HER WAY: Stories of Strength, Choice, and Empowerment

This International Women’s Day, we celebrated the strength, resilience, and individuality of women by inviting our community to share their personal journeys of self-discovery. From navigating motherhood to career shifts and bold new beginnings, these stories reflect the power of embracing one’s own way forward. Join us as we honor the voices of women who have redefined expectations and carved out their own versions of fulfillment.

@xioommaraa

I chose to be stay-at-home mom with my first baby and not continue college because of how hard it was to find someone who I trusted to watch her. Ever since it has been a very hard decision now because sometimes mommy wants some alone time, and my biggest goal was to go to college for nursing. Now that I am a mom of 3 beautiful girls and with my last I decided to exclusively breastfeed which has made this a very challenging time but I will always do my best to see my girls happy!! I am now hopefully trying my best to go back to school to make them proud.

@dairrian_blagg

I am so thankful for my husband for allowing me to stay home with our daughter who is now almost 2.5 years old. I know some mothers don’t get that opportunity but if you can find a way to make it work by cutting luxuries it’s the best option. I get to be there every day, teach her myself, and never miss out on a moment/milestone. My friends always ask me but you don’t get what you want always. It’s because I would rather spend that money to take my daughter somewhere fun, put money in her saving account, etc. I don’t need a glamorous lifestyle I’m happy with my life now and I’m so excited to watch my daughter become a big sister in late April or early May to our other daughter. Women make so many sacrifices when they become a mother, but they are so worth it in the end seeing a part of you and your spouse grow up into someone special. I wouldn’t trade motherhood for anything.

@fknferny92

I chose to work on opposite schedule than my partner so that we can ensure our little ones are solely cared for by us. It also helps us maintain financial stability with the current rising costs of childcare and living expenses. I reached out to my employers and human resources department and let them know that I intended on expressing breastmilk while at work and they graciously set up a private room for me to use complete with a mini fridge for my personal use only. I've been blessed to still be going strong with my breastfeeding journey at 7 months and no end in sight for my last little one.

@karlotatheexplorer

I once lived an exciting life as a flight attendant, exploring the world and embarking on countless adventures. As a first-time mom, I faced my own set of challenges, but choosing to stay home has allowed me to truly cherish every milestone in my daughter's life. Now, as a family, we continue to travel together, and there’s nothing more rewarding than sharing these unforgettable experiences and precious moments with each other. 

@eli.pedrozaaa

Living in California is expensive!!! So expensive when I had my first 9 years ago economy wasn’t as bad but I worked 2 jobs and did get to experience motherhood. Gave him formula and went to work 2 weeks after birth. However, I’m grateful for the village I have to help raise an amazing son. I’ve been a server and always worked at night to help pay the bills, however just recently had a baby girl, and will not make the same mistake to loose her childhood as well. I switched to mornings, sacrificing the better life to be in her and my son's life better because life happens too fast. I had created this bond with her while breastfeeding and now pumping is my main job and pray that I get to continue this for the next 8 months! I wished I had knew about pumping 9 years ago.

@Sandi Miranda

As a recent single mom of two little ones under two, I want to share a piece of my journey. I became a single mom shortly after giving birth to my daughter. Returning to work after just 12 weeks of leave was a tough decision, especially with my toddler facing such significant changes. Leaving my little ones was heart-wrenching, and the stress of balancing everything felt overwhelming at times. Yet, through it all, I've discovered my strength and determination. I realized that I had no choice but to return to work to provide for my girls. Working in health care and trying to pump has certainly presented its challenges, but I refuse to let obstacles define my path. I’m also taking a bold step by going back to school, with the hope of finding a flexible job that allows me to work from home in the future.

To all the moms out there, remember that your journey is uniquely yours. Embrace the challenges, celebrate your victories, and know that you are not alone. Every effort you make, every sacrifice, and every decision is a step toward creating the life you want for you and your children. You are capable of achieving incredible things, and your story matters! Keep pushing forward and supporting one another on this beautiful, chaotic journey of motherhood.

@Alexis Frostic Tithof

I was on a role to my career goal, so close I could taste it! My husband and I became pregnant with our first shortly after we got married. I worked long hours while pregnant and just knew I wanted to continue my career after I had him; after all I worked years for this. Maternity leave was closing in and I was to return to work in just a few short weeks; but wasn’t excited about it. Why? I loved working, I was a workaholic. My life changed knowing I would have to leave my son, I just couldn’t challenge myself to leave. I found my calling when I heard his first words “mama”, his first steps and so on. This was my job, to be a mother and wife to my family. I always worked in a management position so leaving that behind was difficult at first to justify. I felt like I was worthless at times because I didn’t help my husband support our bank account. 

My husband’s my rock, he supported whatever decision I wanted to follow. He tells me every day he can’t manage what I do as a stay-at-home parent. He makes me feel proud, he watches me manage our household and use my skills in making our home flow. Now we have 3 beautiful babies (1, 4 and 5) that give me so much purpose in life. It’s okay to not know what your future holds, after all we can control how we will feel in the present. Life has so many paths and it’s up to you to choose which one best fits your family’s lifestyle and for now this is mine.

@Heather Jackson

Becoming a mom was the best day of my life. Figuring out if I wanted to return to work was incredibly hard. I am a people-pleaser, so I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. I have been back to work for about 4 months now, and there are days that I feel like a bad mom, but I make sure to soak up all of the little moments with my little wonder boy. I am so lucky that grandma and grandpa wanted to step up and babysit while I work. It has been a lifesaver!! One of the biggest challenges I faced when returning to work was ensuring that my breast milk supply wasn’t affected. I work for a small company that has never had a woman return to work after giving birth, so they had to create a space for me to pump. I am incredibly grateful for their accommodating nature. My Momcozy pumps have been a game-changer, allowing me to pump at work effortlessly. The entire Momcozy community has made this transition incredibly smooth. Everyone is incredibly supportive and provides valuable insights on navigating motherhood. It’s been an exhilarating journey, but I’m so grateful to be on this path.