Even non-corporate positions treat motherhood as if it were a non-entity. I left a full-time therapy position in a school district to start a private practice after the teachers' union rallied the school board to deny me a part-time position because I was tenured and they didn't want to see tenured people go part-time, even though that's what I wanted/needed! The group that expected me to pay dues to belong sabotaged my needs when I became a mother!
I've met so many talented women at the school gates, women who have left careers for the reasons you've written here. You just about make it work with one child but with 2 or more the math doesn't add up and the impact it has on your health, your marriage and the relationship you have with your kids are all signifcant because they all require some kind of sacrifice. You'd think women would naturally come together, kids or not, but in reality that very very rarely happens, everyone is trying to protect the tiny piece of sanity and ambition they have left.
Right?? It pulls us further apart since we are each just hanging on, trying to manage it all. I hope more women will opt to build non-linear careers since I feel traditional 9 to 5 jobs just aren't made for us.
The concept of a tradional 9-5 has to change to retain more women in the workforce overall and how we see success because currently we are measured alongside men in climbing a ladder
This really resonates with me because we often ask why women leave instead of asking what made staying so difficult to sustain. Career ambition and wanting to be present for your family do not have to be opposites. I love how you showed that creating more options can change the conversation from choosing between career and family to finding a way to make both work. 💖
The corporate world is not made for mothers. They can survive, but it's almost impossible to make it high on the ladder without sacrifices elsewhere in their lives.
Thank you for telling it like it is, Krista! You're an inspiration.
Thank you for sharing your story, Krista 💛 I read it in one sitting. Although my own story is different, so much of what you wrote felt deeply familiar. I understood every sentence.
We need more stories from mothers who are working, building businesses, navigating change and standing up for themselves.
I’m developing a new comic project around stories that can create impact, and while reading this I immediately wanted to draw yours. If you’re open to it, I’d love to illustrate part of your story as a short comic strip and include it in the project.
I think stories like yours can make space for other women to recognise their own experiences, and perhaps encourage more stories to spread outward like ripples 💛
Even non-corporate positions treat motherhood as if it were a non-entity. I left a full-time therapy position in a school district to start a private practice after the teachers' union rallied the school board to deny me a part-time position because I was tenured and they didn't want to see tenured people go part-time, even though that's what I wanted/needed! The group that expected me to pay dues to belong sabotaged my needs when I became a mother!
This is totally outrageous! Why can;t a tenured position work part-time? I hope you found just as much joy working in private practice
I found much more joy. It started me on my entrepreneurial journey and I never looked back!
Love it! 🫶
Yikes, that really is terrible.
I've met so many talented women at the school gates, women who have left careers for the reasons you've written here. You just about make it work with one child but with 2 or more the math doesn't add up and the impact it has on your health, your marriage and the relationship you have with your kids are all signifcant because they all require some kind of sacrifice. You'd think women would naturally come together, kids or not, but in reality that very very rarely happens, everyone is trying to protect the tiny piece of sanity and ambition they have left.
Right?? It pulls us further apart since we are each just hanging on, trying to manage it all. I hope more women will opt to build non-linear careers since I feel traditional 9 to 5 jobs just aren't made for us.
The concept of a tradional 9-5 has to change to retain more women in the workforce overall and how we see success because currently we are measured alongside men in climbing a ladder
This really resonates with me because we often ask why women leave instead of asking what made staying so difficult to sustain. Career ambition and wanting to be present for your family do not have to be opposites. I love how you showed that creating more options can change the conversation from choosing between career and family to finding a way to make both work. 💖
The corporate world is not made for mothers. They can survive, but it's almost impossible to make it high on the ladder without sacrifices elsewhere in their lives.
Thank you for telling it like it is, Krista! You're an inspiration.
Thank you for sharing your story, Krista 💛 I read it in one sitting. Although my own story is different, so much of what you wrote felt deeply familiar. I understood every sentence.
We need more stories from mothers who are working, building businesses, navigating change and standing up for themselves.
I’m developing a new comic project around stories that can create impact, and while reading this I immediately wanted to draw yours. If you’re open to it, I’d love to illustrate part of your story as a short comic strip and include it in the project.
I think stories like yours can make space for other women to recognise their own experiences, and perhaps encourage more stories to spread outward like ripples 💛