Becoming a parent has made me one big walking contradiction. Writing this from t
By Zoe Stephenson · September 30, 2026 · Curated by George's Blog
Becoming a parent has made me one big walking contradiction.
Writing this from the car while I wait for a nap to finish, which feels like a fairly accurate representation of life at the moment as I slowly (emphasis on slowly) start returning to work after becoming a mum.
While we PREPPED the business ahead of it, there are a few things I didn’t prep myself for when I headed off on maternity leave…
🐌 Going from 100mph to what feels like 5mph, while somehow being more tired than I’ve ever been (make it make sense?!)
👻 Going from speaking to people ALL day to occasionally getting to 5pm and realising my husband is the only other adult I’ve spoken to is a lonely adjustment!
🤒 Missing work (major FOMO). Then feeling guilty for missing work.
‼️ Getting lulled into thinking you can work and look after a newborn at the same time because they sleep so much. I can confirm this is a trap.
❤️🔥 Watching the team absolutely smash it without me and feeling SO proud, while a tiny part of my brain goes… hang on, do they actually need me anymore? (Hiiii imposter syndrome, welcome back)
Note: that last reminder is particularly ridiculous because I’ve spent years preaching that the goal is to build a team of people who are better at their jobs than you’d ever be and make sure the business doesn’t depend on you (a reminder to take your own advice!!)
Anyhoo, I’m loving being (somewhat) back, but equally very thankful to have a team that means I can take the return at my own pace and figure out what this new era looks like 🤍
Any tips on the juggle from working parents, send them my way! We’re 3 months in and will take all the advice we can get x