As I sit here on my first official day back at work after my second maternity leave, I’m feeling more than a little bit excited. The energy in me is screaming, “I want to do it all!” But let’s be real: I’m not going to do it all. In fact, I’ve come to realize that attempting to juggle everything all at once is not only unrealistic but also unsustainable. That’s one of the most important lessons I learned during these past few months.

Maternity leave has been a whirlwind of joy, sleepless nights, cuddles, and lots of time to reflect—and I’m back, ready to share a few takeaways that I know will resonate, especially with fellow working parents, particularly those in the social impact sector, where we are often under-resourced, overworked, and deeply passionate about our work.

4 Lessons from my Maternity Leave

Community is everything (but asking for help is still hard).
Shoutout to Healthcare & Childcare (Accessible, Affordable, and High-Quality).
Slowing Down is Hard (But Necessary).
Stay Connected—to Others and Yourself.

Lesson #1: Community is Everything (But Asking for Help is Still Hard)

We hear this all the time, right? “It takes a village.” And yes, I felt that to my core. Friends, family, neighbours, and colleagues rallied around to offer help, drop off meals, and provide much-needed moments of adult conversation. But I’m not going to lie—asking for help is still tough for me. I’ve always prided myself on being the do-it-all type, and there’s something uncomfortable about admitting that I can’t handle it all.
The reality is, we’re not meant to do it alone. The more I leaned into my community, the more I realized how much better everything was. Whether it was an offer to hold the baby, make the trek to my house (no longer in the city centre) for a visit, or a pep talk from a friend, I saw firsthand that reaching out doesn't mean weakness. It’s survival. And honestly, it’s sanity. So, if you’re in a similar boat, just remember: Your village is there for a reason. Lean on them. (And yeah, I’m still reminding myself of this too.)

Lesson #2: Shoutout to Healthcare & Childcare (Accessible, Affordable, and High-Quality)

Here’s something I’ll never take for granted—having access to reliable, high-quality healthcare made all the difference. From prenatal appointments to postpartum check-ins to getting the right care for my baby (including during a highly overwhelming emergency room visit with my four-week-old daughter). I realise how fortunate I’ve been to have access to affordable healthcare during both my pregnancies. And don’t even get me started on childcare. Finding the right care, knowing my kids are in safe hands, and being able to work guilt-free is a luxury I’m deeply grateful for. Not everyone has that peace of mind, and it’s something I wish was more readily available to every parent, everywhere. Without it, balancing work and family would feel impossible. More on this below, where I unpack what I have been reading, and the work of Reshma Saujani from Moms First.

Lesson #3: Slowing Down is Hard (But Necessary)

Okay, confession time—I’ve never been good at slowing down. I’m a recovering workaholic, a perpetual doer, and now an entrepreneur. So, when I tell you that maternity leave forced me to slow down, I mean really slow down; you better believe it was a challenge. I found myself without deadlines or a packed schedule. My focus had to shift entirely to my family, and it took some time for me to stop feeling like I needed to be productive all the time. But slowing down became a gift. It allowed me to soak in the moments that matter, like lazy mornings, mid-day naps with my baby, and unplanned family time. Slowing down isn’t just about pausing; it’s recognizing that not every second of every day has to be filled with something. I had to remind myself to be present. Even though it went against everything in my “do all the things” nature, it was exactly what I needed.

Lesson #4: Stay Connected—to Others and Yourself

During my time off, I realized how much I craved adult conversation and intellectual stimulation that didn’t revolve around baby sleep schedules or toddler tantrums. And let me tell you, there were moments when I really needed to reconnect with myself—the version of me that loves thinking, analysing, and engaging with the world outside my family bubble.

So, I turned to books, articles, and their authors who reminded me that I’m still me—someone who’s curious and driven, even in the midst of this beautiful chaos. These reads helped keep my brain sharp, gave me a laugh when I needed one, and reminded me of the work I’m passionate about across the social impact sector. A few that stood out during these late-night feeds and quiet naptimes:

Eve Rodsky and Fair Play: Author of Fair Play, a book that provides a framework for couples to achieve a more equitable division of household responsibilities and parenting duties, promoting gender equality and work-life balance. All of Eve’s content was incredibly enlightening, especially for someone who has a truly 50-50 partnership (which in reality sometimes looks like 30-70, 20-80, or otherwise, based on workloads, mental loads, and life rollercoasters). I thought my partner and I had it all figured out until we threw a second kid into the mix, and I realized it didn’t matter how much we had excelled after child #1; we were going to need some radical communication to truly thrive after child #2. My partner and I broke out the Fair Play Cards during a date night in the middle of a bar to tackle how we’re managing life with two kids. The conversations it sparked were incredible, and now I can’t stop recommending these cards to all of my friends.
Tamara Hinckley’s Half Moon Hustle: A newsletter about the intersection of wellness, mental health, motherhood, and anything else that’s stressing out ambitious women. Tamara’s content helped psych me up for the return to work and balancing the transition from one to two. She nails the emotions, conundrums and general circular loops in my brain—and for many working parents. This reflection about attending a work social event or going home to be with one’s family, really resonated, as does all of her content.
Reshma Saujani: Founder of Moms First and champion for policies that support working mothers. I have been following her journey this year as she has been incredibly vocal about the impact of the Trump administration on women, emphasizing the need for inclusive policies. Her question to Trump at a recent event shed much-needed light on the childcare crisis in the US. I was so impressed with her courage, eloquence, and passion for this cause that I have been LinkedIn stalking her since (out of admiration, not creepiness). She has inspired me to be more active in using my voice to change policies that don’t work.
Vu Le and Non-Profit AF: A seasoned non-profit professional and author, his humour and insights into the nonprofit world have kept me laughing (out loud) and in the loop on sector trends and happenings. Check out his newsletter to “Make Tuesdays suck less,” as he puts it, and share this resource on how to support organizations in not engaging in “Crappy funding practices.”
Alison Taylor: A professor at NYU and author, I loved following her take on various sustainability topics to keep my brain buzzing. Her post about Climate Week and UNGA this year questioned the impact of the same old panels and events. Check out her new book Higher Ground, which offers some new perspectives on sustainability and an actionable guide for companies balancing ethical conundrums in a volatile world.

That’s a wrap on my list of books, authors and experts who kept me inspired during my maternity leave. Staying connected—both to others and to myself—was key in keeping my sense of purpose alive during my leave. It also reminded me that being a mom and an entrepreneur isn’t an either/or situation; I can (and should) hold both.

Public Service Announcement: It Wasn’t All Picture-Perfect

Now, I’d love to tell you that maternity leave was a picture-perfect dream, but that’s not quite the reality. There were plenty of sleepless nights, Netflix binges, and long walks with a baby who refused to nap. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real. And I think that’s important to acknowledge.
We see so many Instagram-worthy moments online, but behind the scenes, parenting is messy. It’s exhausting. And you’re going to have days where you feel like you’ve got nothing left to give. And that’s okay. Embracing those messy moments, giving myself grace, and being okay with not having everything together all the time was part of the journey.

What’s My Mantra Moving Forward?

As I jump back into work, my mantra is simple: Don’t do all the things. Just stop. Focus on what actually needs to get done in that hour, that day, or that week. The advice from my community, the experts, the books, and the influencers? It’s crystal clear—don’t try to do it all. And as hard as that is for me, that’s what I’m taking into this new chapter as a working mom of two and an entrepreneur. I’m not going to lie—sticking to this is going to be tough. My natural instinct is to say yes to everything, to try to balance it all, but I know that’s a recipe for burnout. So, I’m intentionally creating space for what truly matters. I’ll be sharing updates on how this pans out in reality (because let’s be real, I’m learning as I go), so stay tuned!

Looking Ahead: What’s in Store for the Remainder of the Year?

I’ve got some exciting things on the horizon, and I can’t wait to share them with you all. From new projects to continued coaching and consulting, I’m energized about the future, even though I know I’ll have to manage my time and energy carefully.

If there’s one thing maternity leave taught me, it’s that I don’t have to do everything all at once. The world will keep turning, and my work will still be there tomorrow. So, here’s to pacing myself, focusing on what matters, and embracing the wonderful (and sometimes chaotic) rhythms of family life and entrepreneurship.

I’d love for you to follow along as I navigate this new chapter—especially since I’m pretty sure my LinkedIn and SEO algorithms are completely out of whack after months away! Sign up for my newsletter to stay in the loop about new offerings, reflections on balancing work and life, and everything in between. Here’s to new beginnings, messy moments, and finding joy in the chaos!

“People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one.” — Said by many people; original attribution is unclear, probably because the person who said it was sleep-deprived and forgot to claim responsibility.

_______________________________________________________________________________Are you about to take a sabbatical, maternity leave, or another period of paid or unpaid break from work? Are you excited, completely overwhelmed, or maybe both? Do you have Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg ringing in your head, but don’t feel that this experience resonates at all with you? (Sidenote, it doesn’t for many). Reach out to me. In a complimentary 30-minute call, we can talk about a game plan to ensure that you have a productive break from work (sounds like an oxymoron, but this can mean many things), a smooth re-entry into the workforce, solid boundaries and strategies to prevent burnout, and overall, making sure you can thrive in both your personal and professional lives.

Thriving in the Chaos: Lessons from Maternity Leave and Returning to Work