May 2022
W
hether a full-time career
time parent help revive the balance in our
The frequent lack of structure in Partridge’s
mom or a full-time stay-
lives so we’re actually living each day versus
new-ish role, nevertheless, has become a
at-home mom, one thing
surviving it. I love being the one nurturing
catalyst for the most rewarding parts of her
still holds true: The work
them, and watching them learn and grow
full-time parenting journey. She is no longer
never ends within the walls of our homes, as
each day without the heaviness of a career
as rigid with her plans as she used to be,
well as the work inside the walls of our minds.
hanging over me while they are this little (not
saying, “it puts you in the same lane as the
Motherhood has changed significantly over
to mention demanding!).”
kids because, suddenly, they aren’t just going along with the plan you had laid out, you
the last 50 years, yet its relevance remains unmatched. Shout out (this month and every
Partridge says there is still a tremendous
are all figuring it out together. I find myself
month) to every mom, who is indeed a special
need for companies (and society) to be more
asking my two and four-year-olds their actual
breed! Each one is designed to put someone
empathetic towards women who go on
opinions on things so much more often than
else’s well-being before her own, teach the
maternity leave or take longer breaks. Women
I ever did before. These small moments
tough lessons and do the right thing, even
everywhere are putting their own health and
have resulted in truly getting to know who
when questioning what the right thing is.
needs on hold, causing their mental health to
they are as individual little humans. While I’m
take a hard hit because of the scrutiny many
not being graded or receiving a performance
Raising kids is not for the faint of heart. Every
women face when needing to play catch up
review each quarter, having such a deep
great mother wishes to give her child(ren)
or take a day off when their child falls ill.
connection with the kids makes me think, ‘Yes! I am actually meeting the bar for this
her best. Nurturing her kids’ mental health, though, means her own must be up to par.
SilverCloud Health reported working moms
parenting thing!’”
to be struggling the most with their mental One mum says the recent uptick of the
health since the pandemic started. The online
Better than a good grade in motherhood
women’s movement and society’s more
therapy platform says 68 percent of working
is a greater role model of mental and
open dialogue about mental health gave her
mothers have sought mental health treatment
emotional wellness.
newfound confidence as she and her husband
over the last couple of years, in comparison to
recently embarked on the journey for her to
47 percent of women without kids.
Partridge is certainly not the first or the last mom to put her career on hold. Yet, she was
become a full-time stay-at-home mother. Carley Partridge is a wife and mom of a two, four, and
Eventually, Partridge does plan to pursue her
bold enough to understand the importance
six-year-old. She previously worked full-time as
career and feels confident her new standards
and weigh out her options to be a better
a marketing and communications professional.
will attract the right future employer. Re-
version of herself, and have the physical
entering the workforce for many stay-at-
and emotional energy to take good care of
The mother of three says the decision to
home mothers typically tends to raise a lot
her family.
hit the pause button was a “culmination of
of questions about the “resume gap” for
two demanding careers, logistical challenges
companies. While this thought hindered her
“The truth is, I loved having a career! I also
with the kids’ schedules, lack of a local
from switching settings sooner, she now
loved not being around my kids every waking
support system (not living near family) and
feels that should her decision to take care
moment! I think the more we realize it is
COVID challenges all taking major hits to
of herself and her family be questioned, the
okay to feel this way, the more accepting
our mental health. What made sense for us
company is not the right fit for her.
society will be of every mother’s decision to
was to take a step back and have one fullwww.thecitymagazineelp.com
work, not work, or something in between.” 25