I don’t usually identify with trendy labels like “mompreneur” or “mom boss.” I’m just a mother who works—hard.
Until I became a mom six months ago, I didn’t fully grasp the dedication of parents who continued to work after their children were born. Yet here I am, managing a career while caring for my six-month-old son, who is often in my arms as I juggle spreadsheets and answer emails for two different companies.
Unplanned Journey into Balancing Two Jobs
To provide some context, my journey into balancing two jobs was unplanned. I was five months pregnant when the pandemic struck in March. Before COVID-19 became a reality, my husband and I discussed our plans for after the baby’s arrival. Would I continue working? Would I become a stay-at-home mom? I was lucky to have options, and we decided I would take a year off to avoid daycare costs and bond with our new arrival. Who wouldn’t want to gaze at a chubby baby face every day for a year?
But then the pandemic changed everything. By April, with unemployment rates soaring, I felt grateful to still have a job as a Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications at a tech firm in the Bay Area. Leaving my position was not an option; the financial security of my family depended on it.
My husband is a commercial airline pilot, and his industry faced significant challenges. To keep his job, he took an unpaid leave rather than risk furlough. Suddenly, I found myself as the primary breadwinner and a new mom.
Embracing New Opportunities
During my maternity leave, my former manager offered me a position to lead communications for her new company. I was excited about the opportunity to diversify my skills during a time when jobs were scarce. I accepted and have continued working for my original company as well.
With my husband on unpaid leave, I hesitated to leave my salaried position for the unpredictability of contracting. While the flexibility of contracting is appealing, I need stability to ensure we can put food on the table. So, I decided to embrace both roles while caring for our energetic baby. Until my husband can return to flying, I’ll be working hard and hoping for no more gray hairs!
Managing Daily Life
Managing daily life is challenging. We’ve been socially distancing and chose not to hire help for household tasks or baby care. My husband is now the stay-at-home dad for the next nine months—a role he didn’t expect, but we’re fortunate to have both parents at home during this crucial first year.
However, my husband suffers from chronic pain, which can fluctuate unpredictably. On tough days, I need to step in to provide structure and stability for our son. So here we are in the middle of a pandemic, trying to balance a growing career, a baby, a husband in discomfort, and household responsibilities. Thankfully, our cat is quite independent.
The Illusion of Having It All Together
From a distance, it looks like we have it all together—dishes are done, laundry is folded, and the living room is relatively organized. When I speak with my teams, they assume I have outside help during the day, and I don’t correct them. Despite my company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, I still feel embarrassed to admit that it’s just my husband and me managing the chaos of parenting. With ongoing issues of pay equity, working mothers often face additional challenges, making it tough to express the need to rush from a meeting to tend to my baby while my husband manages his pain.
In reality, my days are filled with multitasking: I find myself in virtual meetings while discreetly feeding my baby under the camera, and I quickly change him once the meeting wraps up. If he gets fussy, I’ll bounce him on my lap while updating metrics or finalizing our annual strategy, all while trying to shield him from screen time. After my “day shift,” I focus on one-on-one time with him, prepare dinner for us adults, and then get him ready for bed. Once he’s settled, I log back on to finish what I couldn’t complete earlier due to the back-and-forth demands of motherhood and work.
A Rewarding Yet Exhausting Journey
This journey is exhausting yet incredibly rewarding. To all the moms out there, whether single, partnered, or married, remember you are not alone. Some days feel like a survival test, while others are lighter. Even when my baby is crying and my husband is asking for help while I’m on a call—causing my SVP to request that I mute my mic due to the noise—I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.
If you’re wondering how to manage it all, my advice is simple: just breathe. You can’t do everything perfectly, but getting up and keeping things moving is enough. You’re doing the best you can with the circumstances you’re faced with right now.
Additional Resources
For additional insights, check out this post for more parenting advice or visit this link for expert information on home insemination. Also, consider exploring this resource for a comprehensive look at fertility resources.
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In summary, the transition to motherhood has led me to unexpectedly become the primary provider while navigating the complexities of work and family life during a pandemic. Despite the challenges, I find fulfillment in this journey and remind myself and other mothers to take it one day at a time.
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