By: Shayla Strange, senior account manager
Women are built different in ways that often go unseen because it’s expected. We run households, remember appointments, grow in our careers, nurture families and somehow keep everything moving forward. It can be overwhelming, some may say exhausting, but yet, in this season of my life, I have never felt more powerful.
After three months at home with my baby girl, the thought of returning to work full-time felt both terrifying and exciting. The thought of leaving my three-month-old each day pulled at my heart, but I knew mama needed to be okay with our time apart to give myself space to keep growing while allowing my little person to grow as well.
I read many mom stories on social media about women quitting their job before the 3-month mark because they couldn’t stomach the thought of leaving their baby (LOL not me!) and I almost felt guilty in a sense because I didn’t feel the same way. Of course, I didn’t want to leave her, but my reticence was mostly because I was now used to a more leisurely routine. Alongside the fear was curiosity — and even eagerness. I couldn’t wait to step back into my career and discover what this new version of my life would look like. A corporate baddie boss mom. Mamacita (Love Islanders, you know). That title was meant for me!
Before becoming a mom, I thought I understood balance. I traveled for leisure, managed responsibilities and even balanced life as a proud dog mom. But motherhood (with a real person) changes the equation. Now it’s travel, babysitters, deadlines, diapers, feeding schedules, maintaining a clean home, nurturing a relationship and still showing up fully in every room I enter. It is a lot, but so exciting!
This Women’s History Month, I’ve been reflecting on what it truly means when we say women can “do it all.” It doesn’t mean we do everything perfectly or that we never feel tired or overwhelmed. It means we rise to the occasion. We adapt. We evolve. We stretch beyond what we thought were our limits and most times shock ourselves.
History is filled with women who broke barriers in boardrooms, laboratories, classrooms and communities. But there’s also power in everyday history being written right now — in living rooms, at daycare drop-offs, at late-night networking events and in early morning meetings.
Returning to work as a new mom has shown me something profound: I am capable of more than I ever imagined. Motherhood didn’t diminish my ambition — it sharpened it. It didn’t weaken my drive — it deepened it. I move differently now, with greater purpose and perspective.
I’m also incredibly grateful to work for a company that truly supports its people through every phase of life. A four-day work week and flexible work-from-home options have made this transition gentler, allowing me to show up fully — both at work and at home — with a little more peace of mind. That kind of support makes a real difference, and I am grateful for communications 21.
As Michelle Obama writes in Becoming, “For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self.” Right now, I’m embracing that forward motion — evolving as a leader, a mother and the woman I’m still becoming.
Women can do it all. Not because it’s easy — but because we are resilient, resourceful and relentless when we set our minds to something. This season of life is stretching me. It’s teaching me. It’s empowering me in ways I didn’t expect. And yes, I am tired. But I also know this season won’t last forever.
What I do know is that I have never felt stronger or more determined to show my daughter what it looks like to build a career, chase big goals and still show up fully as a mom. To show her what a hardworking, ambitious, unapologetic woman looks like. Her grandma did it. And I’m proud to continue that legacy.