Choosing a Career First: My Journey to Motherhood in My 30s

Why I Delayed Motherhood For My Career

I always knew that I wanted both – a fulfilling career as a lawyer and a family. But I wasn’t so sure about the timeline. After finishing law school and earning two master’s degrees, I was already 26. I had worked hard to get there, and it felt like the next step had to be proving myself in the professional world. For the next several years, my focus was clear: build something. Earn respect. Make a name for myself. I thrived on long hours, late-night projects with pizza and the constant buzz of ambition. I was available 24/7 and loved the pace, the growth, the validation. Becoming a mom? That could wait. Right then, I was all-in on my career- and at the time, nothing else felt more important.

Mom-In-The-Making

As I entered my 30s, the topic of having kids came up more frequently. My friends from University were celebrating their child’s first steps while I was still focused on my next job title. Suddenly, the pressure to have kids started to feel real. Had I waited too long? Could I balance both – being a mom and chasing my ambitions career? Well, we were about to find out.

The Reality Of Becoming A Mom In My 30s

After getting pregnant, I struggled to shift my focus from prioritizing my job to prioritizing myself and my health. Even during maternity leave, I couldn’t fully step away. Emails still needed answers, projects still moved forward, and I refused to let go of the career I had spent years building. Then, my body had other plans. During labor, complications led to health issues that took much longer than expected to recover from and no amount of determination could change that. Meanwhile, the corporate world kept moving. My inbox overflowed, deadlines piled up, and my team really needed me. But at the same time, so did my tiny daughter. Suddenly, I wasn’t so sure if I could truly do it all.

Discovering The New Version Of Me

It took time—longer than I expected—to discover the new me. I had to accept that I couldn’t do it all the way I used to. Success looked different now, and that was okay. I had to redefine what it meant to “have it all,” let go of perfection, and learn to ask for help. Some days are still messy, and I’m still learning. But what I’ve come to realize is that being both a present mom and a driven lawyer isn’t about doing everything flawlessly- it’s about showing up, doing your best, and giving yourself grace along the way.

Here are a few things that helped me balance my career and motherhood:

• Let go of perfectionism- sometimes, “done” is better than “perfect”, both at home and at work.
• Set your own boundaries and honor them, both at work and at home. It will help you protect energy.
• Learn to say no without feeling guilty-saying no is part of sustainable success.
• Delegate like a boss, both at work and at home-you don’t have to do it all by yourself.
• Create your own flexible routine-it will be your new superpower.
• Use help where possible-for example, home delivery for groceries, cleaning services, or help from grandma and grandpa.
• Create some me-time for yourself, even if it’s only 10 minutes-something that gives you positive energy.

Would love to hear from other moms who took this journey later in life. What’s helped you find balance? What surprised you most about this new chapter? Let’s support each other.