Moments of Musing

From Lawyer to Working at Home – and Still Grateful for my Law Degree

Filed Under: career and motherhood, motherhood //


I recently asked S what his favorite thing about me was.⁣
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And then his least favorite.⁣
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I expected him to say when I yell or when I don’t let him watch YouTube.⁣
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“You work,” he said.⁣
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𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬? I wondered. I asked him what about me working didn’t he like since I work from home. ⁣
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I expected him to say I work all day or I’m on my phone too much. ⁣
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Instead, he said “Last week you went to work [I go into my office once every other week], and I was sad. I missed you.” ⁣
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This made me think: ⁣
1) I’m way harder on myself than my kids are on me, and ⁣
2) Sometimes it’s weird looking back on all the time, energy, money (and school loans) I invested into becoming a lawyer, and yet I don’t practice anymore. ⁣
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But in our one car conversation, my desire and decision to work from home in a non-lawyer role and in a different field (communications) were 𝘳𝘦-𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥. ⁣
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𝐈’𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠. ⁣
𝐈’𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈’𝐦 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞. ⁣
𝐈𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 — 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫. ⁣
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. ⁣
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Cheers to 3 years here as Moments of Musing! Thanks for your support.


Working From Home: 3-Month Recap

Filed Under: career, career and motherhood, motherhood, working from home, working mom //

It has been a little over three months working from home. Our routines have changed a bit, but for the most part things are going smoothly. Today, I’m spilling on what it has been like — what has worked, what hasn’t and how we’re all doing with this new change:

We have some new routines but I’m still figuring out my routine…

The very beginning was trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t. I was doing work at 2AM because I hadn’t carved out time during the day to do so. A couple days in, I did not know how I was going to do it — take care of the boys, the house, and myself while working in the middle of the night. It seemed impossible.

I soon realized I simply needed to make a new routine. I now try to wake up, check emails, serve the boys their breakfasts, feed them, and get back to work while they eat and play. I take little work breaks throughout the day to catch up on work so I am done by bed time. 
And though I hate to admit it, there are some days when I still do my work at 2AM …or 5AM or other odd hours. There are still times, I work in bed at night. I think this is okay though.  On days when I’m flying solo with the boys or they’re sick or extra needy for whatever reason, work waits until the late hours or bedtime or even weekends. 

All that being said, I think I work more odd hours now but also more efficiently. Motherhood has certainly helped teach me how to do so.

It can be overwhelming.

A big part of working from home can feel like stay-at-home motherhood plus the added work. I miss adult interaction. I do not get much time in my home office to get work done on my own. Instead the kitchen island has become my desk. 
It can be especially stressful when the boys are fighting or throwing tantrums or just want me to give them my time and attention. Focusing on work during those moments is nearly impossible so I just have to prioritize their needs above my work — being able to do so is the best part of working from home. 
Thankfully, I do not have to be by a computer for a set number of hours or during set times. I just have to be available somehow (cell is fine, usually); arrange in advance for video meetings or phone calls; and do my work in a timely manner. I have also had to discuss my capabilities, and what I need help with around the house with my husband, who is now mostly home, too.

I can’t do it all.

The biggest thing I have learned in this process is that as much as I want to do it “all,” I simply can’t. It’s impossible. I started out thinking I could work from home, take care of the house, care for the boys, and teach my older son preschool. I quickly realized I could not teach him the way he deserved to be taught and that he was missing out on socialization with other kids. 

So, we enrolled S in preschool. It gives us some time to spend with R, get things done around the house and possibly get some work done if R naps. S absolutely loves school and I know it was a great decision. I also realized that I need help with house work and taking care of the boys. I’ve had to ask my husband to help out more but I think we have a good groove now. 

It has been the best decision of my career thus far.

From what I’ve learned, the early years of motherhood are very busy chaotic. Some Many days, motherhood trumps all and takes most of my time and attention. This happens more often than not, in a ll honestly. Working from home enables me to shift my work priorities to prioritize my most important role – being their mom. My position also still challenges me,  fosters interaction with co-workers, and one of the best parts is that I do not have a resume or income gap. 
I am forever grateful that I have achieved as close to a balance as it gets in my career, and I can only hope it will continue this way while still being able to grow professionally. 

It’s OK to Step Away from your Career Path

Filed Under: career and motherhood, motherhood, working mom, working motherhood //

It’s been almost two weeks since I began working from home full time. It was a career decision three years in the making. Today, I am writing to speak to all of you moms who might be feeling a pull in a similar direction. 



Motherhood is such a monumental and transformative journey. Adapting your career to fit your vision of motherhood can be okay.. and important.

At some points, I was feeling too down on myself. My expensive, three-hour commute (roundtrip) was wearing on me. Spending so much time away from my home made for messy, unorganized spaces. Grocery runs had to be done very early in the morning during the week, if at all. I was exhausted and stretched thin at times. And who is that good for? It’s not. It isn’t good for anyone– clients, bosses, and especially my family or me.

I knew I needed a change and when an opportunity presented itself, I took steps to negotiate the details. I wanted to make it happen. I needed to make it happen for my happiness and for my family’s lifestyle.

And the key to it all is that I did not need anyone else’s permission to do it. (I did, however, have to speak it over with my husband to make sure it was a good family decision.)

I realized the only person who needed to give me permission was myself. 

Permission to step away from my linear career path.

Permission to be gracious to myself during the transition.

Permission to have different career goals and plans than I had pre-motherhood.

Permission to follow my heart.

Everyone else understood. But I needed to be on board myself now to feel completely confident in my decision.

If you, too, are struggling with motherhood and your career, lean in to what you want to do and do what you can to make whatever that is happen. It might take years to come to fruition but keep at it.

You’re a go getter and a goal getter — you’ll get there, mama.