Redefining Success

How Motherhood Shifted My Career Perspective

In my twenties, I was earning better titles and kept making more money. I thought that was the definition of success. My career wasn’t just a job—it was who I was. My intelligence, worth, and identity were all tied up in what I did for a living (which, spoiler, isn’t great).

And then I became a mom.

Motherhood shifted everything—faster than I ever expected, and it scared me. One moment, I was focused on my career; the next, I questioned everything. The postpartum fog made me doubt myself, my abilities, and my future. Was I even capable of working anymore??

Rediscovering My Worth Outside of Work

For a few months after becoming a mom, I was a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) with my daughter. Those days were filled with love and joy—but also tears and self-doubt. When people casually asked, “What do you do?” I hesitated. Suddenly, I wasn’t sure how to answer.

I realized how much value I had placed on my job title to define my intelligence and self-worth. Being a stay-at-home mom—a role that requires more patience, resilience, and adaptability than I ever imagined—was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Yet, society doesn’t always recognize or celebrate that.

Those months taught me something important: My worth isn’t defined by my job, my title, or how much money I make. However, I still struggle with voicing this.

Becoming the “New Me”

Eventually, I found my way back to work, but I’m not the same person I was before motherhood. And that’s okay. My priorities have shifted, and I’ve evolved along with them.

Now, I’m not just a communications consultant. I’m also a mom, a wife, a reader, a traveler, and a daughter. I’ve embraced a life where all these roles coexist. My career still matters to me, but it no longer defines me completely.

 One of the greatest gifts of this new perspective is flexibility. My job lets me take my daughter to the zoo (“yoo,” as my two-year-old calls it) at 1:00 pm on a Tuesday. I get to balance meaningful work with the moments that matter to my family. 

What works for me may not work for you—and that’s the point. Success looks different for everyone, and it changes as we move through various seasons of life.

Finding What Works for You

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that priorities evolve. The hustle that felt fulfilling in my twenties might not feel the same now. And the balance I’ve found as a working mom might look entirely different in a few years.

A report by the Pew Research Center found that 51% of working mothers feel immense pressure to excel both at work and as parents. It’s no wonder many of us question what “having it all” really means. But here’s the thing: We don’t have to meet anyone else’s definition of success.

Whether you’re climbing the career ladder, staying home with your kids, or figuring out your next step, what matters is finding what works for you right now—and knowing it’s okay if that changes later!