When Mommy Grows Up

Returning to work after a career pause can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to figure out where to invest your time and money.

In this episode, career coach Becca Carnahan shares exactly what she would and wouldn't pay for if she were returning to the paid workforce today. From coaching and assessments to ChatGPT, LinkedIn, networking, resumes, and certifications, Becca breaks down which investments can help build clarity, confidence, and momentum, and which ones can wait.

If you're considering your next career move after time away from paid work, this episode will help you focus on what matters most and avoid wasting money on things you may not actually need.

Resources:

Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It?

Low Cost Professional Resume Templates

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You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence!

Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career.

Get started today!

The question "Is part-time work the answer?" comes up all the time for mid-career parents managing work and family needs. And in the summertime, while school is out, that question gets even louder. So let's talk about it!

In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, we’re talking honestly about part-time work as an option: when it can be a lifeline, when it’s not the right fit, and how to thoughtfully evaluate whether it aligns with your career and family goals in this season of life.

You’ll hear the real pros and cons of part-time work, common mistakes parents make when considering flexible arrangements, and practical strategies for proposing a part-time role at your current company. From restructuring responsibilities to setting communication expectations and positioning your request as a trial run, this episode walks through how to advocate for yourself strategically and professionally.

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish work felt more manageable right now,” this conversation is for you.

Resources:

Does Part-Time Work Really Work?: Meg's Story

Job Search Sites for Flexible Roles

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You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence!

Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career.

Get started today!

In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, we’re taking a page from the world of gymnastics, where feedback is constant, specific, and unavoidable, and asking: what if we approached our careers the same way?

Because here’s the truth: most of us aren’t lacking feedback… we’re just not getting the kind that actually helps us grow.

Through the story of “Jenna,” a high-performing professional who felt stuck despite glowing reviews, we unpack why common workplace feedback often falls flat, and how to change that. From vague praise to overly safe critiques, we’ll break down what’s missing and how to start asking better questions that lead to real, actionable insights.

You’ll walk away with simple, practical strategies to:

•  Ask for feedback in a way that gets real answers 
•  Turn vague comments into clear direction 
•  Build visibility and trust by actually using what you hear 
•  Create momentum in your career (without waiting for your next review cycle) 

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing everything right… so why am I not growing?” this episode is for you!

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You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence!

Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career.

Get started today!

What if growing your career didn’t require more time, just a new perspective?

In this episode, we’re rethinking networking for real life. From soccer sidelines to dance studio waiting rooms, these everyday moments might be the most overlooked opportunity to build meaningful connections. Learn how simple curiosity, honest conversations, and small shifts in mindset can open unexpected doors without adding anything new to your already full plate.

Because sometimes, the next step in your career is standing right next to you!

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You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence!

Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career.

Get started today!

Happy Mother's Day! 

This week, as we celebrate YOU as a mom, the When Mommy Grows Up podcast is turning into an audiobook sneak peek one more time.

Chapter 4 of When Mommy Grows Up: Finding Career Clarity While Covered in Kids, Mother Knows Best, shares stories and laughs, but its main purpose in the book is to remind us that we’re the moms now, and we really do know what’s best for ourselves and our families.

Come share some relatable laughs, listen along to know you aren't alone, and get the pep talk you need to keep moving forward on the path that is right for you.

Find the full book and workbook at whenmommygrowsup.com.

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You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence!

Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career.

Get started today!

In this week's episode of When Mommy Grows Up, a small plastic duck carries a powerful message.

After Becca's daughter’s state gymnastics meet, where highs and disappointments lived side by side, one quiet moment stood out above all the rest. Long after the crowd thinned and the lights dimmed, one little girl stayed, cheering on the final athletes, even when no one was watching. What happened next was a simple act of recognition that turned into a lasting lesson on character, encouragement, and what it really means to show up for others.

This episode is a heartfelt reminder to notice the people who cheer us on. It’s also a call to action: to name that support, to become that support for someone else, and to offer that same encouragement to ourselves in the moments that feel lonely or uncertain.

Because whether in parenting, work, or personal growth, we all have those moments where we need that support the most.

And sometimes, the smallest gestures can mean everything.

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You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence!

Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career.

Get started today!

If your job search has you feeling frustrated, exhausted, or questioning everything…you’re not alone.

This week on When Mommy Grows Up, we’re talking about what to do when it feels like you’ve tried everything and nothing is working.

Inside this episode, we’re diving into:

• Why the traditional job search approach might be failing you right now
• Creative, real-life ways to stand out (without burning out)
• How to keep going when rejection starts to feel personal
• Small, powerful mindset shifts to help you move forward again

Because the truth is this job market is tough. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck!

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You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence!

Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career.

Get started today!

Struggling to update your LinkedIn? In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, we walk through how to use ChatGPT to write a strong headline and About section, without losing your voice.

Learn the exact prompts to get started, why keywords matter, and how to edit your content so it sounds clear, confident, and like you.

If your profile has been sitting untouched, this is your sign to start!

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You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence!

Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career.

Get started today!

This week on When Mommy Grows Up, we’re celebrating a very special milestone—my book When Mommy Grows Up: Finding Career Clarity While Covered in Kids is officially one year old! 🎉

The refreshed 2025 edition is the book I always envisioned—filled with new insights, deeper encouragement, and even more support for moms navigating career clarity in the middle of real life.

To celebrate this “book birthday,” I’m doing something a little different on the podcast… I’m giving you a sneak peek into a possible future audiobook! In this episode, I’m sharing a narrated reading of the prologue so you can experience the heart behind the book in a whole new way.

I’d truly love your feedback—does this make you want a full audiobook version? Let me know!

And if you’re ready to dive into the book now, you can find all the details at whenmommygrowsup.com.

Grab a cup of coffee, press play, and let’s dream about what’s possible together. 

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You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence!

Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career.

Get started today!

If your resume has been sitting untouched for years and you don’t even know where to start…this episode is for you.

Today on When Mommy Grows Up, we’re doing a practical, step-by-step 15-minute resume audit designed especially for moms re-entering the workforce, pivoting careers, or updating a very outdated document.

We’ll cover:

• How to turn task-based bullet points into measurable impact
• How to stop minimizing your leadership
• What to do about a “resume gap”
• How to align your resume with the job you actually want
• And how to rewrite your summary so it reflects the confident, next-level version of you

Because most resume problems aren’t formatting problems, they’re positioning problems. And you’re not behind. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience.

Grab your resume and let’s get to work.

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You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence!

Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career.

Get started today!