WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WISH YOU COULD OFFER YOUR FORMER, EXPECTANT SELF?

I wish I had told myself to let go of expectations. On the road to becoming a mother, there is so much out of your control. The sooner one can embrace the unpredictability that accompanies creating human life, the more strength one will have to conquer the unforeseen circumstances. 

WHAT WAS YOUR PRIMARY MOTIVATION FOR DECIDING TO RETURN (OR NOT) TO WORK?

For me, there was never a question of not returning to work; instead, the challenge was finding a role that felt aligned with a greater purpose. After my son was born, I felt an urgent need to find a mission-driven position that provided more flexibility than a traditional role. Like so many women, I found it difficult to return to work after maternity leave. After looking inwards at why I felt this disconnect, I found that it wasn’t the concept of work that was misaligned; rather, it was the work itself.

If I’m going to work in a job that takes time away from my son, I want those hours to count. So I looked into roles and companies that would help me be the best version of myself. I’m fortunate that I came across this unique role at Expectful because I find a great sense of fulfillment in my work. Working in a job that I enjoy helps me be a better mother, wife, and person. 

YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFULLY OPEN FOR OTHER MOTHERS, SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES AND CONNECTING THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THEY MOST NEED.  WHAT ALLOWS YOU/DRIVES YOU TO BE SO PRESENT FOR YOUR MOMS?

Thank you. I had many struggles during pregnancy and new motherhood. Motherhood is a beautiful, life-affirming experience, but it’s tough. Becoming a new mother during COVID-19 is a herculean challenge. 

When my son was six weeks old, I joined a mother’s circle with other new moms. During that experience, I learned that every single mom in my group faced the same challenges. The vulnerability shared was beautiful and frankly enabled me to be the best mother for my son. After one session, someone in my group reached out to thank me for sharing how I overcame a particular challenge. At the end of their note, she said that my vulnerability changed her life.

If all mothers can be more candid and share their experiences with other women, we can all have the power to positively change others’ lives in ways that we cannot imagine. 

EXPECTFUL IS CANDID IN WORD, IMAGE, AND OFFERINGS – HOW CAN WE DO A BETTER JOB OF BEING JUST AS HONEST AND SUPPORTIVE OF OTHER MOTHERS IRL?

The Instagram culture of today paints unrealistic images and expectations of motherhood. There is the expectation of a “snapback” culture. Mothers are expected to pretend like they are back to their pre-pregnancy selves within weeks of having a baby. 

Rather than embracing these unrealistic expectations, I encourage women to practice vulnerability. Brene Brown says, “ One day, you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will be someone else’s survival guide.” Practice being that beacon of light for another woman. 

HOW EASY WAS IT TO PUT A CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENT TOGETHER AND DID IT WORK FOR YOUR FAMILY?

Finding childcare during COVID- 19 was extremely difficult. My husband and I had planned to send our son to daycare once our respective leaves ended. This arrangement fell apart as soon as COVID-19 began. 

If I am allowed only one takeaway from this pandemic, it would be realizing how difficult it is to be a working parent in America. To be clear, being a parent, regardless if that person is working as a full-time employee or a full-time parent, is a challenging job. However, the pandemic has exposed us to the reality that those who must juggle childcare while working full time outside the home are set up for failure.

I’ve seen so many families get creative with childcare in the times of COVID-19. I’ve seen some families that have a 5 AM-12 PM/12 PM-7 PM Work/Family shift, I’ve seen people move back in their parents, or some families have gone through savings to hire additional help. During this crazy time, I hope that families do whatever is best for their particular family.

WHEN DID THE “NEW NORMAL” SET IN FOR YOU?

I had the misfortune of being hit with two “new normals,” at the same time, upon my return to work from maternity leave in May 2020. During this time, I felt the “new normal” of being a working mother and the “new normal” of life in COVID-19. 

COVID-19 has exacerbated many of the systemic challenges that I face as a working mother, but it also allowed me to spend time with my infant son in a way that I could never have imagined. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to share this time with my infant son. I’ve enjoyed watching him crawl for this first time and hearing his laughter in between conference calls.

Being a parent during COVID-19 has introduced its fair share of challenges, but it has introduced flexibility that enables me to be a better mother and CEO. I hope the flexibility in working arrangements is a “new normal” here to stay. 

WAS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WORKING? IF NOT, WHAT?

I feel grateful that my biggest challenge is not working. It is getting enough rest. I have a one-year-old son, and although he often sleeps through the night, we’ve had multiple sleep regressions and episodes of teething through the middle of the night. If any mothers have the secret to waking up refreshed every morning, please share your wisdom!

WHAT PRO-TIPS DO YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH OTHER MOTHERS?

Find ways to outsource tasks. During the pandemic, I’ve felt most overwhelmed when we went into quarantine and didn’t let anyone into our house. Laundry started piling up, the floors were dirty, baby bottles were scattered across the house, and I lived off of Luna bars. 

After an incredibly long workday and a sleepless night due to my baby, I went into my kitchen to find it in complete disarray. The reality set in that I could not manage it all.  At that point, I realized that hiring someone to help out was the most important thing I could do for my mental health and overall well-being at that particular point in time. 

As a working mother, my time and mental wellbeing are my most precious assets, so I will happily forgo any indulgent purchases and redirect funds to services that buy me more time. 

WHO WAS YOUR BIGGEST SOURCE OF SUPPORT IN RETURNING TO WORK?

My most significant source of support in returning to work was my husband, Max. He is my biggest cheerleader and encouraged me to pursue an entrepreneurial career, even though we were both raising an infant in the middle of a pandemic. 

FILL IN THE BLANKS:

As a working parent, I never expected WEEKENDS would be so hard, and WAKING UP BEFORE SUNRISE would be so much easier. 

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