Life as a mom can feel like a constant juggling act. The career, the kids, the calendar, the endless logistics of daily life. Somewhere along the way, it’s easy to lose track of who you are underneath it all.
Last year, I found myself in that exact place. I was working in a demanding, front-line fundraising role where it felt like I was never off. My husband’s job was becoming more intense too, and between work, the kids’ schedules, and just trying to keep our home running, I was completely burned out.
I didn’t feel like myself anymore. Not at work, not as a parent, and not as a partner. I was tired, irritable, and constantly feeling like I was failing at everything.
Something had to give.
Redefining Success and Identity
After a lot of honest conversations, my husband and I decided that it was financially feasible for me to make a career shift. I had already started a coaching certification through the Martha Beck Wayfinder Coaching Program, thinking I would fully transition into that world once my training was complete.
But then, an unexpected opportunity popped up at my current organization. It was a lower-level, more data-focused position with no events, fewer evening commitments, and the ability to work from home most of the time. It felt like it could be the bridge I needed between two worlds: more space for family life, but still the stability of a familiar workplace (and the same healthcare coverage, which is a huge win for any parent navigating the realities of the American healthcare system).
I got the job, and with it came a new rhythm of life and a completely new sense of identity.
The Coaching Work Behind the Transition
Even though this shift was a positive one, it still required a lot of internal work. I had to reframe how I saw myself. I was no longer the high-achieving, always-on fundraiser who thrived on deadlines and donor meetings. I was stepping into a slower, more grounded version of myself, one who could finally show up as the kind of mom, wife, and woman I wanted to be.
During my training, I worked with fellow coaches in practice sessions, and one exercise really stuck with me. We talked about visualizing the “versions” of ourselves that live within us.
For me, that looked like this:
✨ Regina: my former self. Type A, in charge, organized, driven, constantly checking tasks off her list. She had strong, masculine energy and always needed to do more.
✨ Sage: the self I wanted to embody in this new season. Feminine, grounded, playful, patient, present, and creative.
We explored how to honor both, keeping Regina on hand as she is still super useful in certain moments like planning parties or handling an emergency, while letting Sage take the lead more.
This visualization became a beautiful, practical way to help me slow down, stay grounded, and live with more ease and intention.
How Coaching Supports Transitions Like This
Coaching has been such a blessing in navigating these shifts, not just professionally but in every area of my life. It has helped me:
- Set clear family boundaries and communicate them with compassion
- Navigate the dynamics of a blended family
- Bring more presence and playfulness into parenting
- Find accountability and creativity in business ideas
- Reconnect with myself and my partner in deeper, more intentional ways
Through coaching, I learned that we do not have to stay stuck in old stories or outdated versions of ourselves. We have so much more potential, softness, and strength than we give ourselves credit for.
✨Your Turn
So, I will ask you what I asked myself:
💫 Who do you want to be in this current phase of your life?
💫 What kind of energy are you bringing into your days?
💫 Where could you use support in aligning with the best version of yourself?
Motherhood isn’t one chapter. It is a whole volume of different stages and identities, for both your children and yourself.
If you are craving a little more clarity, calm, and connection as you move through your own transitions, life coaching can help you rediscover who you are now and who you are becoming next.
Interested in exploring what that might look like for you?
Let’s connect. You can learn more or schedule a free discovery call at alextaliaferro.com/booking.
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