First of all—congratulations on your third baby! ️ Returning to work, especially with travel involved, is a big transition, but with some planning and the right systems in place, it can be manageable. Here are some tips that have helped other working moms in my program with similar situations:

Scheduling & Managing Home & Work:

1. Time-block your calendar: Schedule dedicated work hours, pumping breaks, and buffer time for transitions between work and home life.

2. Delegate where you can: Whether it’s meal prep, housework, or daycare pickups, lean on your support system (partner, family, or even paid help).

3. Sunday planning: Take 15-30 minutes each weekend to map out the week ahead—outfits, meals, childcare logistics, and work tasks.

4. Streamline the mornings: Prep clothes, bags, and lunches the night before to avoid chaos.

Traveling for Work:

1. Set your husband/partner up for success - things like laying out the kids outfits; meal prepping lunches/dinners; reviewing the calendar and activities; solicit help from family or babysitter.

2. Find Connection, Even Though You’re Away - Things like making bracelets with your kids and each wearing them while you're gone. When your sad or miss each other you can look at the bracelet. There's teddy bears you can buy on amazon that let you record your voice, and your child can hit the button to hear your voice before bed. Writing notes that you put into the meal prepped lunches. Of course, facetiming in the morning and evening each day so your child can see your face and hear you. Word of advice, depending on the age of your child sometimes Facetime can make it worse if your child is young because they won't understand why you can't hold them.

3. Find Connection, Once You Get Home - You can cut out a "flat stanley" and take pictures of your trip and show them to your kids when you get home. One mom even started to draw a comic of her adventure that she read her kids to make it a fun way to learn about different cities/places.

4. Ditch the Guilt - Use the time on the flight or in the hotel as a way to catch up on work, so that when you get home you can be fully present and maybe even cut out early to be with your kids.

5. Enjoy Time Alone - Work travel is an opportunity for you to get extended periods alone and without interruption. Read, write, pray, mediate, and quiet your soul. Take a deep breathe in and "just be".

Breastfeeding While Traveling:

1. Shipping milk: If traveling for multiple days, services like Milk Stork can safely ship your milk home.

2. Plan ahead - Find a hotel in advance that has refridgeration options in the room.

3. Pack the Essentials - Bring a portable, battery-operated breast pump that fits into your bra directly to ensure you can pump anywhere (ie. the Willow). A manual pump too for a "just in case" item. Pack enough breast milk storage bags, extra pump parts, cleaning supplies, and a cooler with ice packs or a portable fridge.

4. Be early to everything - Show up early to airports - so you can pump before take off. Reserve early check-ins at your hotels to facilitate pumping on arrival.

5. Be early to everything - Show up early to airports - so you can pump before take off. Reserve early check-ins at your hotels to facilitate pumping on arrival.

6. Stay Hydrated - Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious meals to maintain your milk supply.

7. Keep a regular pumping schedule - Stick to your usual pumping schedule to maintain your milk supply and avoid discomfort. Aim to pump every 3-4 hours.

Most importantly—give yourself grace. Transitions are hard, but you’re setting an incredible example for your kids.

You’ve got this! ...... and you’re not alone! If you ever need someone to bounce ideas off of or just a little encouragement along the way, I’m here for you. I help working moms navigate these exact challenges—balancing career, home, and everything in between—so if there’s anything I can do to support you, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Wishing you a smooth transition back to work!

~Lauren

Hey there! Thanks for sharing—it’s a tough decision, and you’re definitely not alone in feeling this way. Many working moms that I’ve worked with have faced similar crossroads, so I wanted to share a few options for you to consider:

1. Stay in your career, but make it work better for you.
Flexibility can be a game-changer. Sometimes, small adjustments can make a big difference. If your job is high stress but you enjoy the work, consider advocating for flexibility to better navigate work and family life.

Here are some options:

• Work From Home: Even 1–2 days a week can help you feel more present at home while still contributing at work.
• Compressed Workweek: Work 3 longer days and have 4 days off with your family.
• Adjust Hours: Start earlier and end earlier to better align with your kids’ schedules.
• Job Sharing: Partner with a colleague to split a full-time role.
• Rework Your Job Description: Focus on what you love, reduce hours slightly, and delegate less-preferred tasks.

2. Lateral move.
If you love your company but not your role (or your boss), think about a shift to another team that’s less stressful or a better fit.

3. Find a family-friendly employer.
If your current company just isn’t cutting it, it might be time to explore companies that offer flexibility, hybrid work, or a culture that values work-life balance.

4. Go solo.
Consulting, freelancing, or starting your own thing could give you the freedom you’re craving, but it takes planning. Figure out what you’d offer, how much you’d need to earn, and start talking to your network.

5. Pursue your purpose.
If your current work isn’t fulfilling, maybe it’s time to rethink what you really want. Ask yourself: “If money wasn’t a concern, what would I do?” Then take baby steps toward that dream.

This is a big decision, but it’s clear you’re already putting thought into it. No matter which path you choose, remember that you’re not alone, and you’ve got this!

I’m here if you ever want to chat more 1:1.

Wishing you all the best,

Lauren

I hear you, and I completely understand how overwhelming it can feel when you're juggling so many roles at once. It’s exhausting, and it’s easy to wonder if you'll ever get off the hamster wheel of life. Small kids, work, family life—it can feel like there’s no time left for you. Sometimes, it feels like all you’re doing is functioning, and even that feels like a stretch. The truth is, you're not alone in feeling this way, and yes there is hope.

That post was from February, and I’m curious—are you still feeling like this? If so, let’s dive into what’s been working and what hasn’t. Sometimes just acknowledging how hard it is can be a small but powerful step toward finding that healthier place. I'd love to help brainstorm a few ways to make things more manageable, even in small, incremental ways. What does your typical day look like now?

I totally get it—finding time for yourself, especially to work out, can feel like an impossible task when you're juggling kids, work, and lack of sleep. It’s hard to prioritize exercise when you're running on fumes and just trying to make it through the day. You ladies are not alone in feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day. However, even small steps can make a big difference. Here are some helpful exercise tips that I've given to my working mom clients:

1. Start small, remember that 10-15 minutes here and there will add up over time.
2. Track your steps—I use fitbit — when you monitor them, you start to realize how active you truly are, and it can become a game to hit 10K steps.
3. At-home workouts save time commuting to a gym. Use online workout videos or apps like Beachbody or Peloton to guide your exercises.
4. Join the 5am Club—waking up before the kids allows some moms to work out before anyone else is up, leaving time for the morning routine guilt-free.
5. Include the kids—take them on stroller jogs, family walks, or play outside. It’s a great way to model the importance of exercise.
6. Utilize the weekends for longer workout sessions or outdoor activities.
7. Lastly, schedule exercise like an appointment—if your health is important, make time for it on your calendar.