Show Notes:

What happens when you grow up with a working mom, become one yourself, and then raise a daughter who chooses the same path? In this episode, I sit down with someone who’s known me the longest—my mom, Gail—to talk about three generations of working mothers and what it really takes to balance family, career, and self.

From growing up in a military household to raising kids during Navy deployments, to building a 42-year federal career that ended at NASA Ames, my mom shares the lessons, struggles, and resilience that defined her motherhood journey—and shaped mine.

Whether you’re a working mom, the child of one, or questioning the “mom guilt” narrative, you’ll walk away inspired by her story.

In this episode:

• Growing up with a working mother in the 1930s and 1940s
• Building a marriage and raising kids while navigating Navy life
• Facing stigma: “How could you leave your child?”
• Finding childcare, support, and survival skills on military bases
• Why money equals freedom, not shame
• Going back to school (with NASA paying!) as a working mom
• How moving every few years builds resilience and social superpowers
• Her advice for new moms choosing to go back to work

Hot takes you’ll love:

• “I was a better mom because I was happier when I worked.”
• “If you have more money, you have more choices and more freedom.”
• “After a while, how much Sesame Street can you watch?”
• “Nobody knows you and your kids better than you do—turn off the mom-shaming.”

Resources & mentions:

• Two Peacocks Travel — women’s purpose-driven adventures
• Ready for Ted with Toni Purry — craft your TEDx talk
• Be Woman Marketing with Stacey Beaman — strategic websites + branding

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