Being a working mom with three kids and a husband who worked shifts often felt like I was being pulled in every direction. The early years were a blur of sleepless nights and daycare drop-offs, while the teenage years came with new emotional challenges. I tried to be everything for everyone—at home and at work—but there was a moment that stopped me in my tracks: two of my kids broke their clavicles on the same day, and my boss still expected me to get on a plane for a work trip. That moment made it clear that my priorities needed to shift. I made the choice to stay home and start redefining what balance looked like for me. It wasn’t easy—there was guilt, financial stress, and the constant feeling that I was somehow letting someone down. But over time, I figured out how to tune out the noise and focus on what truly mattered. I’ve talked with other moms facing similar struggles, especially around setting boundaries with employers and letting go of the guilt that comes with trying to do it all.