Meet Larissa: A Former Educator Redefining Career & Fulfillment After Kids

Before children, Larissa worked as a reading interventionist in a school. While the hours might have looked family-friendly on paper, the reality was far from it.

“It seems fine on paper because the hours are not the typical 9:00–5:00, but what do you do when kids are young and not in school yet?”

Her first child faced a string of early health challenges that weren’t life-threatening, but required a lot of appointments — from plagiocephaly and torticollis to reflux and a tongue tie.

“I needed to take off quite a bit, and educators only get 10 days off per year, so that made it challenging.”

She stayed in the role until her child turned 1.5 — and then the pandemic hit.

That’s when everything shifted. Larissa moved into a primarily remote role as an educational diagnostician, conducting cognitive and academic testing for students seeking special education services. The flexibility was life-changing.

“Working remotely was a game changer! I did that role for almost 5 years and even moved across the country.”

But eventually, the company called employees back to the office — and moving again wasn’t on the table. Larissa made the difficult decision to resign in February 2025. Since then, she’s been doing part-time work, continuing to prioritize her family’s needs while also seeking more consistent income.

Challenges Along the Way

“The biggest challenge now has been financial. We went from two full-time salaries, to one full-time salary and inconsistent part-time work.”

To make things even harder, her husband is a 1099 contractor, meaning no employer-sponsored benefits — and she had always carried the family’s health insurance.

“Having to get insurance on the marketplace has been a huge stressor and financial burden, especially with less income.”

What I Wish I’d Known

“Truthfully... I wish I never went into education. How awful is that?”

Larissa is candid about how hard it’s been to reconcile her career choice with the realities of family life.

“It is such a needed, important profession, but a really hard profession to support a family on, and a tough profession to transition out of. I always had dreams of being an interior designer or event planner, and wish I had chosen a job with more financial resources, and room for growth, from the start.”

Tools & Support That Helped

“I have been working with a career coach who has helped me regain my confidence and see how my skills are valuable and transferable.”

Advice to Others

“Do what works best for you and your family! Don’t apologize for putting your family first... ever!”

And perhaps the most important lesson Larissa has learned?

“Parenting and working is tough, but I know that I need/crave fulfillment outside of my kids and I no longer feel guilty for that — because it makes me a better mom.”

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