Meet Britt: Staying, Shifting, and Surviving Across Continents and Career Chapters

The Crossroads

Before having children, Britt was juggling a full-time job at a call center, college courses, and a part-time gig as a barista. She had big ambitions—and a lot on her plate.

“After obtaining my degree in a whole other field, I stayed [at my company] because they offered better benefits and better pay. Teachers make less than software employees at entry level, which is sad. So I stayed—for the future family I wanted to have—since I walked across the stage to get my degree 5 months pregnant.”

Even before motherhood, her story was shaped by resilience.

“I had cancer 7 years before he was born and had just gone into remission 3 years before he was born. Still working full time while going through treatments and college.”

After graduating, Britt finally got the promotion she’d been working toward:

“I was giving all as an employee and finally got the promotion to lead after graduation—because a degree was required for advancement.”

And she stayed in that role for one major reason:

“The money and benefits were too good to leave.”

The Challenges

Her transition into working motherhood wasn’t simple—she had to find ways to make it all work, and that meant leaning on every form of support she could find.

“I worked part time during college, full time after—night shifts while my husband watched the baby. Pumped and supplemented with formula. Nannies and friends. Family. Leaning on any village I could.”

But like so many parents during the pandemic, her village disappeared overnight.

“Fast forward to 2020. I had no village, living in a new country. I had to do it all myself. Homeschool, work full time, and be a mom off the clock.”

These days, she’s doing a mix of consulting, homeschooling, and coordinating childcare for her youngest.

“I consult now, homeschool one kid due to medical needs, send the other to school, and the little one has a nanny I can only afford 3 hours a day.”

But burnout is real—and she feels it deep in her bones.

“Honestly—I don’t know if it’s burnout or if I’m cognitively losing it. All the transitions have been taxing over time. Financially, I’ve had to carry too much. And now I can’t leave due to the cost of living and my skill set, tenure, and total package pay.”

What I Wish I’d Known

Britt is honest about the emotional and financial toll of her journey—and the lack of long-term sustainability.

She didn’t say this part directly, but her story speaks volumes: that even when you "make it work," the long-term cost can be heavy.

And maybe the most important part? The recognition that no amount of planning can fully prepare you for the mental load of motherhood layered on top of a demanding career and health history.

What Worked (and the Tools That Helped)

Despite the chaos, Britt found a few anchors to hold onto—some traditional, and some creative.

“Big Heart Journey, Google Workspace, mom groups, churches… and leading my own enterprise at home.”

That last one? A line worth repeating.

“Leading my own enterprise at home.”

Because sometimes what you’re building at home deserves just as much recognition as what you’re building in the boardroom.

Advice for Other Parents

Britt’s final words are both simple and profound:

“Give yourself grace and take one hour at a time.”

Sometimes, that’s the only way forward—and that’s more than enough.

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