Meet Lauren: Stepping Away from a 70-Hour Workweek to Full-Time Motherhood

The Crossroads: From 80-Hour Weeks to Full-Time Motherhood

For years, Lauren was all in on her career—working long hours, meeting deadlines, and pouring everything into her job.

✔ She regularly worked 70-80 hours a week.
✔ She was financially independent and took pride in providing for herself.
✔ She never imagined walking away from her career.

But then, she had her first baby.

And suddenly, the long hours, the career ambitions, and the non-stop work didn’t feel as important anymore.

"I had been working myself to the bone, but the second I looked at my baby’s face, I knew I couldn’t go back. I quit completely."

The shift wasn’t just about leaving work—it was about redefining what success meant in this new season of life.

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The Challenges: Going from Two Incomes to One

• Financial Dependence Was a Hard Adjustment
  "I had never relied on anyone financially before. Suddenly, my husband was covering all the bills, and I struggled with that."
• Struggling with the Identity Shift
  She went from being an independent professional to a full-time caregiver, which wasn’t an easy mental transition.
• Guilt Over Not Contributing Financially
  Even though she knew she was doing valuable work raising their child, she still had moments where she wondered:

"Am I doing enough? Should I be working at least part-time? Is it fair to put all the financial pressure on my husband?"

They still struggle financially sometimes, but she knows—deep down—she made the right choice.

"We have to make sacrifices, but I am the happiest I’ve ever been."

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What Worked (and What She’d Do Differently)

✔ Trusting Her Husband & Leaning Into Their Partnership
"It was hard at first, but I learned to trust that we were in this together. He never made me feel guilty for stepping away from work."

✔ Focusing on the Joy in the Small Moments
"Looking at my baby’s face, watching them grow, being there for every first—that’s what makes it worth it."

Would she do anything differently?

Not much—except making sure she had a safety net in place before quitting.

"We still struggle sometimes, and I wish we had planned a little more financially before I left my job."

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The Tools & Resources That Helped

📌 Mom Groups on Facebook – A space for advice, solidarity, and connection with other moms making similar choices.
📌 Coaching with Prospera – Helped her navigate the transition and find purpose outside of traditional work.

"Having a support system—whether online or in person—made all the difference."

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Lauren’s Advice: Plan Ahead & Give Yourself Permission to Choose This Life

✔ If You Can Do It, Do It—But Have a Fall-Back Plan
"Staying home is amazing, but life is unpredictable. Have some kind of plan in place so you don’t feel stuck if things change."

✔ It’s Okay to Feel Conflicted
"Even though I love staying home, there are still hard days. That doesn’t mean I made the wrong choice."

✔ Don’t Feel Guilty for Not Earning Money—This Work is Valuable
"You are contributing in a different way. Raising your kids, being present—that’s just as important as a paycheck."

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Lauren’s Both& Moment: Trading Career Success for a Different Kind of Fulfillment

Lauren’s story is a reminder that stepping away from work isn’t a failure—it’s a choice.

✔ She learned she could both struggle financially and still be happier than ever.
✔ She found a way to both trust her husband to provide and contribute in her own way.
✔ She realized that success isn’t both career growth and financial independence—it can also be peace, presence, and joy.

This wasn’t about giving up on ambition—it was about choosing to be fully present for this chapter of life.