Navigating Motherhood and Career: My Journey of Loss, Resilience, and Rediscovery

Motherhood is a journey filled with joy, challenges, and growth. For me, it’s also been deeply intertwined with my career, which has seen its share of ups and downs. Looking back, I realise how each chapter has taught me something invaluable about resilience, balance, and embracing change.

In 2019, I faced one of the hardest moments of my life when I lost my first baby at 8 weeks. It was an emotional time, and I took maternity leave to focus on healing. After returning to work, I found myself in a role that quickly became a mismatch for the world we were living in—travel restrictions, the demands of remote working, and a workplace not equipped to handle those changes. A redundancy in that position came as a bittersweet relief. It gave me the space I needed to focus on fertility, and in 2021, we welcomed our rainbow baby into the world.

Being at home with our newborn was a precious time, but soon after, I was headhunted for a business development role. It was a great opportunity that pulled me out of the house, connected me with colleagues, and gave me the social interaction I craved. Yet, as any working mum will understand, the pinch of mum guilt came with every daycare drop-off. The juggle wasn’t easy, but I loved the work. However, after just a year, another redundancy came due to an office closure. Again, this shift was welcomed—it allowed me to slow down, be with my baby, and rethink my professional path.

During this period of reflection, I made some bold moves. I purchased a sustainable and educational toy shop, hoping to create a business that aligned with my values. Unfortunately, I quickly realised that I had bought in the middle of a tough economic time. While it was a meaningful venture, the realities of running a retail business during such uncertainty were challenging.

Around the same time, I began working with Keeping Mum, running a local mothers' group. This allowed me to connect with other mums, create a supportive community, and help others navigate the joys and challenges of early motherhood. These were fulfilling experiences in their own right, but I started to notice something missing. While I cherished the flexibility and the ability to give back to my community, I longed for the energy and excitement of contributing to a thriving business and being part of a dynamic team.

Now, as I find myself in the middle of an extensive interview process, there's much to consider. After a journey that’s been full of twists and turns, I feel fortunate to have options—choices that allow me to weigh what truly matters for me and my family. What this process has taught me is the importance of staying adaptable, recognising that it's okay for priorities to shift, and understanding that each role and experience can serve a purpose, even if it isn’t forever.

Motherhood and work will always be a balancing act, but I’ve learned that both roles can coexist, even if it requires constant adjustment. As I look to the future, I’m grateful for the lessons learned along the way, and I’m excited to see where this next chapter takes me.