Have you ever been career shamed if you are a mom?! I know I certainly have, and I am confused as to why this is still happening to us in 2025. If moms want to stay home, great. If moms want to have careers, awesome. We have to do what is best for our families and our mental health as moms. It is frustrating that moms are still being shamed for what we decide to do with our careers once our kids are born. If we choose to stay at home, we are putting too much pressure on our partners who are working. If we decide to work, then we are not spending enough time raising our kids. Moms really can’t seem to win no matter what we choose.

Before I became a mom in 2022, I was a middle school teacher. I dedicated my whole life to becoming a teacher. It was all I had ever wanted to do with my life. I knew that I was going to take a year off after Caia was born, and then I intended to go back to work. Well that obviously didn’t go as planned due to my postpartum OCD situation. During the year that I was off work and in therapy, I realized that I would rather stay with my daughter. I felt I deserved a chance to enjoy being a mom free from postpartum OCD.

My husband and I agreed that me staying home was the best course of action for our family. Unfortunately, others didn’t see it that way. I have received so many judgements for staying at home. People have made comments about how I must have so much “free time” while my poor husband is at work. Don’t get me wrong, I 100% appreciate my husband for providing for us while I stay at home, but staying home is a job too. I am truly lucky if I get twenty minutes to myself during the day.

During my time in therapy treatment for postpartum OCD, I also realized I no longer wanted to be a teacher anymore. I have decided I want to change my career path and move towards helping moms with their mental health. What I went through with postpartum OCD truly changed me, and I want to help moms who have been through the same thing. That is why I started this blog and got involved with PSI. I love being a stay at home mom, but I have come to realize I want something for myself too.

If there is one thing I have learned from my time as a mom, it is that what we decided to do with our careers is truly our business. Moms have to give up so much when our babies are born, and sometimes that means careers too. No matter what we decide to do, stay at home, or work, it always seems to be up for comment. Neither option is easy, and we should stop getting shamed for what we decide to do. Becoming a mom is hard enough without all the shame and judgment we face for our career choices. The shame and judgment is so 2024.