How Real Moms Make It Work—at Work
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to working and motherhood. For some, it’s about providing financial security. For others, it’s about doing something they love, holding onto a piece of their identity or building a better future for their family. And though there isn’t a perfect formula when it comes to making it all work, there are some common threads: a lot of juggling, plenty of communication, learning to pivot when plans fall apart—and finding the little things that help you show up as both the parent and the professional you want to be. We talked to real moms about why they choose to have a job outside of motherhood—and how they make it all happen. Here’s what they had to say.
For many moms, the decision to work isn’t as much of a choice as it is a necessity. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also be the right move.
Jaimie E., a marketing director in Round Rock, TX, says:
“I’m the primary earner in our household, and that never changed after becoming a mom. My schedule can be intense. I have early morning meetings and often late-night events. But I feel satisfied that I’m directly impacting our family’s quality of life.”
Jaimie’s best tip: Share the stressors
“We have a whiteboard in the kitchen labeled ‘This Week’s Crisis.’ It’s an inside joke, but helps us keep focused on what might crop up. For example, if I have a work event and my partner has a job interview on Wednesday, we will know we both may be stressed and rushing that morning. It’s helped us keep track of potential stressors.”
Anne R., a nurse practitioner in Vashon, WA, says:
“I grew up in a single-parent household where my mom worked multiple jobs. I never considered I would stop working when I had a baby. And I never felt like I had missed out because my own mom was working while I was growing up.”
Anne’s best tip: Make mornings easier
“I pack the diaper bag and my own lunch and work bag every night before bed. It sounds simple, but it means mornings aren’t a mad dash, so I can start the day grounded.”
Maya L., a special education teacher in Evanston, IL, says:
“My husband got laid off when I was six months pregnant, so I didn’t have a choice about whether or not to stay at my job. It wasn’t how I pictured my first year of motherhood, since I had planned to take a year off, but it reminded me that providing for my family is its own kind of love language.”
Maya’s best tip: Make time to reconnect with your partner
“I set up a shared calendar with my husband and we had one nonnegotiable ‘reset night’ each week that we would treat like date night. We would fold laundry, restock the diaper bag, talk about what was coming up and usually watch a show or listen to a podcast. It helped us stay ahead of the chaos.”
Fatima Z., a content strategist in Coral Gables, FL, says:
“I’d been freelancing for years, and right after I found out I was pregnant, I was offered a full-time role with benefits. It was scary to start something new, but I knew it was the right call.”
Fatima’s best tip: Ask for flexibility
“I asked if I could start part-time, basically continuing my contract, and ramp up and officially onboard after maternity leave. They said yes, and it gave me space to adjust.”
Elena V., a PR exec in Cherry Hill, NJ, says:
“I got promoted in my second trimester. It was a role that brought on a lot more travel, but my husband and I talked about it, and we felt we could swing it with the help of our parents. We talked to them, too. It was helpful to get everyone on the same page, and then we could also go into the nanny route with clear eyes, since we knew we needed flexible support.”
Elena’s best tip: Divide and conquer
“I color-coded my to-do list by ‘must do today,’ ‘delegate’ and ‘can wait.’ It helped me manage the new workload without burning out.”
Some women feel their career is a part of who they are—a goal they’ve worked toward for years. But finding a new balance can still be a challenge.
Christina M., a nonprofit director in Oakland, CA, says:
“I got the offer for my dream job in the middle of my second trimester. At first, I panicked. But then I thought, ‘Why not me?’”
Christina’s best tip: Ask the “big picture” questions
“I asked about parental leave and flexibility before accepting. Being clear up front helped me feel empowered and not like I was hiding anything. It also helped me assess whether the job was going to be a good fit during the newborn years. When the company offered paid maternity leave on the spot, I knew it was the right place for me.”
Leila K., an attorney in Jersey City, NJ, says:
“I was promoted two months before giving birth. It felt like everything I’d worked for was finally happening, and I didn’t want to walk away from it.”
Leila’s best tip: Set aside time for yourself
“I blocked off time on my calendar to pump and made it sacred. I’d scroll through baby photos and decompress. It became my little ritual of calm. Even if my calendar was insane, I would try to hold that space for minimal work.”
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Grace W., a data analyst in Highlands Ranch, CO, says:
“I love my job. I didn’t want to give that up. And no one ever expected me to do so.”
Grace’s best tip: Bring the comforts of home
“I built a ‘back-to-work’ basket for myself: snacks, a framed baby photo and a few new office supplies. It helped me feel excited instead of nervous.”
Jasmine H., an engineer in Johns Creek, GA, says:
“I’m a first-gen college graduate, and my career is part of my identity. It was really important to me that my daughter has a role model and knows that she can be whoever she wants to be, and can balance work and family.”
Jasmine’s best tip: Create healthy boundaries
“I added all my day care pickups to my work calendar. It helped me set a clear boundary, and my team respected that.”
Sure, working comes with a paycheck, but it often brings so much more to your life. For some parents, the decision to stay is driven by the fulfillment and variety their work life brings them.
Soojin P., a graphic designer in Los Angeles, says:
“When I’m working, I feel like myself. I love being a mom and I love being a creative person. I didn’t want to lose that, and my company had a great salary and great benefits, as well as flexibility. It didn’t make sense to leave.”
Soojin’s best tip: Schedule regular “me” time
“I save one coffee shop run a week just for me. No laptop, no errands, just 20 minutes of stillness and a novel.”
Rebecca A., a TV producer in Philadelphia, says:
“Honestly, I need adult conversations. I love the way my brain works on problems at work, and honestly, I think it makes me think fast on my feet at home. When I’ve talked a celebrity off the ledge in the morning, I know I can handle a toddler tantrum, even though usually the toddler is more work. I actually have used parenting hacks on the people in my day job.”
Rebecca’s best tip: Make your calendar work for you
“I batch my work calls during my commute [taking calls hands-free] if possible and keep my calendar blocked for 30 minutes before pickup to use if needed for last-minute catchups with colleagues.”
Life doesn’t stop when you become a parent—it finds a new rhythm. No matter what your journey looks like, eufy is here to support moms on their next step with smart baby monitors and breast pumps. Learn more at eufy.com.
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