Corporate finance mom of 2 shares the raw truth about returning to work after maternity leave—the guilt, mom brain, marriage strain, and how she found herself again.

Going back to work after baby broke my sister. And then she did it again.

Sarah has spent over 10 years in corporate finance at companies like Nestle and Meta. She's a mom of two under four. And she's returned to work after maternity leave twice—once with six months off, and once just seven weeks postpartum.

In this episode, she's pulling back the curtain on what it's really like to be a working mom. The stuff no one warns you about.

We get into:

• The moment she returned to work and couldn't do a simple Excel function—mom brain shattered her confidence
• The guilt of being pulled between career and motherhood and never feeling fully present at either
• How her marriage changed after kids—"What time does my husband get?"
• Why her corporate ambitions completely shifted—from wanting to be CFO to questioning everything
• The chaotic reality of sick kids, daycare closures, and having to call out on her third day at a new job
• The year she almost broke—"I was one sickness away from needing to be institutionalized"
• What actually helped: systems, routines, outsourcing, and learning to ask for help
• How going back to work unexpectedly helped her find herself again

Sarah's advice for moms about to return to work:

• Put a plan in place—childcare, backup care, financial planning
• Set expectations with your employer early—ask for flexibility
• Build your village before you need it
• Take a pulse check on your mental health—don't ignore the warning signs
• Even if you don't want to do it, do it anyway—your future self will thank you

If you're about to walk this road, in the middle of it, or just need to feel seen—this one's for you.

Send us Fan Mail

Subscribe and share this episode with a mom who needs to hear she's not alone.

Connect with The Mom Dept. on Instagram and TikTok: @themomdept.co

Find us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@deborahwoodson_

Connect with me on TikTok: @deborahwoodson_

Connect with me on Instagram: @_deborahwoodson