Motherhood, a Career and the Silent Delay We Don’t Talk About

When I became a mother, I knew life would change—but I wasn’t quite prepared for how much it would stretch every part of me, especially when it came to my career.

I’ve always been ambitious, driven, and intentional about the spaces I occupy. But motherhood has a way of pausing things without warning. It’s not just about the maternity leave or the sleepless nights—it’s the mental load, the constant juggling, the emotional labour of raising a tiny human who is wholly dependent on you. That kind of responsibility shifts your focus entirely.

Your career, once a clear and carefully built path, suddenly feels blurry and distant. And when you try to get back into it, there’s this silent pressure to “catch up.” You see your peers moving forward—new titles, promotions, more visibility—while you’re just trying to survive another day of teething, tantrums, and sleep regressions.

There’s also this expectation, especially as a woman, to keep everything together. To look well. To be well. To perform at work. To be present at home. To love your children deeply while still being “yourself.” But the truth is, for the first two years (at least), you’re often just coping. Some days, barely.

And no one really prepares you for that overwhelming feeling of not recognizing yourself. You miss who you were—your energy, your creativity, your clarity. You grieve the version of yourself who could work late without guilt, who had time to dream out loud without worrying about nap schedules or day-care costs.

But slowly—ever so slowly—things begin to shift. The fog starts to lift. Your baby becomes a toddler. You reclaim small pockets of time. You start to think again, breathe again, plan again.

And when that moment comes, don’t rush it. Don’t feel ashamed that it took time. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re behind. You’re not. You’ve been doing sacred, unseen work. You’ve been becoming stronger in ways that can’t be measured by performance reviews or LinkedIn updates.

So to every woman reading this who feels like her career is on pause, like she’s forgotten, or like she’s starting from the bottom again—I see you.

Take it one day at a time. Be patient with yourself. You don’t have to bounce back. Just take a step forward—however small—with the grace you’ve been given for today.

And when you’re ready, get back in the game. But do it on your terms. With your strength. With your story. And with the wisdom that only motherhood could have given you.