Meet Zoe M.: The Exit, the Baby, and the Brave Rebuild

The Crossroads

“I was a C-suite member at a small boutique consulting firm. I’d worked my way up from an entry-level role, reported to the CEO, and my peers were in their fifties and sixties.”

Zoe had climbed her way to the top—but the view wasn’t what she hoped for. Years of working under challenging leadership took a toll, until one night she found herself updating the company’s parental leave policy—alone, in the middle of the night, while pregnant.

“The last straw was rewriting our parental leave policy in the middle of the night. I had the version history receipts!”

She reached her breaking point, typed out her resignation letter—and then, in an almost cinematic twist, found out she was pregnant that same afternoon.

“I stuck it out through pregnancy and left at the end of maternity leave.”

You’d think the transition to caring for a newborn would be the hardest part—but for Zoe, it actually felt like relief.

“I was so intensely burnt out that having a newborn with serious feeding challenges felt like a light lift in comparison to my job.”

She had saved intentionally and planned to send her baby to daycare while she searched for her next full-time role. But once the time came…

“I hated, hated, hated sending him to ‘school.’”

Even though it was a “universally adored, conveniently located, and affordable” daycare, every part of her body rejected the decision.

“After a month, I pulled him.”

Now, she’s in the midst of building something new—starting an LLC, working part-time, and navigating stay-at-home motherhood the rest of the time.

The Challenges

“My husband works for NASA, so every decision has felt challenging this year.”

While his job is currently stable, Zoe’s choice to leave her high-powered position, pay for childcare, and ultimately stay home more—all in one year—felt like swimming upstream.

“Financially, we made equal salaries so it’s going to be different on one.”

They’ve built savings over time, but Zoe acknowledges the long-term unknowns.

“We’ve saved a lot in retirement and brokerage accounts, but wonder about long-term impact from this time. We’re both 33.”

There’s also the emotional layer—one that often goes unspoken in SAHM transitions.

“I live in a really ambitious place and I am terrified of being a SAHM here and building no community.”

Beyond the fear of invisibility, Zoe reflects on the shift in her marriage.

“It’s also a huge relationship shift to have a shared financial responsibility for a decade and then suddenly hold it all solo—so I worry a bit about my husband’s emotions.”

What I Wish I’d Known

Zoe’s not shy about the lessons she’s learned.

“I wish I’d cultivated a strong professional network of my own earlier.”

While she’s surrounded by people who care and want to help, she’s realizing how little she’s publicly shared about her work.

“I don’t know that I’ve been great about showing my work.”

She also wishes she’d kept a living document of her achievements.

“I wish I’d kept an updated resume to tell the story of my work. I’ve done a lot—and I feel a little downtrodden with how traumatic the last year of my role was.”

Tools, Resources, and Community

One thing that helped Zoe shift directions was joining a Job Search Council through Never Search Alone.

“It helped me rapidly clarify I didn’t want a full-time role. I loved the structure and it’s a great community.”

She’s still in search of more parenting support—especially now that she’s walking the SAHM and entrepreneurial path.

“I joined one [parenting group] for the 3–6 month time and it’s great. But finding SAHM support is challenging.”

Zoe also names a real gap in the market:

“I want to understand the real impacts of stepping away on my career—and more resources on what to do now to build later would be great.”

Advice for Other Parents

Zoe’s wisdom hits deep.

“Don’t intellectualize. Trust how your body feels.”

In a world of spreadsheets, ROI, and future-proofing, she encourages parents to make choices based on who they are—and who their baby is.

“Decide based on who your baby is and who you are.”

And she’s quick to remind others that the first plan doesn’t have to be the final one.

“Feel okay pivoting—your first approach might not be right.”

Zoe’s story is the kind of honesty so many parents crave—but rarely hear.

She didn’t just walk away from a big title. She listened to the voice that said, “This isn’t it anymore.” And even though the next chapter is still being written, she’s already living more in alignment—with her family, her values, and herself.

If her story resonates with you, you can connect with Zoe through the Both& community.

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