I remember leaving my job in 2022. At the time, I was a mother of two, and I wanted to pursue my purpose while being more present for my children. It was a decision that came with its own questions, adjustments and conversations, including discussions with my husband about how we would manage our finances and family responsibilities.
Looking back, I understand that deciding to step away from a career is about so much more than leaving a job. It can mean rethinking your identity, adjusting financially, discovering new parts of yourself and figuring out what the next chapter of your life will look like.
And while my experience shaped how I viewed motherhood and work, I know that every woman's story is different.
Some mothers continue working full-time. Others choose to stay home with their children. Some eventually return to their careers, while others discover entrepreneurship and build something entirely new.
But what happens when the decision you make for your family begins to change how you see yourself? What happens when you love being a mother but miss the woman you were before motherhood? And if you step away from your career, how do you find your way back when you are ready? Is it worth it being a stay-at-home mom who stewards your home and raises your children?
These were some of the questions I wanted to explore, so I sat down with three women whose journeys have taken them through different seasons of motherhood and work: career motherhood, being a stay-at-home mom and entrepreneurship.
We had honest conversations about the choices they made, what those choices cost them, what they gained and what they wish more women understood.
And I think these are conversations worth having.
The beautiful side of choosing to stay home
There is something special about being present for your children as they grow. Being there for the little moments, witnessing their milestones, teaching them what's right from wrong, knowing their routines and having the time to nurture them through different stages of life can be deeply fulfilling.
For some women, choosing to stay home is something they have always wanted. For others, it becomes a decision they make after considering their family's needs, their children's ages, their finances and the kind of life they want to build.
Whatever brings a woman to that decision, it can be a meaningful one.
But I also think we need to be honest about something: loving motherhood does not mean you will never miss your career.
You can be grateful that you get to spend time with your children and still miss earning your own money. You can enjoy being available to your family and still long for the challenges, conversations and sense of achievement that came with working.
You can love the life you have chosen and still wonder about the life you left behind.
Those feelings do not make you ungrateful. They make you human.
In my conversation with Joan, she opened up about leaving her career to become a stay-at-home mother, the challenges that came with that decision and what it took to find her way forward.
Her story reminded me that the decision to stay home is only one part of the journey. There is also the experience of living with that decision, discovering what it means for you personally and figuring out what comes next.
Watch the conversation with Joan and Lisa Kusiima to hear her story and the lessons she has learned along the way.
When you begin to miss the woman you used to be
One thing we do not always talk about openly is how much of our identity can become tied to our work.
Our careers give us opportunities to learn, interact with other people, earn an income, develop our abilities and work towards goals that are personal to us.
Then motherhood comes along, and for some women, almost everything changes.
Your time is no longer entirely your own. Your priorities shift. Your days revolve around the needs of your family, and the goals you once pursued may have to take a back seat.
Sometimes, you look up and realize that you have spent so much time caring for everyone else that you have not thought much about yourself.
You may see former colleagues progressing in their careers, taking on new responsibilities or celebrating professional milestones. Meanwhile, you are navigating a very different kind of responsibility, one that may not come with a job title, a salary increment or public recognition.
And you may find yourself wondering, Am I falling behind? Will I ever return to work? What do I want for myself now?
These are not easy questions, especially when you are already doing your best to care for your family.
But I want to remind you of something: motherhood does not cancel out the other parts of who you are.
You are still a woman with gifts, interests, abilities and dreams. You are allowed to nurture your children while also making room for your own growth.
You do not have to feel guilty for wanting something for yourself, too.
Let's talk about the money
This is one conversation I believe every couple considering a career break should have before making the decision.
When I was preparing to leave my job, my husband and I had conversations about how we would manage our household expenses and the things our family needed. We had to think beyond the decision itself and consider what our day-to-day life would look like afterwards.
Moving from two incomes to one, or giving up your personal salary, can change a family's financial circumstances significantly.
And while a stay-at-home mother's contribution may not come in the form of a monthly salary, the work she does matters. Caring for children, managing the home and being emotionally and physically present are meaningful contributions to a family.
At the same time, love and good intentions do not eliminate the need for financial planning.
Before leaving a job, couples need to discuss their budget, savings, investments, retirement plans, personal spending and long-term financial security. They also need to consider what the family can realistically afford and whether the arrangement is sustainable.
What happens when you need money for something personal? How will you continue saving for your future? What happens if your family's circumstances change?
These conversations may not be the most exciting part of planning for motherhood, but they are important. And if you are already in your stay-at-home season, it is not too late to start having them.
Your family's financial decisions should reflect the value of your contribution and the importance of your future, too.
Can you return to your career after years at home?
For many women, this is the question that stays in the back of their minds.
You may be happy with your decision to stay home today, but you may also wonder what your professional life will look like when your children are older.
Will employers understand the gap in your CV? Will your skills still be relevant? Will you have to start over? Will you find something that works with your family's needs?
The truth is that returning to work after a career break can be challenging. Industries change, technology advances and professional networks evolve. You may need to update your skills, rebuild your confidence or explore opportunities you had not previously considered.
But a career break does not erase your experience, education, abilities or potential.
You may need to approach your return differently, and that is okay.
You can take short courses, reconnect with former colleagues, explore flexible or part-time work, consider consulting or freelancing, or even start a business.
For Joan, discovering interior design became part of finding her way forward professionally. Her journey is a reminder that returning to work does not always mean going back to the exact career you had before motherhood. Sometimes, it means discovering a new direction.
If you are considering a career break, think about how you might maintain a connection to your profession or continue learning during that season. If you are already at home, consider what small steps you can take towards the future you want.
You do not have to have everything figured out today. You can begin where you are.
And remember, starting again does not mean starting from zero. You are bringing your life experience, maturity and everything you have learned along the way.
Career mom, stay-at-home mom or entrepreneur mom: which one is right?
I think one of the most unhelpful things we can do as women is turn these different experiences into a competition.
The working mother is not automatically neglecting her children. The stay-at-home mother is not automatically unfulfilled. And the entrepreneur mother is not necessarily enjoying the perfect balance between work and family.
Every path has its own rewards, responsibilities and challenges.
Some women need or want to continue earning a salary. Others desire to spend more time at home. Some discover that entrepreneurship gives them a way to pursue their ambitions while creating more flexibility, although running a business comes with its own demands.
And sometimes, the path changes.
A woman may leave her job to raise her children and later return to employment. She may start a business, discover a new passion or decide that what she wants now is different from what she wanted five years ago. There is room for all of that.
Your decision should be informed by your values, your family's needs, your financial circumstances and your own aspirations, rather than pressure to live up to someone else's idea of what a good mother should be.
And please remember this: if you want to return to work, that is okay too. If you want to continue working, that does not mean you love your children any less. And if you cannot afford to leave your job, that does not make you any less committed to your family.
We all have different circumstances, and we are doing the best we can with what we have.
Before you leave your job, or if you have already left, what next?
If you are thinking about stepping away from your career, here are a few things worth considering.
1. Have honest conversations about finances. Talk with your partner about household expenses, savings, investments, personal spending and long-term security before making the transition.
2. Keep learning. You may not be working in a formal role, but you can still develop your skills and stay informed about changes in your industry.
3. Maintain your connections. Keep in touch with former colleagues, mentors and professional networks. You never know which relationship may become valuable when you are ready for your next step.
4. Explore your options. Returning to a traditional job is not your only option. Depending on your circumstances, freelancing, consulting, remote work or entrepreneurship may be worth exploring.
5. Give yourself permission to reassess. The decision that works for you when your children are young may look different when they start school or become more independent. You are allowed to change your mind.
Most importantly, do not wait until you feel you have everything figured out before you begin thinking about your future. Small, intentional steps can make a difference.
So, does every mom need this?
This is perhaps the most difficult question to answer because there is no universal answer.
For some women, leaving their careers to raise their children is a decision they would make again without hesitation. For others, it comes with mixed feelings, sacrifices, uncertainties and lessons they wish they had learned earlier. And some may even wish they had made a different choice.
Personally, though, I believe every mother deserves the opportunity to experience a season of being fully present with her children, if her circumstances allow it. We may never get these years back, and there is something beautiful about being there to watch our children grow, shape their character, teach them our values and see the lessons we impart come to life in the way they think, speak and relate with others.
I have come to appreciate just how precious this time is. Work opportunities will come, new passions will be discovered, and businesses can be built. Sometimes, you may even discover a new definition of success along the way.
For me, that is what makes this season so priceless. It is not about choosing motherhood over your dreams, but recognising that there are moments in our children's lives that deserve our presence, and if we have the opportunity to be there, it is worth cherishing.
Perhaps we should create more opportunities for women to share their experiences honestly, without judgement or the pressure to make their choices sound perfect.
That is one of the reasons I wanted to have these conversations.
I sat down with three women who have experienced different seasons of motherhood and work because I know that someone watching may be standing at the very beginning of this decision. Someone else may already be at home, wondering what comes next. Another woman may have returned to work, started a business or chosen a completely different path.
If you are considering leaving your career, already in your stay-at-home season or figuring out life after a career break, I hope these conversations remind you that you are not alone in your questions.
I would love for you to watch these honest conversations with three mothers who have navigated the journey of being stay-at-home moms and found their way forward in different ways. Their stories offer valuable insights for every woman considering, experiencing or transitioning out of this season.
From Career to Stay at home mom to building a business
I left my career to raise my children, was it worth it?
And when you are done, tell me:
If you had the choice, would you leave your career to become a stay-at-home mom? If you have already made that decision, would you make it again?