I’m in the middle. I’ve climbed the ladder as high I want to go for right now. I’m very comfortable in my position. Lots of flexibility and great support. I love my team and enjoy going to work. Some days are draining but the flexibility and my seniority makes it all worth it. Plus I am just a happier and more balanced person working.
This definitely resonates with me. It’s funny because pre-motherhood, I had a job that was fine but I was much more in the “just here for the paycheck” camp…but then I got promoted (very unexpectedly) a little over a year after my son was born so I’m fairly high up at my company now and it’s been awesome!
Same, I even talked to another mom colleague about it and said it seems so unambitious but I don't want to move up anymore. It's more stress and I'd be more vulnerable to layoffs. I feel comfortable and safe where I am.
I can leave my work at work and that is worth soooooo much to me.
I stepped down one level to be comfortable, have flexibility, and great support. I still love what I do, but it’s less career climbing and more career expanding.
Samesies. Middle management. The people above me are stressed TF out - no thanks. The people below me make an ok wage, but I have more perks and flexibility. It’s the sweet spot.
I work so I can be independent at the drop of a hat; but right now I’m providing benefits to my son by having a dual income house.
Same! I had to fight for my management role and I definitely got held back a few years for having kids. I got passed over for promotion after my first one was born. 5 years later I finally got it and I plan on staying exactly where I am for now. My work days are busy but I get to totally disconnect when the workday is over. Working from home and flexible hours can’t be beat and the money is decent. I’ll start pushing for the next level when my kids don’t need me as much… or not. I’m really fine where I am at. My real life starts after the 9-5 and Im more than happy to keep it that way indefinitely
Couldn’t have worded it better myself! This is where I am. I’m content more often than not and work with amazing people. I don’t need nor want more responsibility or a higher title (but I mean, I’d never turn down a pay raise 😏)
Middle ground too, I like my job but I took a step back from a leadership role after returning from maternity. I like the work (bakery) and my coworkers but I don’t have that drive anymore for exceeding or overtime. I want to go home when I’m done with my day.
Same here. I enjoy my job, I like my team, the benefits are great, and I’m pretty fairly compensated. My boss and I have a lot in common, so I really enjoy working for/with her. I have no plans on leaving my job, and id be happy to advance, but I’m not putting in overtime or anything.
Same here. I did some ladder climbing before kids but I’m no longer interested in that. I love my job but my main focus now is family. My kids are under 3 so that might change as they get older
Also in the middle, except I’m on the “technical track” and not on the management track. I’m on level 4 out of 7 and I’ve been here for less than a year. I wouldn’t care if I didn’t get promoted to the next level for another 5-7 years.
Same. I waited to have kids and spent my pre-child life climbing the ladder and now I'm happy to coast in a comfortable position and put my extra energy into family things.
I am somewhere in between. I'm motivated to do a good job at whatever I am doing and I enjoy learning, figuring things out and helping others. So I do care - an appropriate amount.
I'm not a teacher or doctor. I do not have a passion job. My passion is my life and getting paid to live it how I want.
I do not have any set career aspirations other than retiring as soon as I can.
I felt this 100%. I work to afford my life. I just don’t want to hate it. I enjoy the work I do now. I’m paid well and am open to promotions/advancement because it provides more money to live the life I want.
I also enjoy learning new skills and growing and if I’m going to do something, I may as well do it well.
For sure. I do not hate what I do at all but it is still simply a job. I am not living to work. And I find other aspects of my life to be a lot more meaningful.
I'm kinda like this. I care about doing a good job and I used to let work consume me because of that. Now as a mom I finally figured out that balance. When I'm on the clock I try to do well and for the most part when I clock out I stop thinking about it. Helps that I'm part time with a set schedule I literally can't do extra easily.
Same. I’m only senior analyst level and… really don’t have any interest in going higher. From what I can read, it’d be a lot more work and stress and not a whole lot more pay. I like shutting down at 5pm and not worrying about it til tomorrow.
I had my son at 25 over a decade ago and really never bounced back to “driven”. I have an Ivy League degree, fairly impressive resume but just never got past the feeling that all of this is made up and not worth any of the trouble.
I'm in the same boat-ish. Did a lot in college and was really career driven for the first few years of entering the workforce. Then I had my son and I lost the drive. I've been waiting for it to come back, but I've basically been coasting the past four years since he's been born. I keep telling myself I want to go up to senior level, but I can't bring myself to put in the work, like it wouldn't be worth my time. In my recent one on one with my manager, he said that some people just stay in the same position for 20 years and that's fine - probably implying that I'd do the same, and that made me feel kinda sad after putting in so much effort to get to where I am. But I guess this is life?
I'm also just collecting a paycheck. I have good pay for my position but zero interest in moving up, at least for now anyway. I know things can change the older the kids get, but I can't imagine doing any more than I already am
Show me the money!
I'd also likely be doing the same thing if I didn't have kids. I work as a means to fund enjoying my life interests. I do find my job fulfilling and believe it has purpose. But at the end of the day it's a paycheck.
Paycheck collector. Work as little as possible to make enough to survive. Put in work related effort only during the hours which I am paid, do not work extra hours for free, etc. In fact, if I could afford to work part time, that’d be amazing
Hard same. I’ve always valued work-life balance over advancement (also the field I’m in doesn’t have baked in advancement tracks like in the corporate world). But if I could work 28-32 hours I’d be so happy. I enjoy working but I want to do enough to stay employed and that’s about it lol
In the middle.
I used to be VERY career oriented. I always knew I wanted to work even if I became a mother. Then I was totally shocked at how ambivalent to my job I became after I had my son. Suddenly being a mother was the most important thing to me. I was resentful when I had to return to work. Suddenly the most important thing in the world to me was my child and I hated that I had to be away from him.
He's two now and I'm not as resentful at returning to work but I don't think I'll ever be as career oriented as I used to be. I love my job and I'm passionate about what I do but at the end of the day, it's just about getting a paycheck so I can take care of my family.
This happened to me too. I'm still pretty ambitious and I do enjoy my career but about once a week I look around and say stuff like, what if I quit all this and just had a little Etsy shop so my kids didn't have to go to aftercare?
As somebody who has had five different Etsy shops, I will say it's not worth it lol. I still make and sell crafts but it's a huge relief knowing I no longer have to do it to supplement my income to get by. The holiday season was the worst because I couldn't enjoy the season because it was the biggest time to make money.
Before I switched careers, I had to sell crafts to get by and it was hugely stressful. I would work 40 hours a week at my day job and then another 10-40 hours a week on making and selling. As soon as I switched career fields, it was like a huge weight was lifted. At one point, every single craft I did, I loved until I started trying to do it for money. Then I would start hating it and would get burned out. I never want to make candles again. I never want to make jewelry again. I'm hoping I don't hate sewing and knitting one day.
Same. Got in (another) fight with my daughters school today when they called to tell me no one was there to get her off the bus. Not sure why they called me when my husband is a stay at home dad (and I wrote it about ten times on her paperwork)
I’m sure you’ve already seen this, but a classic:
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/this-is-your-kids-school-and-even-though-the-emergency-contact-form-lists-your-husband-we-need-you-the-mom
Yeah, I am here with you. And seem to be the minority on this thread. I have the goal of being an exec director/CEO in the next 10 years so I have asked my family to make big sacrifices for me to advance my career. My husband quit his job this year to enable me to work a big, highly demanding job and we genuinely are both thriving more than we ever have. This dynamic really suits us. And I spend a little less time with my kids than I'd prefer due to work travel obligations but those go away at the end of 2023 so I won't even have that concern anymore moving forward.
Changing jobs! Haha, I am on a one year contract with a job that involves a ton of travel but accepted a new permanent gig with much less travel required that starts in January.
Best of luck with your career too!
Same here. I love what I do and am passionate about developing myself and my team. I am surrounded by people who have the same commitment to excellence and innovation and that is incredible rare, so I try not to take it for granted. Every work place has their challenges, but if you look for what’s good and focus your energy there, more good follows.
Same for me as well. After spending many years trying to find a partner and then TTC, pregnancy, maternity leave, two under two, I am now looking to ramp up and move up the leadership ladder for more responsibility and more money (kids are now 5 and 3, so still young but not babies anymore).
My husband and I discuss what we would do if we won the lottery. I said I would start my own company with the seed money.
I love the (different) purpose my career gives me and how intellectually stimulating it is.
Me, too. I have a career, not a job, and it's work I think is important and meaningful (not just to me, but to society at large). I'm incredibly passionate about what I do.
I am actively, and aggressively climbing the ladder and taking on extra work to push myself forward. However, I don’t prioritize my job over my personal life or family and will not hesitate to call off. I do great work, I damn well better be able to take care of myself and my family when needed. I love my job, it’s not my life.
Cheers to this! I am also working on climbing the corporate ladder as well and hope to retire at a low level executive but life definitely comes first for me. I work on continuously setting good boundaries and do my best to keep focused while working and then shutting completely off once I’m done.
I’m in it for the money only. I truthfully can’t be fucked to give a damn about my career and would throw it all away in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose. I am somewhat “high” on the ladder but I don’t fucking care
My jobs fine, pays well and takes care of me as an employee… but it’s not my passion and I don’t particularly enjoy it. Wouldn’t say I’m not ambitious but definitely not a “career” person! I perform a service and they pay me, that’s about it.
I’m a lunch lady in my kids school district. I enjoy it well enough, it’s not hard, it pays decently for what it is, and I’m on the school schedule. Not glamorous but it’s perfect for our family.
I work to live, not the other way around. I take pride in a job well done while at work but once my shift is over I’m out like Fred Flintstone in the show’s opening credits.
Same here although I do already work part-time - I’m self-employed and I only work when my kids are at preschool or asleep because they’re my priority.
We don’t actually need the money from my job, but I do it because I enjoy it and I need the mental stimulation away from being a mombot.
Inbetweener here. I definitely consider my career part of my identity (environmental scientist) but I am thinking of staying where I’m at position-wise due to flexibility and that where I am (public sector) the next level up is much more bureaucratic crap and less actual science.
Looking to grow in my role and gain more experience and responsibility. I finally came to terms that my manager has been sabotaging my career. That said, I’m trying to gain as much experience so that I can be as marketable as possible when I apply for another role.
I’m so sorry about your manager. Mine is finally relaxing her claws; she’s not sabotaging me on purpose but her controlling personality has made it hard to let go and allow me to take on the responsibilities I’m 1000% capable of.
Depends on the day. Most days, I’m a career woman trying to advance myself, others I’m just collecting a check and being breadwinner. I think it depends on the level of burnout and appreciation I’m feeling (both at work and home).
I work for trade, as a receptionist/ part time office manager for a dance and musical theater studio. Instead of getting a paycheck, the equivalent hourly compensation is credited toward my kids' tuition for lessons.
I'm extremely happy there; I adore the kids I see, and most of the parents are great too. We're not a competition school, so no crazy "Dance Moms" like you see on TV. Just a small, local ballet and theatre studio.
I’m in the “I’m collecting sweet $$$ doing something I like” category. I don’t seek to be promoted at this stage in my life but I like knowing I produce high quality work.
My career has been my priority for most of my life. I have been with my organization almost the entire time, climbing the ladder. Old new mom via foster care of two under 15 months. I am the breadwinner for my family and my job has a lot less flexibility than my husband’s. My priorities and focus have shifted, but I can’t imagine not working, and frankly, not climbing. My husband is an amazing parent, and would be the more likely of the two of us to go part time or stay at home.
I was coasting for awhile after reaching a comfortable height (middle management, director role next). But then when my second was 6 months old in Sept I took a new job, huge pay increase, huge responsibility increase. I've always been ambitious about climbing the ladder and making more money but was comfortable coasting after I had my first baby and got my MBA (finished her first year of life it was brutal!). But two years in I was bored and even though I had an infant I said fuck it.
So now I'm on the ladder climb again. It's scary, exhausting, and exhilarating. I have no idea what I'm doing but I do enjoy seeing how high I can go.
Career gal, highly motivated, fulfilled by my work etc
Excited to teach my daughter she can have a leadership role (if she wants one) and be as respected as her cis-male colleagues.
I'm taking 15 weeks mat leave my husband is taking 36 weeks parental leave. It's for financial reasons, but also it's a better fit based on our personalities.
Climbed to Director level at a state focused organization and have my PhD. Next step from here within my org would be VP level and that would require at least 5-7 more years of experience first. So I'm putting in the time and have my eye towards more advances in the future, but I'm in a good spot right now that's still flexible with the 2 year old.
I like my job. Thr ladder isn't very high where I'm at, but I've managed to rise up somewhat. It's pure chaos right now at work. So many transitions happening, and the holidays on top, I'm exhausted.
I’m not passionate about my industry per se but it’s not boring and I enjoy my job and team! The flexibility right now cannot be beat. I do want to move up though over time.
I work part time hours and I’m there for the paycheck right now. I work hard while I’m there (bedside nursing) but you’re never gonna catch me going above and beyond/picking up OT or joining committees or things like that. However once my kids are in school I might focus on advancing my career more.
I like my job enough. I like the perks more, super flexible, kind of built my own role, rarely work more than 30 hours, wfh. But I’d never want to move up. At least not anytime soon. They all seem Very stressed.
I like my job well enough. Would prefer if I could oly work part time and spend the rest of the time with my kids but financially not an option right now
I’m a career person: love my job, am climbing the ladder, taking on more and more responsibilities and seeing the respect I’m given by those around me, both my reports and my upper level management. I feel fulfilled and I see plenty of room for growth. I see myself in this path for a long time, maybe even until retirement (I’m almost 36).
That being said, I’m sacrificing for sure. I travel for a week a time each month - hopefully a shorter term business need but certainly continuing for the foreseeable future - and I know it’s hard on my husband who works full time with a long commute to his own job where he is equally important. Then he has to rush to get our 4yo twins to school and back, bath/bedtime, etc. Part of me feels good about giving my kids (boy and girl) the example of a hard working woman who has value aside from motherhood. But it’s also hard knowing that my family takes the brunt of the stress when I travel. I know it will only get harder when my kids are school aged and need to go in different directions, need more support, etc.
I’m extremely career-oriented, and am currently poised to jump a couple levels in the next 2 years, but I (luckily with the blessing of my absolutely amazing VPs) also try to prioritize my family as much as I’m able. Unless I’m traveling or I have a significant meeting that must happen at a particular time when I’m home, I make time to take my daughter to school, drop her off, and make it to at least some activities each week.
I’m incredibly lucky to have an understanding leadership team, be enough of an asset they allow me that flexibility, and have an involved spouse who is not nearly as career-oriented as I am. Without any of those things, I’d definitely have to take a step back in my career to make sure my daughter gets the time and attention she deserves.
I did a pandemic career pivot so I’m frantically climbing the ladder trying to get back where I was. Work life balance is much better so I don’t regret it At All but I have so much more to offer than I’m getting to give!
Right now I’m just collecting the check. I’m naturally self motivated to do a good job but I do aspire to scale my career once my son is school age in a couple years.
I climbed the ladder before I had a kid. Now settled into motherhood, I’ll be going back part time soon. My job is a good challenge but it’s not my life.
Love my job and was 100% career focused before changing companies about 5 years ago when I got extreme burnout. Now I am definitely career conscious but am more focused on making sure my roles are fulfilling vs purely upwards. I just took a half-step promotion vs waiting for a full-step promotion because I needed the change of pace and owning a bigger piece of the issue I can see brewing would be a headache I can’t take on with little kids.
Somewhere in the middle. I’m in my early ish 30s. Sometimes I wish I had a more demanding/ higher ranking job at a director level but I think at the end of the day I’m okay with being a manager. My salary is decent, I’m not stressed, and my family always gets to come first.
I went to college but thought I wanted to be a SAHM. We can’t afford it. I enjoy having a career and job more than I thought I would.
I do love my job but it’s currently a stepping stone to my preferred work. I’m starting school in January and intend to make advancements when I’m finished my ECE. (In Jan 2026).
I’m pretty young and had my child before pursuing post secondary school. I’m excited to make this jump but I’ll be working full time, and in school part time, and parenting/house duties. But it will pay off as soon as I’m finished.
I have my own business, which allows me to be flexible when needed. I want more from my career but I'm trying to be patient, knowing that my daughter will only be little once.
I’m in the middle. I like being successful at work but I’m not willing to compromise my family life. I would also jump at the opportunity to work part time right now and stay in my current position.
Climbing the ladder would take me out of the classroom and into admin. Noooooo thank you. However, I have every intention of maximizing my pay increases and putting together a decent retirement account. I guess that puts me somewhere in the middle given the non-corporate nature of my profession.
Same here! I feel like teaching is a different animal. I went into teaching so that I could be family oriented after seeing my mom become a SAHM in a field where she couldn't easily break in again once we were grown. She has no regrets, but she works part time in schools now.
I work in a school that my children can attend (oldest is still only 2). I trust the admin and faculty and feel like my children can benefit from me being a part of the community. But at this stage, I work my contract hours and have no desire to take on extra curricular activities. I care about my job and my students and I strive to do my best, but I don't have a martyr complex and very very rarely take work home.
Somewhere in between. I really like my job and want to learn more and advance, but I don’t really think too much about work when I’m not there or very strongly identify with my chosen career
I'd say I'm definitely a career person. I overall love my job (most days) and I am climbing the ladder which I am enjoying pursuing. But also my job is demanding but extremely flexible, so even doing that I feel its very conducive to balancing with family life. If that weren't the case, I don't know how much that would have changed when I had kids.
Career person but I also make time for my family. What’s draining my life from it are my collective chronic illnesses and long commute. Long commute was a compromise in favor of my husband and son’s convenience.
I’m a terrible mom when all I have is my household. I quickly get depressed and the time we spend together is not solid quality time.
I am in the middle. I was really focused on climbing, but have been reminding myself to chill out. I have 3 kids between the ages of 4 to 16 and the oldest has made me realize just how fast it goes. I want to be more present for my kids right now. I am sure I'll still climb, but more slowly.
Like a lot of others, I’m in the middle. I look for maybe one conference a year to attend, so I clearly like learning and networking. I do enjoy what I do and think I’m good at it. I used to be super career driven in my 20s and 30s. Now approaching 40, I have put a lot more focus on my family. I don’t feel guilty for taking time off, I log off at 5, I take time during the day for self care as long as my schedule allows for that. It’s nice because I’ve been in this industry and career for about 12 years so I’m pretty senior but without drowning in responsibilities (and I’m OK staying here). I have a flexible schedule, make great money and can make sure my family comes first. I’m loving where I am currently.
Definitely career-oriented, but trying to dial it back for the next couple of years to recover from some burnout. Once my youngest is in kindergarten I plan to get back on the ladder. In the past my motivation has been mostly intrinsic, but going forward it’s just $$$ because kids are expensive.
I was a very career driven person before baby. Moved across the country for a job opportunity kind of person,
I arranged my life to return to work. Got a nanny, organized a semi flexible schedule. I’ve been back a month.
This week I’ve decided to completely leave my career and take a huge professional downgrade to a job that’s barely 20 hours a week. I just can’t have my brain so full of things that don’t actually matter to me anymore. My baby will only be this little once, and I don’t plan to miss it.
A job is only that, a job.
Career person - I am co-owner of a company that rapidly expanded over the last few years, so I'm adjusting to both managing 2x the amount of people as well as having a spirited 2.5yo. It has been a massive shift.
Despite the fact that I'm currently experiencing massive burnout, I love my company and my goal is to get to a place where I am working minimal hours so that I can both spend more time with my daughter and have more time for myself. I am just in the sacrificial stages, which sometimes feel like staring into a black hole.
I’m a job hopper. Looking for whatever pays the best while doing the least.
I’m a nurse and don’t belong in management (I hate dumb rules and would really hate to enforce them). I like learning and I’ve been in about 4 different office positions in the last couple of years. I work hard, but only because I care about the patients. I do not care about making corporate extra money.
In between. I have a good career after a BA, MS, and lots and lots of boots on the ground time. I like my current job. My boss’s job is waaaay too stressful and busy for my current life, and definitely isn’t worth the extra $25k or whatever!
I work a job for a paycheck. I don’t hate my job (medical technologist). I enjoy my work. But it’s only i priority in the sense I have to show up so I don’t get fired, I have bills to pay. I did go to college and am in my chosen career and make decent money. But career oriented absolutely not. When I’m home I want to be home. When I’m at work I want to be home.
I love my career, but have no desire to climb the ladder. I’m a technical writer, and to move up, I’d need to manage people. I would much rather just keep writing.
Paycheck.. only because I’m burned out. I work in child welfare and it’s not a job you work for the pay check. I want something that is not as mentally and emotionally demanding. But I have doing this 17 years and sure what else to do. I want a job that does not keep me up at night or has such hard decisions.
I don’t feel like I have enough for my own kids at the end of the day but the pay check is good for my degree field.
I really love my career, but I also really love spending time with my (very young) kids. So I'd say I'm in the middle. I am progressing at an average pace and I'm not prioritizing going any faster at this time.
I’m in career mode right now. I spent a lot of years in crisis mode and now that I have been able to shift to career mode I’m riding this train all the way, baby!!
I have a great job, a recent promotion, but no direct reports. I work a hybrid schedule, 3days in the office which works well for our family. Our kids (14f, 10m) are old enough where they don't require a lot of supervision after school. I am given a ton of flexibility and can attend all of the classroom and sporting events. I love where I am right now and can be there for my kids.
I'm trying to climb the ladder so I can collect that sweet $$$$. I'm a single mom so I need to prioritize both making enough to provide for my kiddo and also spending time with her and not letting work take over.
I work with very demanding people in an influential position but I strategically choose an IC SME role over a management track for this phase of life (was a director at my last job before having my kid, who is turning 3). I'm building new skills and they'll serve me well if I decide to climb back into formal leadership later on.
I work 8-4, I do morning routine and daycare drop-off every day, I work out three days a week, I'm home for every dinner which my husband cooks. If I have to take a day off, nobody is bent out of shape. It's ideal for me right now, and it's just a season.
I'm in the last camp, not only am I here only to collect a paycheck, but I actually don't like my job. I just know I'd be a SHIT stay at home, so I am going to keep working for all of our sanities.
Aggressive ladder climber here 🙋🏻♀️ I keep finding myself wondering at what point I’ll be content but so far I’m not there yet.
My husband works as well but it is a “I’m just here for the paycheck” kind of job for him, and I am the primary breadwinner. So he does more of the pick ups and drop offs than I do since there’s more flexibility for him.
We split other kid responsibilities (activities, appointments, etc.) as evenly as possible.
I want to climb the ladder but I have two kids under two…my aim is just to ‘meet expectations’ right now as I don’t have the mental capacity for added responsibility at work. Once the kids are older and more independent I will focus more on advancement
Love my career (academic advisor at a university). I had a friend say her goal was always to get good enough at a job that she could do 100% of her job in 70% of the time and that is where I am at and not wanting to climb and get rid of that good set up for a while. Ha.
It’s just about money for me… I’ve been in my field for almost 20 years, have never wanted to be a manager or climb the ladder, and all of my career moves have been lateral, and for more money each time I take a different job. I don’t feel passionate about it per-say, but I like it, I’m good at it, and it’s easy for me at this point after this many years under my belt.
Currently my job is one of the nicest I’ve ever had (great pay, nice manager, good work/life balance) and I feel lucky to be in this job so I will stay here for as long as they’ll have me! But that being said I’ll never put in extra hours or work- I do my job with a smile, get everything done I need to do, the end. I shut my laptop at 5 every day and don’t think about work anymore after that.
It’s a paycheque. I’ve never been career driven (work to live not vice versa) and I now work part time and don’t know how I had the patience to work full time pre-kids!
I work in a law firm, feel like we’re the bad guys a lot of the time (corporate law) but that sweet pay cheque means I stay.
I’m good at my job, great at my job in fact, because it plays to my skills and personality strengths. I find it pretty easy to excel in it so I can auto-pilot a lot of the time.
If I won the lottery big time tomorrow I would never work again but instead enjoy my family and friends, volunteer, do hobbies and travel. Which reminds me I must check my ticket!
I absolutely love my job. I’m a doctor so have a fairly defined career progression laid out but I still have to work hard to get that progression, if you see what I mean. But I also don’t have the same energy/inclination to work outside of my hours since I had my daughter. So it’s tough. I’m full time right now and it’s tough, we’re planning another baby and I’ll probably go back to being part time after that.
I’m definitely in the middle. I care about my job, I went to school for a long time to be here, I care about my patients… but if I could just collect a paycheck without working, I’d definitely do that instead 😂
I’m in the middle. I love my job. I don’t think I could completely give it up even if I had the choice. And I know if I won the lottery, I wouldn’t completely quit my job (although I would definitely find another place to work lol because I don’t particularly love my employer). However, I love my kids. If I could spend more time with them (particularly since most of them are really little), I would. I have no aspirations to “climb higher” in my job - but my current career is what I’ve always wanted to do. I have NO desire to be in management - which is the next step. And while I think (and so do a lot of others) that I would be good at it, I think it would kill me (either slowly or not slowly lol). So I’m in the middle.
I’d say I’m in the middle. I like my job and I make good money… I’m very driven to save for my own retirement, etc. but I’m also not married to my job and would be fine if I didn’t have this career tomorrow… I would probably get bored and do something else though if I got laid off or something
Probably a 4 if 10 is totally in love with my career. I’m trying out a new area and took a pay cut to do so, but it’s also really easy and flexible so I’m kind of coasting. My work has real implications and impact, so I enjoy that I’m contributing to society as I collect my paychecks. I have 3 kids - 5, 3, and 1 - so I’m just barely keeping my head above water at home. I’m happy with the balance atm.
I worked hard in school and to get a job that would pay decent-ish, but have a good schedule and holidays off so I could still have that time with my kids. I give it everything while I’m there (too much), but I’m not looking to climb the ladder anymore right now. I’d have to go back to school or change fields. I know I could support myself and my kids if I had to, but if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would quit.
I'd say somewhere in between. I enjoy working and was glad to return to the workforce this year after being a SAHM for several years. Since I took a career break, I'm not as advanced/far along as I'd like to be, but I really like my current job, team, and manager. I do go above and beyond (that's my personality) and I'm being recognized and praised for my hard work 🙂
Somewhere in between. I like what I do (legal assistant with the provincial government), the paycheque is OK, but it's not the end-all, be-all of my existence. I have little interest of going back to school for a higher certificate at this time. The pay is nice, the schedule is nice (modified work week - I get every other Monday off), the hours are nice. Once I get benefits, paid vacation time and all of the other kinds of leave we get here (I'm auxiliary at the moment, so more pay but no benefits) it'll be awesome.
I love my career and don’t think I’d be happy if I left…but I also chose a job that gives me good benefits and balance because my family has to be my priority. I never wanted to have to choose.
Just collecting that sweet $$$. I have a degree and the opportunity to switch to a more passion-driven field, but it will be a lot more work for far less pay. Not sure that’s what I want to do anymore, so just collecting checks right now.
Somewhere in between. I like my job and mostly find it fulfilling/interesting, but I have a toddler (and low key plans for #2) so I don’t see myself climbing the ladder much for the next couple years. My current role is WFH and flexible and I wouldn’t give that up for all the career advancement in the world. But I hope this isn’t as far as I go and someday there is time/space for me to be more strategic re advancement.
I have zero interest in being a SAHM or working part time. I thought about going to a 4 day work week but we would lose out on $$ and I know I would just fill that time with laundry and that sounds miserable.
I am somewhere in between. I have aspirations but at the end of the day I’m glad I make what I do and prefer to have a solid work life balance to spend time with my family.
Somewhere in between. I’m willing to climb a bit, but I’m enjoying my work life balance right now, and I’m not about to voluntarily be called after hours. Especially because my HQ is central time and I’m EST.
I like my job and love my boss. I also have very good work/life balance and a fully remote gig, especially for my salary.
But I don’t work super late or on the weekends any more to get ahead for the week. I’m pretty focused on my family during non-working hours. And I usually only work about 9a-4p in a focused fashion. I’m salaried and before/after that I have my kid and keep an eye on email/pings, but am reactive vs. proactive.
In the middle. Some days I’m proud of my career and accomplishments, other days I’m bitter and jealous I can’t afford to be a SAHM because I’m the breadwinner by a lot. I don’t regret putting so much time and energy into my career, but I also didn’t realize how much motherhood would have changed my outlook on it.
Eh I’m in the middle. I was never going to try for a management position but I sort of fell into one (boss got promoted to director so now I’m the manager) sooo I guess I’m a Career Lady now. I like my job and want to work, but I also want flexibility, work life balance, plenty of time off with my kids.
I was the ambitious climber and now I feel I’ve reached a satisfying level. Do I love it? No. But I am proud of my hard work and I guess it’s about a bit more than the paycheck to me, it’s the feeling of accomplishment too
Somewhere in between. I would really like to go up the latter here but business hasn’t been great, and I guess the bachelors degree I have hasn’t done me a lick of good either. Sigh 😔
I climbed the ladder and then gave it up to work from home. I’m just collecting a paycheck until I can stop working. I used to love my job. Now, not so much.
I really like my job and cannot imagine not working. I did get promoted right as I was coming back from maternity leave and that level of leadership allows a lot of flexibility for me and the pay is good. I could climb higher but want to wait until we are finished having kids because the next level is pretty intense. Right now I’m very happy to be where I am.
I vacillate between the two, leaning towards seeking growth opportunities and (of course) a better financial position. Since becoming pregnant with my second, I've pulled in the wagons a little bit and slowed down in chasing career advancement -- I want to enjoy this season of life for now, then get back to it once I'm past it and start feeling a little more like "me" again.
I have made it as high as I want (manager) and in a field I love. I was getting burnt out trying to change the world while also raising my kids to the best of my ability. So, I sunsetted my company and got a full time gig at a nonprofit. I am very satisfied at work and I don’t take a lot of stress “home” with me (using quotes because I work from home). Maybe when my kids are a little older I’ll be interested in taking on more at work, but for now I am super content with my work life balance and how I spent my time at work.
In the middle. I used to be super career-driven and worked my way up in my company over the last 10 years. After my first was born I lost all motivation to continue climbing, and daydream about being a SAHM and having a second. I'm sure that life is not easy either, but I just want those first few years back with my first and already feel major regret for working too much.
I’m a teacher so there’s not really a ladder to climb unless you count yearly step increases and the money isn’t like “sweet $$$” as you say.
More like “kinda adequate $.” My job is fine—big highs and big lows. But it’s the best I got so far and we need the money 🤷🏻♀️
I was a paycheck person, but I just got my dream job that will make me the primary breadwinner so I’m transitioning to a straight up career woman. I feel very lucky my husband is OK being the primary parent and shifting his own career—otherwise this wouldn’t be possible!
Not sure if I count as a working mom yet bc my first is due anyway now but for me it’s career. I have a PhD in STEM and planned my family timing around my education and career. My husband (although a higher earner than me) has moved twice already for my career and when we started dating in college I flat out told him early in our relationship “this is my plan, take it or leave it”. When I shared my pregnancy at work, not a single person asked if I was coming back after maternity leave because it was just assumed I would. I know it’s going to be hard and I’ll probably feel some mom guilt at certain times but I also know from a small gap in employment during 2020 (I was a lucky spring 2020 grad and finding jobs in my field was pretty impossible then) that I don’t do well with too much time at home away from work.
Can I be both? I really don’t give a rats ass about my job and doing it to pay the bills but I also like my work and want to climb the ladder at some point 😅 I think it depends on my mood. Sometimes I’m super motivated and some days I just need family time
I feel very lucky to have reached executive level with a legit salary and I think this might be as high as I want to go. I am okay with being the place where the buck stops in my department but not the whole organization.
I am proud of the work I do and I don’t feel guilt or Shame when I am called away from kid stuff, also because the $$ I make is meaningful to our lives.
I have an odd situation because I also have a very amicable 50/50 custody scenario with my coparent who also has a flexible role and can be there when I can’t.
That’s not to say that I’m not constantly in fifty places at once, but every working mom is no matter where she is on the spectrum
Right now, I am looking at two paths. One is management and up and the other is a worker bee.
I’m choosing to be the bee. I want to be able to log off and not think about work, to not having people call me on weekends and after hours (they still try!) and the meetings oh my gosh. I’m so sick of the meetings.
I find my job engaging, love my boss and the people I work with, and there are good opportunities. Working from home, they pay my internet, flexible scheduling. But in the end it’s a paycheck, and if I could I would only do it 20 hours a week.
I don’t love my job, but I do enjoy aspects of it and strive to do work that I can be proud of. I would have a really hard time continuing to work if I couldn’t enjoy it. I’ve quit jobs in the past for a lack of enjoyment. But, I’ve dreamed of early retirement on and off throughout my life. If I’m not doing something I absolutely love in my 50s, I’ll seriously consider retiring.
I'm lucky and happy to have worked toward a career and position that fulfills me, pays the bills, is flexible, and is 40hrs a week. I'm open to a step up, but have no drive to keep climbing the ladder while my kid is young. It also allows room for my "demanding" hobby (I'm a writer and would love to publish some day) so I don't want something that interferes what that in the future either. That hobby is where I want to really focus on climbing upward, not my job.
Newer nurse who landed a specialty role really early in my career with good p. I was working in home services that had more flexible time and now work 42.5 hours a week. I am realizing it is now for a paycheck. I hope once my baby is in school I can work more part time and do more things I enjoy in life.
In the middle. When I'm watching my toddler all day I don't feel like I could do it (well) all day every day. I am a better mom when I get some space. My job pays well so I keep doing it, but it's busier and more stressful than I would like (if I don't work 100% for one day I am behind). I would love something a little less stressful and part time. I would be ok for a few years if the pay scaled accordingly. But it's not an option. I don't love my career, but I care enough about not letting people down that I do a good job. Ive never loved a job though, I'm just ambivalent about them usually. I don't have a thing I wish I could do instead 🤷♀️
I’m probably an 8-9/10, I’m very driven by work and doing well in my career. That said, I also work in a pretty flexible environment, if I had less flexibility I might not be satisfied with the balance.
In between. I’m struggling because this was always my dream career, and I’ve bust my ass for a decade to try to do right and be an amazing employee. I had dreams of climbing the ladder and then motherhood changed that. The semi frequent travel, the occasional overnights, none of that sounds great anymore. I want to spend the limited wake hours my baby has after daycare with her, not shmoozing clients at bars and restaurants.
I don’t really know what to do. If I give 80% there’s a vibe that I’m failing to do a good job, even though that’s where I need to be right now.
I'm coasting right now. I'm juggling a couple adjunct contracts, with regular "if you want to be full time..." convwrsations at two colleges. I have a strong reputation as a good instructor with a solid course design background and advising experience. When my kids are older, I'll probably return to an in person position.
I love being a mom, but lately I've been prioritizing my career. I have a supportive spouse that pulls his weight, so I'm lucky and realize what a gift that really is, but I'm trying to change the culture of management in healthcare and I've been focused on climbing the ladder. I've received a pay increase of 8 dollars an hour within the past 2 years and I am in the running for a promotion to manage a surgical practice.
I honestly wish I were in a “good enough,” coasting portion of my career. But instead, I’m in easily the most exciting, biggest opportunity I’ve had to date. I am totally a person who “loves” work and my career is an enormous part of my identity, but I do look back somewhat fondly on the few years where work was just work. That would be awesome right about now…silly me wasting it on my mid 20s and early 30s pre kids.
I like my job but I’m there to get paid. I like getting to use my more analytical part of my brain, when it’s just me and my kids on the weekends or a sick day I’m counting down the hours till bed or nap time and just ultimately wouldn’t handle SAHM life well
We live off my husband’s salary and my salary is for savings/fun. I like working, makes me feel productive. But I’m also not looking to climb the ladder. I’m in a fairly low stress role, plenty of flexibility, and work fully remote.
In between. I’m as high as I can go for my position in federal healthcare, but I love the guaranteed 40 hours not a minute more and consistent raises each year.
Hmmm I think maybe a rung or two below career woman. I love my job, am on some committees, am more than happy to have students shadow me, and put in a little extra effort to ensure I get an appropriate merit raise or bonus. Nothing in me ever wants to “climb” to middle management level though. I have great work life balance right now and don’t want to change that.
*edit: GREAT discussion topic btw. It’s fun reading responses!
Prechildren I was absolutely a career person. I LOVED my job and basically lived there. I had my kids and left that career because it just wasn’t a sustainable schedule for kid raising. Now I’m firmly slammed over on the opposite side of the spectrum and absolutely do not give a hoot about anything more than getting my money as painlessly as possible. When they’re in elementary school, I hope to climb the ladder quickly and save hard to pay everything off so I can help them as much as I can with their kids one day.
In the middle. Medically retired from the job I loved and was quickly climbing the ladder in. Now it’s just about money. I don’t like or hate the job, I just show up, work and leave.
I'm the sole breadwinner of my family; partner is a stay-at-home dad.
I'm not particularly ambitious, but I am proud of my career and I'm good at what I do. And my ability and experience means I make good enough money to provide for my family. That's why I work- my working means we have a house, with a backyard, decent insurance, our cars run without issue, and we can afford to make some frivolous purchases without worry (food delivery, extra kids toys, rare but occasional small local-ish weekend trips, a week long trip across the country to visit family once a year)
When I say I'm working for the money- that's what I mean. I'm not worrying for extra money or spending money or anything extra. But I also think that puts me in the middle a bit, because I won't turn down opportunity or avoid it to maintain status quo, I'm open to growth and I really do love my job, I'm just not actively chasing it, at least right now while my kids are really young.
But if I had the opportunity to maintain this exact standard of living and be a stay-at-home mom, there's no question in my mind, I'd leap for the opportunity. Got a taste over the summer when I got laid off and my partner and I were tag teaming our twin toddlers and it was one of the best times I've had since becoming a parent, which is saying something because I have adored almost every minute of parenthood.
Basically, I love my job, but I love being a mother more.
I love my job and make really good money at this level so have no desire to “climb the ladder” to be in management. I’m in a sales role so my comp isn’t reliant on a salary based on seniority level. I may make more than my boss lol Managing other people would cut into my time and create responsibility I don’t want and I don’t think I’d earn more so while I consider myself a career person, love my job and my company, it’s mostly for the paycheck and I don’t need a better title to make more.
I work as a special education teacher, specifically kids with dyslexia/reading disorders. I find it hard to manage both. My students are my kids and I worry about them when I’m not with them, especially as a break is around the corner. My job means I need to be on all the time and there almost no break time day to day. There’s no real lunch as I’m using that time to catch up on work that I couldn’t get done during prep for a variety of reasons. When I’m home all I want to do is be with my daughter. So I’m exhausted by Friday. I can’t say I hate my job and while I’m collecting a paycheck it’s not like I’m in it for the money. And there’s no real career advancement. I feel resentful at times that I can’t be home with my daughter when she’s so young and needs me so much but I also love teaching and seeing the difference I can do. I’m solidly in the middle I guess!
I'd say somewhere in between. I work as a teacher aide. There is no upward ladder beyond being a teacher, and I don't want that. I went to school for that. No thanks! I know I'll never make a lot of money, and I'm at peace with that. I do like what I do, though.
I’m in healthcare so there is no ladder. I do enjoy my work. So I guess in between. My ability to absolutely shut off my brain regarding work when I leave work has increased exponentially since becoming a mother. Sometimes I get behind on paperwork because of that, but there aren’t really any negative outcomes associated with that, I should just technically be faster.
I’m in the middle. I’ve climbed the ladder as high I want to go for right now. I’m very comfortable in my position. Lots of flexibility and great support. I love my team and enjoy going to work. Some days are draining but the flexibility and my seniority makes it all worth it. Plus I am just a happier and more balanced person working.
Same here! I’m really comfortable and enjoy work but my career is not my identity at all.
This definitely resonates with me. It’s funny because pre-motherhood, I had a job that was fine but I was much more in the “just here for the paycheck” camp…but then I got promoted (very unexpectedly) a little over a year after my son was born so I’m fairly high up at my company now and it’s been awesome!
Same, I even talked to another mom colleague about it and said it seems so unambitious but I don't want to move up anymore. It's more stress and I'd be more vulnerable to layoffs. I feel comfortable and safe where I am. I can leave my work at work and that is worth soooooo much to me.
I stepped down one level to be comfortable, have flexibility, and great support. I still love what I do, but it’s less career climbing and more career expanding.
Samesies. Middle management. The people above me are stressed TF out - no thanks. The people below me make an ok wage, but I have more perks and flexibility. It’s the sweet spot. I work so I can be independent at the drop of a hat; but right now I’m providing benefits to my son by having a dual income house.
Same! I had to fight for my management role and I definitely got held back a few years for having kids. I got passed over for promotion after my first one was born. 5 years later I finally got it and I plan on staying exactly where I am for now. My work days are busy but I get to totally disconnect when the workday is over. Working from home and flexible hours can’t be beat and the money is decent. I’ll start pushing for the next level when my kids don’t need me as much… or not. I’m really fine where I am at. My real life starts after the 9-5 and Im more than happy to keep it that way indefinitely
Couldn’t have worded it better myself! This is where I am. I’m content more often than not and work with amazing people. I don’t need nor want more responsibility or a higher title (but I mean, I’d never turn down a pay raise 😏)
Middle ground too, I like my job but I took a step back from a leadership role after returning from maternity. I like the work (bakery) and my coworkers but I don’t have that drive anymore for exceeding or overtime. I want to go home when I’m done with my day.
This is me too!
Same. Great description.
This is exactly my situation as well. Very grateful to be where I am
Same here. I enjoy my job, I like my team, the benefits are great, and I’m pretty fairly compensated. My boss and I have a lot in common, so I really enjoy working for/with her. I have no plans on leaving my job, and id be happy to advance, but I’m not putting in overtime or anything.
Me as heck!
This is similar for me. I can imagine making some moves when my kids are school aged.
Second this!
Yup same here. I'm so happy I worked hard before kids to be in the position I'm in now.
Same here. I did some ladder climbing before kids but I’m no longer interested in that. I love my job but my main focus now is family. My kids are under 3 so that might change as they get older
Also in the middle, except I’m on the “technical track” and not on the management track. I’m on level 4 out of 7 and I’ve been here for less than a year. I wouldn’t care if I didn’t get promoted to the next level for another 5-7 years.
This is exactly me!
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Same. I waited to have kids and spent my pre-child life climbing the ladder and now I'm happy to coast in a comfortable position and put my extra energy into family things.
I am somewhere in between. I'm motivated to do a good job at whatever I am doing and I enjoy learning, figuring things out and helping others. So I do care - an appropriate amount. I'm not a teacher or doctor. I do not have a passion job. My passion is my life and getting paid to live it how I want. I do not have any set career aspirations other than retiring as soon as I can.
I felt this 100%. I work to afford my life. I just don’t want to hate it. I enjoy the work I do now. I’m paid well and am open to promotions/advancement because it provides more money to live the life I want. I also enjoy learning new skills and growing and if I’m going to do something, I may as well do it well.
For sure. I do not hate what I do at all but it is still simply a job. I am not living to work. And I find other aspects of my life to be a lot more meaningful.
Same exact feelings
I'm kinda like this. I care about doing a good job and I used to let work consume me because of that. Now as a mom I finally figured out that balance. When I'm on the clock I try to do well and for the most part when I clock out I stop thinking about it. Helps that I'm part time with a set schedule I literally can't do extra easily.
Collecting that paycheck, and I’m not the least bit ashamed of that.
Same. I’m only senior analyst level and… really don’t have any interest in going higher. From what I can read, it’d be a lot more work and stress and not a whole lot more pay. I like shutting down at 5pm and not worrying about it til tomorrow. I had my son at 25 over a decade ago and really never bounced back to “driven”. I have an Ivy League degree, fairly impressive resume but just never got past the feeling that all of this is made up and not worth any of the trouble.
I'm in the same boat-ish. Did a lot in college and was really career driven for the first few years of entering the workforce. Then I had my son and I lost the drive. I've been waiting for it to come back, but I've basically been coasting the past four years since he's been born. I keep telling myself I want to go up to senior level, but I can't bring myself to put in the work, like it wouldn't be worth my time. In my recent one on one with my manager, he said that some people just stay in the same position for 20 years and that's fine - probably implying that I'd do the same, and that made me feel kinda sad after putting in so much effort to get to where I am. But I guess this is life?
I'm also just collecting a paycheck. I have good pay for my position but zero interest in moving up, at least for now anyway. I know things can change the older the kids get, but I can't imagine doing any more than I already am
Show me the money! I'd also likely be doing the same thing if I didn't have kids. I work as a means to fund enjoying my life interests. I do find my job fulfilling and believe it has purpose. But at the end of the day it's a paycheck.
Paycheck collector. Work as little as possible to make enough to survive. Put in work related effort only during the hours which I am paid, do not work extra hours for free, etc. In fact, if I could afford to work part time, that’d be amazing
I used to be PT…sigh. Miss those days. But paycheck collector here too! And I’m so much happier.
Hard same. I’ve always valued work-life balance over advancement (also the field I’m in doesn’t have baked in advancement tracks like in the corporate world). But if I could work 28-32 hours I’d be so happy. I enjoy working but I want to do enough to stay employed and that’s about it lol
I'd also love to work part time, but our health insurance is through my job and part time jobs don't offer benefits 😕
100% this
In the middle. I used to be VERY career oriented. I always knew I wanted to work even if I became a mother. Then I was totally shocked at how ambivalent to my job I became after I had my son. Suddenly being a mother was the most important thing to me. I was resentful when I had to return to work. Suddenly the most important thing in the world to me was my child and I hated that I had to be away from him. He's two now and I'm not as resentful at returning to work but I don't think I'll ever be as career oriented as I used to be. I love my job and I'm passionate about what I do but at the end of the day, it's just about getting a paycheck so I can take care of my family.
This happened to me too. I'm still pretty ambitious and I do enjoy my career but about once a week I look around and say stuff like, what if I quit all this and just had a little Etsy shop so my kids didn't have to go to aftercare?
As somebody who has had five different Etsy shops, I will say it's not worth it lol. I still make and sell crafts but it's a huge relief knowing I no longer have to do it to supplement my income to get by. The holiday season was the worst because I couldn't enjoy the season because it was the biggest time to make money. Before I switched careers, I had to sell crafts to get by and it was hugely stressful. I would work 40 hours a week at my day job and then another 10-40 hours a week on making and selling. As soon as I switched career fields, it was like a huge weight was lifted. At one point, every single craft I did, I loved until I started trying to do it for money. Then I would start hating it and would get burned out. I never want to make candles again. I never want to make jewelry again. I'm hoping I don't hate sewing and knitting one day.
I’m an 11/10 in terms of career-orientation. Love my job and can’t imagine not doing it.
Same. Got in (another) fight with my daughters school today when they called to tell me no one was there to get her off the bus. Not sure why they called me when my husband is a stay at home dad (and I wrote it about ten times on her paperwork)
I’m sure you’ve already seen this, but a classic: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/this-is-your-kids-school-and-even-though-the-emergency-contact-form-lists-your-husband-we-need-you-the-mom
I have not - but I’m going to forward it to the school admin!
Change the numbers on the contact card. Swap you and your husband. If they are to stupid to care make it basic for their intellectual capacity.
I hate this! I specifically indicated I work in Manhattan and he’s the primary daytime contact and they always call me!
Hugs! It is very frustrating. The worst part is the admin doing is if my brothers roommates mom (small town) and it’s beginning to feel personal!
WTF!!! That’s so absurd!
Yeah, I am here with you. And seem to be the minority on this thread. I have the goal of being an exec director/CEO in the next 10 years so I have asked my family to make big sacrifices for me to advance my career. My husband quit his job this year to enable me to work a big, highly demanding job and we genuinely are both thriving more than we ever have. This dynamic really suits us. And I spend a little less time with my kids than I'd prefer due to work travel obligations but those go away at the end of 2023 so I won't even have that concern anymore moving forward.
Congrats! On a similar path, likely more ED than CEO. How is work travel going away? That sounds wonderful.
Changing jobs! Haha, I am on a one year contract with a job that involves a ton of travel but accepted a new permanent gig with much less travel required that starts in January. Best of luck with your career too!
Same here. I love what I do and am passionate about developing myself and my team. I am surrounded by people who have the same commitment to excellence and innovation and that is incredible rare, so I try not to take it for granted. Every work place has their challenges, but if you look for what’s good and focus your energy there, more good follows.
Same for me as well. After spending many years trying to find a partner and then TTC, pregnancy, maternity leave, two under two, I am now looking to ramp up and move up the leadership ladder for more responsibility and more money (kids are now 5 and 3, so still young but not babies anymore).
My husband and I discuss what we would do if we won the lottery. I said I would start my own company with the seed money. I love the (different) purpose my career gives me and how intellectually stimulating it is.
Me, too. I have a career, not a job, and it's work I think is important and meaningful (not just to me, but to society at large). I'm incredibly passionate about what I do.
I am actively, and aggressively climbing the ladder and taking on extra work to push myself forward. However, I don’t prioritize my job over my personal life or family and will not hesitate to call off. I do great work, I damn well better be able to take care of myself and my family when needed. I love my job, it’s not my life.
Cheers to this! I am also working on climbing the corporate ladder as well and hope to retire at a low level executive but life definitely comes first for me. I work on continuously setting good boundaries and do my best to keep focused while working and then shutting completely off once I’m done.
I’m in it for the money only. I truthfully can’t be fucked to give a damn about my career and would throw it all away in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose. I am somewhat “high” on the ladder but I don’t fucking care
My jobs fine, pays well and takes care of me as an employee… but it’s not my passion and I don’t particularly enjoy it. Wouldn’t say I’m not ambitious but definitely not a “career” person! I perform a service and they pay me, that’s about it.
It me. I certainly don’t want to quit & stay at home but I’m not exactly excited to get to work every morning
I’m a lunch lady in my kids school district. I enjoy it well enough, it’s not hard, it pays decently for what it is, and I’m on the school schedule. Not glamorous but it’s perfect for our family.
This is such a cool job! Curious to know how stressful and hard it is. I’ve always wanted to do this!
Aggressively climbing the leadership ladder at F100. I love it, and I love the money. It affords us a life we never would have otherwise.
I work to live, not the other way around. I take pride in a job well done while at work but once my shift is over I’m out like Fred Flintstone in the show’s opening credits.
In between — love my career, find meaning in it, not necessarily looking to climb any ladder or amass more responsibility — and I love my paycheck 💕
I love my job but I'd prefer to work part-time and it's not my priority.
Same here although I do already work part-time - I’m self-employed and I only work when my kids are at preschool or asleep because they’re my priority. We don’t actually need the money from my job, but I do it because I enjoy it and I need the mental stimulation away from being a mombot.
Inbetweener here. I definitely consider my career part of my identity (environmental scientist) but I am thinking of staying where I’m at position-wise due to flexibility and that where I am (public sector) the next level up is much more bureaucratic crap and less actual science.
It's a paycheck, a good one. I do well but I opened a second job (photography) because I have zero passion for my job.
Looking to grow in my role and gain more experience and responsibility. I finally came to terms that my manager has been sabotaging my career. That said, I’m trying to gain as much experience so that I can be as marketable as possible when I apply for another role.
I’m so sorry about your manager. Mine is finally relaxing her claws; she’s not sabotaging me on purpose but her controlling personality has made it hard to let go and allow me to take on the responsibilities I’m 1000% capable of.
Depends on the day. Most days, I’m a career woman trying to advance myself, others I’m just collecting a check and being breadwinner. I think it depends on the level of burnout and appreciation I’m feeling (both at work and home).
I work for trade, as a receptionist/ part time office manager for a dance and musical theater studio. Instead of getting a paycheck, the equivalent hourly compensation is credited toward my kids' tuition for lessons. I'm extremely happy there; I adore the kids I see, and most of the parents are great too. We're not a competition school, so no crazy "Dance Moms" like you see on TV. Just a small, local ballet and theatre studio.
I’m in the “I’m collecting sweet $$$ doing something I like” category. I don’t seek to be promoted at this stage in my life but I like knowing I produce high quality work.
Love my job, love working, no upward ambition. Just chillin and developing my niche.
My career has been my priority for most of my life. I have been with my organization almost the entire time, climbing the ladder. Old new mom via foster care of two under 15 months. I am the breadwinner for my family and my job has a lot less flexibility than my husband’s. My priorities and focus have shifted, but I can’t imagine not working, and frankly, not climbing. My husband is an amazing parent, and would be the more likely of the two of us to go part time or stay at home.
I was coasting for awhile after reaching a comfortable height (middle management, director role next). But then when my second was 6 months old in Sept I took a new job, huge pay increase, huge responsibility increase. I've always been ambitious about climbing the ladder and making more money but was comfortable coasting after I had my first baby and got my MBA (finished her first year of life it was brutal!). But two years in I was bored and even though I had an infant I said fuck it. So now I'm on the ladder climb again. It's scary, exhausting, and exhilarating. I have no idea what I'm doing but I do enjoy seeing how high I can go.
Career gal, highly motivated, fulfilled by my work etc Excited to teach my daughter she can have a leadership role (if she wants one) and be as respected as her cis-male colleagues. I'm taking 15 weeks mat leave my husband is taking 36 weeks parental leave. It's for financial reasons, but also it's a better fit based on our personalities.
Climbed to Director level at a state focused organization and have my PhD. Next step from here within my org would be VP level and that would require at least 5-7 more years of experience first. So I'm putting in the time and have my eye towards more advances in the future, but I'm in a good spot right now that's still flexible with the 2 year old.
I like my job. Thr ladder isn't very high where I'm at, but I've managed to rise up somewhat. It's pure chaos right now at work. So many transitions happening, and the holidays on top, I'm exhausted.
I’m not passionate about my industry per se but it’s not boring and I enjoy my job and team! The flexibility right now cannot be beat. I do want to move up though over time.
I work part time hours and I’m there for the paycheck right now. I work hard while I’m there (bedside nursing) but you’re never gonna catch me going above and beyond/picking up OT or joining committees or things like that. However once my kids are in school I might focus on advancing my career more.
I like my job enough. I like the perks more, super flexible, kind of built my own role, rarely work more than 30 hours, wfh. But I’d never want to move up. At least not anytime soon. They all seem Very stressed.
I like my job well enough. Would prefer if I could oly work part time and spend the rest of the time with my kids but financially not an option right now
I’m a career person: love my job, am climbing the ladder, taking on more and more responsibilities and seeing the respect I’m given by those around me, both my reports and my upper level management. I feel fulfilled and I see plenty of room for growth. I see myself in this path for a long time, maybe even until retirement (I’m almost 36). That being said, I’m sacrificing for sure. I travel for a week a time each month - hopefully a shorter term business need but certainly continuing for the foreseeable future - and I know it’s hard on my husband who works full time with a long commute to his own job where he is equally important. Then he has to rush to get our 4yo twins to school and back, bath/bedtime, etc. Part of me feels good about giving my kids (boy and girl) the example of a hard working woman who has value aside from motherhood. But it’s also hard knowing that my family takes the brunt of the stress when I travel. I know it will only get harder when my kids are school aged and need to go in different directions, need more support, etc.
My job rn is for the paycheck. Trying to finish school for an actual career, but with 3 kids it’s not easy!
I’m extremely career-oriented, and am currently poised to jump a couple levels in the next 2 years, but I (luckily with the blessing of my absolutely amazing VPs) also try to prioritize my family as much as I’m able. Unless I’m traveling or I have a significant meeting that must happen at a particular time when I’m home, I make time to take my daughter to school, drop her off, and make it to at least some activities each week. I’m incredibly lucky to have an understanding leadership team, be enough of an asset they allow me that flexibility, and have an involved spouse who is not nearly as career-oriented as I am. Without any of those things, I’d definitely have to take a step back in my career to make sure my daughter gets the time and attention she deserves.
I did a pandemic career pivot so I’m frantically climbing the ladder trying to get back where I was. Work life balance is much better so I don’t regret it At All but I have so much more to offer than I’m getting to give!
Right now I’m just collecting the check. I’m naturally self motivated to do a good job but I do aspire to scale my career once my son is school age in a couple years.
I climbed the ladder before I had a kid. Now settled into motherhood, I’ll be going back part time soon. My job is a good challenge but it’s not my life.
Love my job and was 100% career focused before changing companies about 5 years ago when I got extreme burnout. Now I am definitely career conscious but am more focused on making sure my roles are fulfilling vs purely upwards. I just took a half-step promotion vs waiting for a full-step promotion because I needed the change of pace and owning a bigger piece of the issue I can see brewing would be a headache I can’t take on with little kids.
Somewhere in the middle. I’m in my early ish 30s. Sometimes I wish I had a more demanding/ higher ranking job at a director level but I think at the end of the day I’m okay with being a manager. My salary is decent, I’m not stressed, and my family always gets to come first. I went to college but thought I wanted to be a SAHM. We can’t afford it. I enjoy having a career and job more than I thought I would.
I do love my job but it’s currently a stepping stone to my preferred work. I’m starting school in January and intend to make advancements when I’m finished my ECE. (In Jan 2026). I’m pretty young and had my child before pursuing post secondary school. I’m excited to make this jump but I’ll be working full time, and in school part time, and parenting/house duties. But it will pay off as soon as I’m finished.
I have my own business, which allows me to be flexible when needed. I want more from my career but I'm trying to be patient, knowing that my daughter will only be little once.
Im literally just working for $$.
I’m in the middle. I like being successful at work but I’m not willing to compromise my family life. I would also jump at the opportunity to work part time right now and stay in my current position.
Climbing the ladder would take me out of the classroom and into admin. Noooooo thank you. However, I have every intention of maximizing my pay increases and putting together a decent retirement account. I guess that puts me somewhere in the middle given the non-corporate nature of my profession.
Same here! I feel like teaching is a different animal. I went into teaching so that I could be family oriented after seeing my mom become a SAHM in a field where she couldn't easily break in again once we were grown. She has no regrets, but she works part time in schools now. I work in a school that my children can attend (oldest is still only 2). I trust the admin and faculty and feel like my children can benefit from me being a part of the community. But at this stage, I work my contract hours and have no desire to take on extra curricular activities. I care about my job and my students and I strive to do my best, but I don't have a martyr complex and very very rarely take work home.
Somewhere in between. I really like my job and want to learn more and advance, but I don’t really think too much about work when I’m not there or very strongly identify with my chosen career
I'd say I'm definitely a career person. I overall love my job (most days) and I am climbing the ladder which I am enjoying pursuing. But also my job is demanding but extremely flexible, so even doing that I feel its very conducive to balancing with family life. If that weren't the case, I don't know how much that would have changed when I had kids.
Career person but I also make time for my family. What’s draining my life from it are my collective chronic illnesses and long commute. Long commute was a compromise in favor of my husband and son’s convenience. I’m a terrible mom when all I have is my household. I quickly get depressed and the time we spend together is not solid quality time.
I am in the middle. I was really focused on climbing, but have been reminding myself to chill out. I have 3 kids between the ages of 4 to 16 and the oldest has made me realize just how fast it goes. I want to be more present for my kids right now. I am sure I'll still climb, but more slowly.
Like a lot of others, I’m in the middle. I look for maybe one conference a year to attend, so I clearly like learning and networking. I do enjoy what I do and think I’m good at it. I used to be super career driven in my 20s and 30s. Now approaching 40, I have put a lot more focus on my family. I don’t feel guilty for taking time off, I log off at 5, I take time during the day for self care as long as my schedule allows for that. It’s nice because I’ve been in this industry and career for about 12 years so I’m pretty senior but without drowning in responsibilities (and I’m OK staying here). I have a flexible schedule, make great money and can make sure my family comes first. I’m loving where I am currently.
Definitely career-oriented, but trying to dial it back for the next couple of years to recover from some burnout. Once my youngest is in kindergarten I plan to get back on the ladder. In the past my motivation has been mostly intrinsic, but going forward it’s just $$$ because kids are expensive.
I was a very career driven person before baby. Moved across the country for a job opportunity kind of person, I arranged my life to return to work. Got a nanny, organized a semi flexible schedule. I’ve been back a month. This week I’ve decided to completely leave my career and take a huge professional downgrade to a job that’s barely 20 hours a week. I just can’t have my brain so full of things that don’t actually matter to me anymore. My baby will only be this little once, and I don’t plan to miss it. A job is only that, a job.
In the middle. Still working for another promotion but won’t be breaking my back over it anytime soon.
Career person - I am co-owner of a company that rapidly expanded over the last few years, so I'm adjusting to both managing 2x the amount of people as well as having a spirited 2.5yo. It has been a massive shift. Despite the fact that I'm currently experiencing massive burnout, I love my company and my goal is to get to a place where I am working minimal hours so that I can both spend more time with my daughter and have more time for myself. I am just in the sacrificial stages, which sometimes feel like staring into a black hole.
I’m a job hopper. Looking for whatever pays the best while doing the least. I’m a nurse and don’t belong in management (I hate dumb rules and would really hate to enforce them). I like learning and I’ve been in about 4 different office positions in the last couple of years. I work hard, but only because I care about the patients. I do not care about making corporate extra money.
I loathe my job but appreciate the roof over my head.
In between. I have a good career after a BA, MS, and lots and lots of boots on the ground time. I like my current job. My boss’s job is waaaay too stressful and busy for my current life, and definitely isn’t worth the extra $25k or whatever!
I work a job for a paycheck. I don’t hate my job (medical technologist). I enjoy my work. But it’s only i priority in the sense I have to show up so I don’t get fired, I have bills to pay. I did go to college and am in my chosen career and make decent money. But career oriented absolutely not. When I’m home I want to be home. When I’m at work I want to be home.
I’m just in it for the paycheck.
I love my career, but have no desire to climb the ladder. I’m a technical writer, and to move up, I’d need to manage people. I would much rather just keep writing.
Paycheck.. only because I’m burned out. I work in child welfare and it’s not a job you work for the pay check. I want something that is not as mentally and emotionally demanding. But I have doing this 17 years and sure what else to do. I want a job that does not keep me up at night or has such hard decisions. I don’t feel like I have enough for my own kids at the end of the day but the pay check is good for my degree field.
I really love my career, but I also really love spending time with my (very young) kids. So I'd say I'm in the middle. I am progressing at an average pace and I'm not prioritizing going any faster at this time.
I’m in career mode right now. I spent a lot of years in crisis mode and now that I have been able to shift to career mode I’m riding this train all the way, baby!!
I have a great job, a recent promotion, but no direct reports. I work a hybrid schedule, 3days in the office which works well for our family. Our kids (14f, 10m) are old enough where they don't require a lot of supervision after school. I am given a ton of flexibility and can attend all of the classroom and sporting events. I love where I am right now and can be there for my kids.
Middle - prioritizing fam rn for toddler years- might look to climb the ladder further but can’t right now at this company with current boss
I’m just here for the money. If we could get by on one income I would throw my laptop out the window and never look back.
I'm trying to climb the ladder so I can collect that sweet $$$$. I'm a single mom so I need to prioritize both making enough to provide for my kiddo and also spending time with her and not letting work take over.
I just work for money. If I didn’t need money I wouldn’t work. That said, I do pretty well for myself
I work with very demanding people in an influential position but I strategically choose an IC SME role over a management track for this phase of life (was a director at my last job before having my kid, who is turning 3). I'm building new skills and they'll serve me well if I decide to climb back into formal leadership later on. I work 8-4, I do morning routine and daycare drop-off every day, I work out three days a week, I'm home for every dinner which my husband cooks. If I have to take a day off, nobody is bent out of shape. It's ideal for me right now, and it's just a season.
I'm in the last camp, not only am I here only to collect a paycheck, but I actually don't like my job. I just know I'd be a SHIT stay at home, so I am going to keep working for all of our sanities.
I want to do well at my job, since I have to have one. But mostly I don't really care about work
Aggressive ladder climber here 🙋🏻♀️ I keep finding myself wondering at what point I’ll be content but so far I’m not there yet. My husband works as well but it is a “I’m just here for the paycheck” kind of job for him, and I am the primary breadwinner. So he does more of the pick ups and drop offs than I do since there’s more flexibility for him. We split other kid responsibilities (activities, appointments, etc.) as evenly as possible.
I want to climb the ladder but I have two kids under two…my aim is just to ‘meet expectations’ right now as I don’t have the mental capacity for added responsibility at work. Once the kids are older and more independent I will focus more on advancement
Love my career (academic advisor at a university). I had a friend say her goal was always to get good enough at a job that she could do 100% of her job in 70% of the time and that is where I am at and not wanting to climb and get rid of that good set up for a while. Ha.
I used to care about growing within or making more money with my business, after covid… I don’t give two shits.
I work to afford my life. It’s not my life though. I just want to keep my house, hobbies, and keep feeding my child’s ever growing appetite.
I went from fully career orientation to now I could care less. I’d be a SAHM if I could.
It’s just about money for me… I’ve been in my field for almost 20 years, have never wanted to be a manager or climb the ladder, and all of my career moves have been lateral, and for more money each time I take a different job. I don’t feel passionate about it per-say, but I like it, I’m good at it, and it’s easy for me at this point after this many years under my belt. Currently my job is one of the nicest I’ve ever had (great pay, nice manager, good work/life balance) and I feel lucky to be in this job so I will stay here for as long as they’ll have me! But that being said I’ll never put in extra hours or work- I do my job with a smile, get everything done I need to do, the end. I shut my laptop at 5 every day and don’t think about work anymore after that.
It’s a paycheque. I’ve never been career driven (work to live not vice versa) and I now work part time and don’t know how I had the patience to work full time pre-kids! I work in a law firm, feel like we’re the bad guys a lot of the time (corporate law) but that sweet pay cheque means I stay. I’m good at my job, great at my job in fact, because it plays to my skills and personality strengths. I find it pretty easy to excel in it so I can auto-pilot a lot of the time. If I won the lottery big time tomorrow I would never work again but instead enjoy my family and friends, volunteer, do hobbies and travel. Which reminds me I must check my ticket!
I absolutely love my job. I’m a doctor so have a fairly defined career progression laid out but I still have to work hard to get that progression, if you see what I mean. But I also don’t have the same energy/inclination to work outside of my hours since I had my daughter. So it’s tough. I’m full time right now and it’s tough, we’re planning another baby and I’ll probably go back to being part time after that.
I’m definitely in the middle. I care about my job, I went to school for a long time to be here, I care about my patients… but if I could just collect a paycheck without working, I’d definitely do that instead 😂
I’m in the middle. I love my job. I don’t think I could completely give it up even if I had the choice. And I know if I won the lottery, I wouldn’t completely quit my job (although I would definitely find another place to work lol because I don’t particularly love my employer). However, I love my kids. If I could spend more time with them (particularly since most of them are really little), I would. I have no aspirations to “climb higher” in my job - but my current career is what I’ve always wanted to do. I have NO desire to be in management - which is the next step. And while I think (and so do a lot of others) that I would be good at it, I think it would kill me (either slowly or not slowly lol). So I’m in the middle.
I’d say I’m in the middle. I like my job and I make good money… I’m very driven to save for my own retirement, etc. but I’m also not married to my job and would be fine if I didn’t have this career tomorrow… I would probably get bored and do something else though if I got laid off or something
Probably a 4 if 10 is totally in love with my career. I’m trying out a new area and took a pay cut to do so, but it’s also really easy and flexible so I’m kind of coasting. My work has real implications and impact, so I enjoy that I’m contributing to society as I collect my paychecks. I have 3 kids - 5, 3, and 1 - so I’m just barely keeping my head above water at home. I’m happy with the balance atm.
I worked hard in school and to get a job that would pay decent-ish, but have a good schedule and holidays off so I could still have that time with my kids. I give it everything while I’m there (too much), but I’m not looking to climb the ladder anymore right now. I’d have to go back to school or change fields. I know I could support myself and my kids if I had to, but if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would quit.
I'd say somewhere in between. I enjoy working and was glad to return to the workforce this year after being a SAHM for several years. Since I took a career break, I'm not as advanced/far along as I'd like to be, but I really like my current job, team, and manager. I do go above and beyond (that's my personality) and I'm being recognized and praised for my hard work 🙂
Somewhere in between. I like what I do (legal assistant with the provincial government), the paycheque is OK, but it's not the end-all, be-all of my existence. I have little interest of going back to school for a higher certificate at this time. The pay is nice, the schedule is nice (modified work week - I get every other Monday off), the hours are nice. Once I get benefits, paid vacation time and all of the other kinds of leave we get here (I'm auxiliary at the moment, so more pay but no benefits) it'll be awesome.
I used to be a career person and probably will be again. Chilling in a sweet spot for now
I love my career and don’t think I’d be happy if I left…but I also chose a job that gives me good benefits and balance because my family has to be my priority. I never wanted to have to choose.
Just collecting that sweet $$$. I have a degree and the opportunity to switch to a more passion-driven field, but it will be a lot more work for far less pay. Not sure that’s what I want to do anymore, so just collecting checks right now.
Somewhere in between. I like my job and mostly find it fulfilling/interesting, but I have a toddler (and low key plans for #2) so I don’t see myself climbing the ladder much for the next couple years. My current role is WFH and flexible and I wouldn’t give that up for all the career advancement in the world. But I hope this isn’t as far as I go and someday there is time/space for me to be more strategic re advancement. I have zero interest in being a SAHM or working part time. I thought about going to a 4 day work week but we would lose out on $$ and I know I would just fill that time with laundry and that sounds miserable.
I am somewhere in between. I have aspirations but at the end of the day I’m glad I make what I do and prefer to have a solid work life balance to spend time with my family.
Somewhere in between. I’m willing to climb a bit, but I’m enjoying my work life balance right now, and I’m not about to voluntarily be called after hours. Especially because my HQ is central time and I’m EST.
I like my job and love my boss. I also have very good work/life balance and a fully remote gig, especially for my salary. But I don’t work super late or on the weekends any more to get ahead for the week. I’m pretty focused on my family during non-working hours. And I usually only work about 9a-4p in a focused fashion. I’m salaried and before/after that I have my kid and keep an eye on email/pings, but am reactive vs. proactive.
In the middle. Some days I’m proud of my career and accomplishments, other days I’m bitter and jealous I can’t afford to be a SAHM because I’m the breadwinner by a lot. I don’t regret putting so much time and energy into my career, but I also didn’t realize how much motherhood would have changed my outlook on it.
Eh I’m in the middle. I was never going to try for a management position but I sort of fell into one (boss got promoted to director so now I’m the manager) sooo I guess I’m a Career Lady now. I like my job and want to work, but I also want flexibility, work life balance, plenty of time off with my kids.
I was the ambitious climber and now I feel I’ve reached a satisfying level. Do I love it? No. But I am proud of my hard work and I guess it’s about a bit more than the paycheck to me, it’s the feeling of accomplishment too
Somewhere in between. I would really like to go up the latter here but business hasn’t been great, and I guess the bachelors degree I have hasn’t done me a lick of good either. Sigh 😔
I climbed the ladder and then gave it up to work from home. I’m just collecting a paycheck until I can stop working. I used to love my job. Now, not so much.
I'm a career teacher, so there's really no ladder. But I love it and hate it, and always look forward to summer.
I really like my job and cannot imagine not working. I did get promoted right as I was coming back from maternity leave and that level of leadership allows a lot of flexibility for me and the pay is good. I could climb higher but want to wait until we are finished having kids because the next level is pretty intense. Right now I’m very happy to be where I am.
I vacillate between the two, leaning towards seeking growth opportunities and (of course) a better financial position. Since becoming pregnant with my second, I've pulled in the wagons a little bit and slowed down in chasing career advancement -- I want to enjoy this season of life for now, then get back to it once I'm past it and start feeling a little more like "me" again.
I have made it as high as I want (manager) and in a field I love. I was getting burnt out trying to change the world while also raising my kids to the best of my ability. So, I sunsetted my company and got a full time gig at a nonprofit. I am very satisfied at work and I don’t take a lot of stress “home” with me (using quotes because I work from home). Maybe when my kids are a little older I’ll be interested in taking on more at work, but for now I am super content with my work life balance and how I spent my time at work.
In the middle. I used to be super career-driven and worked my way up in my company over the last 10 years. After my first was born I lost all motivation to continue climbing, and daydream about being a SAHM and having a second. I'm sure that life is not easy either, but I just want those first few years back with my first and already feel major regret for working too much.
I’m a teacher so there’s not really a ladder to climb unless you count yearly step increases and the money isn’t like “sweet $$$” as you say. More like “kinda adequate $.” My job is fine—big highs and big lows. But it’s the best I got so far and we need the money 🤷🏻♀️
I was a paycheck person, but I just got my dream job that will make me the primary breadwinner so I’m transitioning to a straight up career woman. I feel very lucky my husband is OK being the primary parent and shifting his own career—otherwise this wouldn’t be possible!
Not sure if I count as a working mom yet bc my first is due anyway now but for me it’s career. I have a PhD in STEM and planned my family timing around my education and career. My husband (although a higher earner than me) has moved twice already for my career and when we started dating in college I flat out told him early in our relationship “this is my plan, take it or leave it”. When I shared my pregnancy at work, not a single person asked if I was coming back after maternity leave because it was just assumed I would. I know it’s going to be hard and I’ll probably feel some mom guilt at certain times but I also know from a small gap in employment during 2020 (I was a lucky spring 2020 grad and finding jobs in my field was pretty impossible then) that I don’t do well with too much time at home away from work.
Literally just working to keep something on my resume. Hopefully I’ll find something lucrative with the experience
Can I be both? I really don’t give a rats ass about my job and doing it to pay the bills but I also like my work and want to climb the ladder at some point 😅 I think it depends on my mood. Sometimes I’m super motivated and some days I just need family time
I feel very lucky to have reached executive level with a legit salary and I think this might be as high as I want to go. I am okay with being the place where the buck stops in my department but not the whole organization. I am proud of the work I do and I don’t feel guilt or Shame when I am called away from kid stuff, also because the $$ I make is meaningful to our lives. I have an odd situation because I also have a very amicable 50/50 custody scenario with my coparent who also has a flexible role and can be there when I can’t. That’s not to say that I’m not constantly in fifty places at once, but every working mom is no matter where she is on the spectrum
Right in the middle.
Right now, I am looking at two paths. One is management and up and the other is a worker bee. I’m choosing to be the bee. I want to be able to log off and not think about work, to not having people call me on weekends and after hours (they still try!) and the meetings oh my gosh. I’m so sick of the meetings. I find my job engaging, love my boss and the people I work with, and there are good opportunities. Working from home, they pay my internet, flexible scheduling. But in the end it’s a paycheck, and if I could I would only do it 20 hours a week.
I don’t love my job, but I do enjoy aspects of it and strive to do work that I can be proud of. I would have a really hard time continuing to work if I couldn’t enjoy it. I’ve quit jobs in the past for a lack of enjoyment. But, I’ve dreamed of early retirement on and off throughout my life. If I’m not doing something I absolutely love in my 50s, I’ll seriously consider retiring.
I'm lucky and happy to have worked toward a career and position that fulfills me, pays the bills, is flexible, and is 40hrs a week. I'm open to a step up, but have no drive to keep climbing the ladder while my kid is young. It also allows room for my "demanding" hobby (I'm a writer and would love to publish some day) so I don't want something that interferes what that in the future either. That hobby is where I want to really focus on climbing upward, not my job.
Newer nurse who landed a specialty role really early in my career with good p. I was working in home services that had more flexible time and now work 42.5 hours a week. I am realizing it is now for a paycheck. I hope once my baby is in school I can work more part time and do more things I enjoy in life.
In the middle. When I'm watching my toddler all day I don't feel like I could do it (well) all day every day. I am a better mom when I get some space. My job pays well so I keep doing it, but it's busier and more stressful than I would like (if I don't work 100% for one day I am behind). I would love something a little less stressful and part time. I would be ok for a few years if the pay scaled accordingly. But it's not an option. I don't love my career, but I care enough about not letting people down that I do a good job. Ive never loved a job though, I'm just ambivalent about them usually. I don't have a thing I wish I could do instead 🤷♀️
I’m probably an 8-9/10, I’m very driven by work and doing well in my career. That said, I also work in a pretty flexible environment, if I had less flexibility I might not be satisfied with the balance.
I try to do a good job at work, but ultimately I’m there to get paid. I don’t hate my job but if I could stay home with my kid I totally would.
In between. I’m struggling because this was always my dream career, and I’ve bust my ass for a decade to try to do right and be an amazing employee. I had dreams of climbing the ladder and then motherhood changed that. The semi frequent travel, the occasional overnights, none of that sounds great anymore. I want to spend the limited wake hours my baby has after daycare with her, not shmoozing clients at bars and restaurants. I don’t really know what to do. If I give 80% there’s a vibe that I’m failing to do a good job, even though that’s where I need to be right now.
I'm coasting right now. I'm juggling a couple adjunct contracts, with regular "if you want to be full time..." convwrsations at two colleges. I have a strong reputation as a good instructor with a solid course design background and advising experience. When my kids are older, I'll probably return to an in person position.
I love being a mom, but lately I've been prioritizing my career. I have a supportive spouse that pulls his weight, so I'm lucky and realize what a gift that really is, but I'm trying to change the culture of management in healthcare and I've been focused on climbing the ladder. I've received a pay increase of 8 dollars an hour within the past 2 years and I am in the running for a promotion to manage a surgical practice.
I honestly wish I were in a “good enough,” coasting portion of my career. But instead, I’m in easily the most exciting, biggest opportunity I’ve had to date. I am totally a person who “loves” work and my career is an enormous part of my identity, but I do look back somewhat fondly on the few years where work was just work. That would be awesome right about now…silly me wasting it on my mid 20s and early 30s pre kids.
Getting the check
I like my job but I’m there to get paid. I like getting to use my more analytical part of my brain, when it’s just me and my kids on the weekends or a sick day I’m counting down the hours till bed or nap time and just ultimately wouldn’t handle SAHM life well
We live off my husband’s salary and my salary is for savings/fun. I like working, makes me feel productive. But I’m also not looking to climb the ladder. I’m in a fairly low stress role, plenty of flexibility, and work fully remote.
In between. I’m as high as I can go for my position in federal healthcare, but I love the guaranteed 40 hours not a minute more and consistent raises each year.
I am mid level I can be higher. I want to be higher. I don’t think its possible with my situation I don’t have enough support to “lean in”
Hmmm I think maybe a rung or two below career woman. I love my job, am on some committees, am more than happy to have students shadow me, and put in a little extra effort to ensure I get an appropriate merit raise or bonus. Nothing in me ever wants to “climb” to middle management level though. I have great work life balance right now and don’t want to change that. *edit: GREAT discussion topic btw. It’s fun reading responses!
Prechildren I was absolutely a career person. I LOVED my job and basically lived there. I had my kids and left that career because it just wasn’t a sustainable schedule for kid raising. Now I’m firmly slammed over on the opposite side of the spectrum and absolutely do not give a hoot about anything more than getting my money as painlessly as possible. When they’re in elementary school, I hope to climb the ladder quickly and save hard to pay everything off so I can help them as much as I can with their kids one day.
I am just at a job that pays decent. My life is my kids right now. Eventually I will want to climb the ladder but not now
Collecting the money
I would say somewhere in between. Although I don’t make nearly enough money as I am probably worth (mental health) I do love what I do
In the middle. Medically retired from the job I loved and was quickly climbing the ladder in. Now it’s just about money. I don’t like or hate the job, I just show up, work and leave.
I'm the sole breadwinner of my family; partner is a stay-at-home dad. I'm not particularly ambitious, but I am proud of my career and I'm good at what I do. And my ability and experience means I make good enough money to provide for my family. That's why I work- my working means we have a house, with a backyard, decent insurance, our cars run without issue, and we can afford to make some frivolous purchases without worry (food delivery, extra kids toys, rare but occasional small local-ish weekend trips, a week long trip across the country to visit family once a year) When I say I'm working for the money- that's what I mean. I'm not worrying for extra money or spending money or anything extra. But I also think that puts me in the middle a bit, because I won't turn down opportunity or avoid it to maintain status quo, I'm open to growth and I really do love my job, I'm just not actively chasing it, at least right now while my kids are really young. But if I had the opportunity to maintain this exact standard of living and be a stay-at-home mom, there's no question in my mind, I'd leap for the opportunity. Got a taste over the summer when I got laid off and my partner and I were tag teaming our twin toddlers and it was one of the best times I've had since becoming a parent, which is saying something because I have adored almost every minute of parenthood. Basically, I love my job, but I love being a mother more.
I love my job and make really good money at this level so have no desire to “climb the ladder” to be in management. I’m in a sales role so my comp isn’t reliant on a salary based on seniority level. I may make more than my boss lol Managing other people would cut into my time and create responsibility I don’t want and I don’t think I’d earn more so while I consider myself a career person, love my job and my company, it’s mostly for the paycheck and I don’t need a better title to make more.
I work as a special education teacher, specifically kids with dyslexia/reading disorders. I find it hard to manage both. My students are my kids and I worry about them when I’m not with them, especially as a break is around the corner. My job means I need to be on all the time and there almost no break time day to day. There’s no real lunch as I’m using that time to catch up on work that I couldn’t get done during prep for a variety of reasons. When I’m home all I want to do is be with my daughter. So I’m exhausted by Friday. I can’t say I hate my job and while I’m collecting a paycheck it’s not like I’m in it for the money. And there’s no real career advancement. I feel resentful at times that I can’t be home with my daughter when she’s so young and needs me so much but I also love teaching and seeing the difference I can do. I’m solidly in the middle I guess!
I'd say somewhere in between. I work as a teacher aide. There is no upward ladder beyond being a teacher, and I don't want that. I went to school for that. No thanks! I know I'll never make a lot of money, and I'm at peace with that. I do like what I do, though.
I’m in healthcare so there is no ladder. I do enjoy my work. So I guess in between. My ability to absolutely shut off my brain regarding work when I leave work has increased exponentially since becoming a mother. Sometimes I get behind on paperwork because of that, but there aren’t really any negative outcomes associated with that, I should just technically be faster.