Becoming a parent shifts everything, especially the delicate dance between work and life. Many parents feel overwhelmed, torn between professional ambition and new responsibilities at home. Why is it so hard to confront the tough questions about work, and how can facing them unlock new possibilities?

Why We Get Stuck

Parenthood can feel like being thrown into deep waters, struggling to stay afloat under work and family demands. We, along with society, often underestimate the deep identity shift that parenthood brings, treating it as something to “fit into” our lives without much reflection. This can leave us feeling overwhelmed, fearful of losing career momentum, and guilty for not being “enough” in either role.

The real challenge lies in asking the big questions:

  • What does success look like now that I’m a parent?
  • How can I balance ambition with responsibility?
  • What does work mean to me now?

Yet, many of us struggle to even identify these big questions, let alone answer them—why? We often minimise the impact of becoming a parent, convincing ourselves that these questions shouldn’t arise at all. Our emotions—overwhelm, guilt, fear—get in the way. As a generation, we’re navigating emotional agility, learning to regulate our feelings while teaching our children to do the same. And, understandably, we fear the answers these questions might reveal.

Creating Space for New Possibilities

Once we acknowledge the importance of these questions, how do we step into them? We need to:

1. Regulate: Step out of survival mode and allow ourselves space for safe reflection. This can be hard, and support from others can be invaluable.

2. Be Radically Honest: Deeply recognise what has changed and where the tension lies.

3. Get Creative: Let go of the illusion of balance. Many parents, especially mothers, are carving new paths and reimagining work-life integration. What would your dream design for life and work look like?

What’s Possible?

By asking these tough questions, new opportunities emerge—redefining success, exploring new careers, or finding more flow between work and family life. Have you truly taken time to reflect on these questions? It could change everything.

Ready to Tackle Your Big Questions?

Feeling stuck between your career and parenthood? You don’t have to navigate it alone. Schedule a free discovery call today, and let’s explore how 1:1 coaching can help you find more flow and vitality in both work and life.

 

Charlie Lyons is a partner Coach with Careering into Motherhood. She empowers parents in leadership roles to excel professionally and maintain a deep sense of wellbeing. Charlie is also a clinically trained trauma professional. You can find out more about her and her work, including fees, client testimonials and current programmes here.