. That made balancing work and home even harder."
- Feeling Like Work Took Away from Motherhood
"I missed moments. I showed up at events but didn’t fully enjoy them because work stress was still on my mind."
Even though she had flexibility, she had to learn how to mentally compartmentalize work and home.
What Worked (and What She’d Do Differently)
✔ Family Support & Therapy
"Having a strong support system made all the difference. And therapy helped me reframe how I saw my role as both a mom and a professional."
✔ Great Leaders & Speaking Up About Her Needs
"I had leaders who supported me, but I had to be vocal about what I wanted. The more I spoke up, the more I realized I could shape my role to fit my life."
✔ Learning to Set Boundaries Without Guilt
"The second time around was much more graceful. I finally gave myself permission to ask for what I needed—without feeling guilty about it."
What she’d do differently? Advocate for herself sooner.
"I’d be more confident in speaking up about what I wanted out of my career and family life. I got better at this over time, but I wish I had done it earlier."
The Missing Resources
✔ A Tool for Learning How to Start a Business
"I wish there had been a simple way to learn how to start my own business. I still want to do that one day."
✔ More Online Communities for Working Moms
"Community in life is so important, and I would have loved to have more of that early on."
She believes having a space to connect with other working parents—to share struggles, strategies, and solutions—would have made the transition much smoother.
Ava’s Advice: Own Your Power & Be Confident in Your Choices
✔ It’s never going to be easy—but you have control.
"No one can dictate how you feel about your career and your life. You get to decide."
✔ Be confident in what you want.
"Whether it’s staying, shifting, or stepping away—don’t second-guess yourself. Advocate for the life you want."
✔ Don’t ever give up on finding the balance that works for you.
"It’s not about perfection. It’s about making adjustments until your life feels right."
Ava’s Both& Moment: Staying, But on Her Terms
Ava’s story proves that staying in your job doesn’t mean staying stuck.
✔ She realized she could both keep working and be fully present for her family.
✔ She learned that she could both set boundaries and remain a high performer.
✔ She figured out that she had both the power to make changes and the ability to walk away if needed.
She’s not afraid to pivot if the time comes.
But for now? She’s exactly where she needs to be.
Why This Story Matters for Both&
- Challenges the Idea That Working Moms Have to Choose Between Career & Family – Ava proves you can stay and thrive—with boundaries.
- Highlights the Power of Self-Advocacy – Speaking up changed her experience—and she wishes she had done it sooner.
- Acknowledges the Hard Truth of Missing Moments – The guilt is real, and working parents need strategies to separate work from home.
- Emphasizes That Staying Can Be an Empowered Decision – It’s not always about leaving—it’s about making your role work for you.
