If you’re a stay-at-home mom heading back into the workforce, the resume gap can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.

In this episode, I break down a smarter, more genuine approach to talking about your time at home and it's not what you think.

What We Cover

1. Own your gap
2. Keep it simple
3. Find companies who value moms

➡️ Sign up for a FREE Resume Audit to get personalized feedback so your resume can be as awesome as you!

➡️ Grab my free guide, 3 Steps to Getting a Job, so you know exactly what to do first when you’re re-entering the workforce.

 ➡️ Learn more and connect with me at Carrie McFarland Coaching

 ➡️ Share this episode with another stay-at-home mom who’s starting her job search.

In this episode Carrie and Angie break down the actual basics of building a strong resume. If you’ve been staring at a blank document wondering where to start, this one’s for you.

✔️ Keep Your Resume Simple & Readable If your resume is hard to skim, it might get skipped. Hear what actually makes it stand out.

✔️ Stick to Relevant Experience Only It’s totally fine to leave old jobs off. Learn how to figure out what stays and what goes.

✔️ Present Yourself Professionally A clean, polished resume builds trust fast. Get the quick checklist to make yours look the part.

✔️ Protect Yourself from Unconscious Bias A few tiny tweaks can protect you from age or appearance bias. I’ll show you what to change.

✔️ Understand When Cover Letters Matter Some industries really don’t care about cover letters. Learn how to tell the difference so you don’t waste time.

What to do Next:

1️⃣ Grab the Free Guide: “3 Steps to Getting a Job”

Start your job search with confidence and clarity; even if you haven’t touched a resume in years.

2️⃣ Book Your Resume Revamp with Carrie

If your resume feels outdated or overwhelming, let’s fix it together so you can stand out fast.

3️⃣ Subscribe & Leave a Review

If this episode helped you breathe a little easier, hit follow and drop a quick review.

4️⃣ Share This Episode with Another Mom

If you know another mom going back to work, send this episode to her.

LEARN MORE @ carriemcfarland.com

In this episode, we're talking about one of the biggest mindset blocks moms face when going back to work; the belief that if I enjoy working, I’m neglecting my kids.

We'll share how to reframe that guilt and what it really means to model purpose, fulfillment, and balance for our kids.

3 Takeaways:

1. Enjoying your work doesn’t make you a bad mom — it shows your kids what fulfillment looks like.

2. Discomfort (for you and your kids) is part of growth, not a sign you’re doing something wrong.

3. The questions you ask yourself shape how you feel — shift from “Am I neglecting them?” to “How might this benefit my family?”
   Follow the show for more real conversations about motherhood, identity, and returning to work.

• Visit Carrie: ⁠www.carriemcfarland.com⁠
• Visit Angie: ⁠www.angieturgeonladeau.com⁠

• Download: ⁠FREE Guide: Back to Work in 3 Steps⁠
• Subscribe: ⁠Weekly Newsletter⁠

In this episode, Carrie and Angie unpack one of the biggest mindset blocks moms face when going back to work:
“Asking for help means I can’t handle it.”

Together, they dig into where this belief comes from, why it feels so true, and how it can quietly keep you stuck, exhausted, and afraid to move forward. You’ll learn how to reframe this story so you can step into your next chapter with more support and less guilt.

1. Asking for help is not weakness — it’s strategy.No one can do it all. Relying on others doesn’t make you less capable; it makes you more sustainable. Capable doesn’t mean doing everything yourself — it means making sure it gets done in a way that works.

   
   

2. Your beliefs are just thoughts you’ve practiced.The idea that “I should be able to manage it all” is often modeled for us and reinforced over time. Once you become aware of that pattern, you can start choosing new, healthier beliefs that serve the woman you’re becoming.

   
   

3. Redefine “capable.”True capability includes knowing your limits, outsourcing when possible, and accepting that delegation is a strength. You can do anything — but that doesn’t mean you should do everything.

Balancing Household Responsibilities When You Go Back to Work

In this episode of Back to Work, Carrie and Angie get real about what it takes to rebalance household responsibilities when you return to work after being home with your kids. They unpack the guilt, the overwhelm, and the myth that you can keep doing it all exactly the same way.

You’ll hear stories from both hosts about what worked (and what didn’t), how to rethink priorities, and why your well-being has to be part of the household plan—not an afterthought.

If you’ve been wondering how to manage laundry, meal prep, and morning chaos without losing your mind, this one’s for you.

• Redefine “balanced.” It doesn’t mean 50/50—it means what works now.

• Get it out of your head. Write down every task you do and look at it with your partner and kids.

• Set a realistic baseline. Everyone fed, clothed, and hugged? That’s a win.

• One true priority. The word priority was singular for centuries for a reason—you can’t have ten “most important” things.

• You come first. Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s maintenance for the glue that holds everything together.

  
  

  What to do Next

• 🎧 Subscribe to Back to Work so you never miss an episode.

• 💌 Download the Free Guide: Back to Work in 3 Steps your first step toward finding flexible, meaningful work that fits your life.

• 🤝 Share this episode with another mom who’s thinking about returning to work—because no one should do this alone.

Adjusting Your Daily Routine When You Go Back to Work

In this episode, Carrie and Angie dive into one of the most underestimated parts of returning to work as a stay-at-home mom — adjusting your daily routine.

What sounds like a simple change—“just tweak your schedule”—is actually a major emotional and logistical shift for you and your family. The hosts share personal stories and practical insights to help you navigate that transition with more grace, patience, and flexibility.

They explore:

• Why changing your daily routine is not a small thing

• How family dynamics shift when mom goes back to work

• The importance of giving yourself (and your kids) grace in the messy middle

• Creative ways to rethink routines like mornings, meals, and bedtime

• Letting go of guilt and perfection to find what works for your family

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to “do it all” while re-entering the workforce, this conversation will remind you that you’re not failing—you’re simply transitioning.

• Change is hard—and that’s okay.

• Routines impact the whole family, not just you.

• Grace beats guilt every time.

• Experiment, adjust, and find your rhythm—it doesn’t have to be perfect.

💌 Subscribe so you never miss an episode.
👭 Share this episode with another mom who’s preparing to go back to work.
🎁 Grab your free guide — Back to Work in 3 Steps It’s your first step toward returning to work with confidence and clarity.
🎧 Catch up on earlier episodes, especially Episode 1, where Carrie and Angie talk about the identity shift from stay-at-home mom to working mom.

Carrie McFarland Coaching

Ep 4 - Childcare Real Talk: What No One Talks About When You're Going Back to Work

In this episode of Back to Work, Carrie and Angie dive into what happens after you land the job — the messy, beautiful, complicated logistics of actually being back at work. From finding childcare to juggling schedules, sick days, and the emotional load of it all, this conversation is here to name and normalize the very real challenges that come with re-entering the workforce as a mom.

What We Talk About:

• The emotional and logistical shift from being home full-time to working outside the home

• Real-life childcare stories: home daycares, family help, and the rising costs of care

• Split schedules and how they affect relationships and mental load

• The ripple effect of sick days and school closures

• Why having a “school-age” child doesn’t automatically make things easier

• The power of naming your challenges and normalizing the chaos

Key Takeaways:
💡 There’s no “perfect” childcare situation — only what works best for your family right now.
💡 Split shifts may save on daycare costs but can strain relationships and energy.
💡 Even with school-aged kids, expect interruptions — sick days, breaks, and random closures are part of the deal.
💡 You’re not failing — it’s just hard. Naming it helps you breathe easier.
💡 You are a badass for showing up in all of this.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• ChildCare.gov – National resource for finding licensed childcare providers and learning about financial assistance options

• NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) – Guidance on choosing quality early childhood programs

• Care.com – Platform for finding local childcare providers, nannies, and babysitters

Quote of the Episode:

“Name it and normalize it. There’s nothing wrong with you — you’re doing great.”

Connect:

• Download Back to Work in 3 Steps!

• Subscribe to Back to Work wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave a review to help other moms find the show.

• Visit Carrie McFarland Coaching

Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster of Returning to Work

Returning to work after being a stay-at-home mom is a huge transition—and it comes with emotions that are rarely talked about. In this episode, Carrie and Angie dive into the guilt, grief, anxiety, and even excitement that accompany stepping back into the workforce.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Why guilt is often the first emotion moms feel when returning to work—and how it can sneak into every part of your day.

• The role of grief in the transition and why not feeling sad can sometimes trigger guilt.

• How anxiety and catastrophizing can make the adjustment harder, and strategies to recognize and manage these feelings.

• The split-attention effect: balancing work responsibilities with family life without losing your mind.

• Why excitement about returning to work is normal—and why it can sometimes trigger guilt too.

• Practical tips for self-compassion, patience, and processing big emotions.

• A teaser for tools and questions to help distinguish justified guilt from unnecessary mental overload (see show notes for links).

Key Takeaways:

• All emotions you’re feeling are normal and expected.

• There’s no “one right way” to navigate this transition.

• Allowing yourself to feel these emotions without judgment is critical for moving forward successfully.

• Support systems matter—find someone you can talk to about these big feelings.

Resources & Links:

• Free Guide: Are you feeling unnecessary guilt?

• Carrie McFarland Coaching

Episode 2: The Identity Shift

In this episode of Back to Work, Carrie and Angie dive into the messy, emotional, and very real transition from being a stay-at-home mom to stepping back into the workforce.

They talk about the identity shift that happens when you move from being the one who’s always home with the kids to sharing that role with others. It’s not just about finding a job—it’s about redefining who you are, grieving what you’re leaving behind, and learning to see that your value isn’t limited to one role.

Carrie shares her personal story of going back to work after eight years at home, the guilt she felt, and the moments that made her question her decision. Angie reflects on her own career transitions and how identity evolves across different life stages. Together, they normalize the mix of grief, guilt, and control issues moms often face in this process—while also pointing toward confidence, compassion, and a mindset shift that can make it easier.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why the “loss of identity” is a very real part of going back to work

• Carrie’s raw experience of feeling like she was abandoning her kids

• The cultural messages that pile on the guilt (like the dreaded “18 summers” line)

• How control and fear of missing out play into the transition

• The ongoing pressures on moms as primary caregivers, even when working full-time

• How to reframe your role so you don’t feel like you’re “doing it wrong”

This conversation is here to remind you that you’re not alone in the shift—and that your identity is bigger than any one label.

Resources & Next Steps:

• Catch our first episode for a full introduction to who we are and why we started this podcast.

• If you’re curious about self-care for moms, check out our previous podcast, Self Care for Moms.

• Subscribe and follow for more weekly conversations about making the transition back to work with confidence and clarity.

Carrie McFarland Coaching

Episode 1: The Truth About Moms Going Back to Work

When a stay-at-home mom decides to go back to work, it’s never just about getting a job. It’s about navigating identity shifts, family dynamics, emotions, and the logistics no one really talks about. That’s why we created the Back to Work podcast—for moms who are ready (or feel pushed) to re-enter the workforce but aren’t sure where to begin.

In this first episode, hosts Carrie McFarland and Angie Turgeon-Ledoux share their personal journeys of transition:

• Carrie reflects on her unexpected return to work after 8 years at home, balancing motherhood, financial pressures, and identity shifts.

• Angie shares her perspective as an educator, life coach, military spouse, and now retiree, drawing parallels between career changes, identity, and emotional transitions.

Together, they set the stage for what this podcast is about: honest conversations, practical tips, and real stories about finding, getting, and keeping a job that works for you and your family.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why going back to work is more than just “getting a job.”

• The emotional layers of transition that often get overlooked.

• Carrie’s HR and coaching expertise and how it shapes her advice for moms re-entering the workforce.

• Angie’s lived experiences with big life shifts and how tarot and coaching support her process.

• The shared vision behind Back to Work: addressing the in-between—the messy, emotional, real part of transition that often goes unspoken.

Takeaway:Transitions are hard, messy, and complex. You don’t have to rush through them or feel like you’re failing if it doesn’t come easily. This space is for moms like you, walking through the return-to-work journey with honesty, support, and encouragement.

👉 Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.👉 Share with a mom friend who’s been thinking about going back to work.

Resources & Links: