I thought working for myself would make motherhood easier. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Julie Peck, a woman who started her own business with the intention of finding work-life balance when she became a mother, now reflects on the challenges and regrets she faced. Her journey began in 2001 when she left her advertising job to become a freelance marketer, believing it would provide the flexibility she needed as a soon-to-be parent. However, she later discovered that her decision to start a family while running a business came with unforeseen complications.

During her first pregnancy, Peck became a single mother after her husband was laid off from his job due to the events of 9/11. Despite the imminent arrival of her first child, she managed to maintain her business, often juggling the demands of work and motherhood simultaneously. She recalls the days spent nursing her newborn son while simultaneously typing on her laptop, barely catching moments of rest.

In a particularly chaotic instance, she arrived late to her scheduled C-section for her younger son, as she was engrossed in completing a work project.

Peck regrets the stress she placed on her clients, herself, and her sons during those early years. She acknowledges that her determination to keep all the balls in the air led to moments of frustration and regret. As for the future, she is concerned that the current lack of paid maternity leave in the United States may make it even more difficult for new mothers to balance their work and family life.

Peck believes that financial independence plays a crucial role in enabling women to prioritize their time with their children, and she is impressed by other women who have managed to carve out this balance for themselves.