From Full-Time Mom To Full-Time Employee: Stories Of Moms Who Re-Entered The Workforce

One of the things they won't tell you about becoming a mother is that it would make you choose between something you've worked for all your life and someone you just met.

Your career vs. your child. Yes, not everyone has the privilege to have it all. You may have it all, but not at the same time, as my former boss would say. I remember her story when she asked her kids to choose: signature jeans or cookies? If they choose signature jeans, that means mom has to go to work to earn the money they would use to buy their Levi's. If they choose cookies, well, mom would gladly bake for them at home, but no nice clothes for everyone. Sorry.

And it's true. When I had my first child, I had to choose. I thought choosing to become a full-time mother with access to 200mbps internet connection and Netflix subscription at home was easy. It was not.

From full-time employee to full-time mom

Back in my glory days as a communications lead of a non-profit, I used to call the shots—launching campaigns and events month after month, churning annual reports, newsletters, and decks like there's no tomorrow.

But when I became a mom, I felt like I was reduced to a diaper-changing, floor-sweeping, dish-washing, baby food-cooking robot who's been working overtime but doesn't get any salary or promotion no matter how hard I try. My new boss? She was cute, but she was always fussy, and she needs to get what she wants.  Could I resign again? Nope, I didn't even had the time to write a resignation letter!

It took me two years before I finally had the courage to re-enter the workforce. When I received the job offer, I was filled with doubts. Feeling ko, nangalawang na ako. Kaya ko kaya? But then, I took the leap. And when I did, doubts were replaced with guilt. Mag-resign nalang kaya ulit ako?

Through the support of my husband, the cooperation of my then 2-year-old child, and God's grace, I powered through. Today, March 21, I'm celebrating my second year as a regular, full-time employee of Summit Media. And this piece, along with the stories I've gathered from the Smart Parenting Village Facebook group, hopes to inspire those moms who are wearing the shoes we've worn.

Stories of moms who returned to the workforce after a motherhood break

Fabes Rosquita Aragones, Freelancer

"I also resigned from my doing sooo great na corporate job way back 2012. Became a mom to our firstborn around 2013, kaya natengga din ng almost two years. But God led me to the freelancing world and I've been a work-at-home mom (WAHM) for 10 years now. I praise God for the blessing to be a hands-on mom to our three kids now, and be able to fully homeschool all of them for their first six years, experience their milestones firsthand, and still be able to grow as a careerwoman."

Ena Marie Dizon, Assistant Professor 3

 "Nag-resign ako sa job ko as College Instructor right after giving birth to my eldest child. After maternity leave, hindi na ako bumalik. Mas inisip ko na kailangan ako ng baby ko eh. Fulfilled naman ako for one year na walang work, pero financially draining talaga.

"We have to embrace that season sa life natin na kailangan muna natin i-let go for the sake of our children. Time will come, babalik ulit tayo sa calling natin." —Ena Marie Dizon

"Self-employed si hubby, and hindi siya masyado nag-e-earn sa networking company na pinasukan nya. Hindi na ako pwede bumalik ng [former school] kasi part ng rule is pag resigned, hindi na pwede mag-apply ulit. One day, I received a phone call from UP. Need daw nila ako to apply ulit (after a series of rejection) as full-time instructor. Dream job ko 'to, kaya ginrab ko na. Pumasok ako as Instructor 3, after three years, napromote na po to Assistant Professor 3.

"God is good. He knows what's best for us. We have to embrace that season sa life natin na kailangan muna natin i-let go for the sake of our children. Time will come, babalik ulit tayo sa calling natin. Ang passion at knowledge natin andyan lang yan. Hindi yan nawawala, ipinagpahinga lang natin saglit. You will be surprised you are now more capable and stronger than before."

Alexies Carreon Tarong, Livestream Host

"Ilang taon akong SAHM, almost 6 years or higit pa. Bago pa ako mabuntis, gusto lang din ng asawa ko na nasa bahay ako. Pero dumating nga ang pandemic, ang daming nawala sa amin. As in na-zero kami, umalis rin kami sa inuupahan namin kasi dumating sa puntong hindi na namin alam saan kukuha ng pangbayad since simula pandemic nawalan ng trabaho ang asawa ko.

"Content creator ako since 2019, malaki rin natipid namin sa mga products na nakukuha ko. Minsan paid, pero syempre hindi naman sapat talaga, lalo't 60-90 days pa ang payment pag ganon.

"Year 2022 nung mag try ako mag-apply. Natanggap naman ako sa pharmacy na inapplyan ko. Kaso nabuntis ulit ako, naka-6 months lang ako sa botika. Pagkapanganak ko, nag try ako sa boutique ng tito ko kaso, magkano lang araw ko doon. Nag-try ulit ako sa botika, natanggap naman ako. Pero may dumating na mas magandang opportunity at ito nga ngayon ang trabaho ko. Host ako ngayon sa live ng isang kilalang brand, mas maganda ang offer! So ginrab ko na nga. Mag one year na rin ako sa kanila."

Christine Ponseca, BPO employee

"I was an OFW, from being single then got married. Became expectant mother during my 4th year overseas at dahil hindi allowed manganak doon, I was forced to resign and umuwi ng Pinas. I tried na maging full-time mother, pero may bigat talaga sa loob ko, gusto kong bumalik magtrabaho.

"Pandemic came and the second baby too. Lol! At lalong tumataas ang bilihin so I decided na i-pursue maghanap ng work, from part-time virtual assistant (VA), try-try lang kahit wala pa masyado alam, tapos nag-shift into full-time kahit work-from-home (WFH) noong lumuluwag na yung restrictions. Then, I got hired sa BPO, kahit ayoko na talaga sana bumalik sa BPO, but no choice kasi ito ung okay ang salary and benefits dito sa atin.

"Yung kaka-start ko pa lang tapos naging expectant mother for the 3rd baby! (Btw, pareho na kaming nasa Pinas kasi bago pa mag 1 year old ang panganay). Buti na lang WFH and until now, hindi ko akalain na aabot ako ng 2 years na sa company."

Lewis Ann, Virtual Assistant

"Hindi ako nag-return to work after maternity leave. All my plans flew out of the window, akala ko talaga after three months, back to the workforce ako, I tried naman pero yun pala ang feeling pag may anak, parang ayoko, ewan. Grabe mental struggle at stress ko, from being so busy sa trabaho at maraming tao sa paligid to being alone at home at anak lang lagi kaharap.

"Invest in yourself. Wag matakot to learn new skills. Tamang timeline lang talaga. God has already paved our path. Kung nakaya ko, mas kakayanin ninyo." —Lewis Ann

"Inaalala ko finances namin kasi paubos na ang savings, nag-pandemic pa. Dumagdag pa yung feeling na naiiwan kana sa career growth kasi mga kasamahan ko dati nag-level up na sa mga positions nila. Nakakabaliw. Yung thought na naghuhugas ka ng pwet ng anak mo, then papasok sa mind mo, "Nanay na LANG talaga ako."

"It was after a year of breastfeeding when I started watching how to become a virtual assistant in YouTube. Nanonood ako pag asleep na while dumedede si baby. Then nung two years old na siya at confident ako na hindi na siya sobrang clingy, I started looking for remote jobs. Online freelancing was my saving grace, it saved my sanity, my wallet, and above all it gave me opportunity to be with my kids (yes, dalawa na anak ko ngayon) while earning at the comfort of our home."

"Tip: Invest in yourself. Wag matakot to learn new skills. Ano ba alam ko before sa virtual jobs eh nurse at project management lang ang work experience ko. I am now studying to migrate and work abroad. Tamang timeline lang talaga. God has already paved our path. Kung nakaya ko, mas kakayanin niyo mga momsh!"

Veronica Delos Santos, Medical Scribe

"Almost 11 years akong full-time mom. Nag-doubt sa sarili na baka wala na mag-hire sa akin knowing na wala akong enough experience para mag-stand out. Then last year, I took a leap of faith nag-try mag-apply sa isang healthcare VA company, nag-undergo ng training while breastfeeding, taking care of my children, as well as the household. Malaking factor na may support from my husband and family.

"Now, I'm working with a medical practitioner that appreciates my work and acknowledges my mommy duties, especially when I need to breastfeed my baby during our patient encounter. Working from home gives me an opportunity that I can contribute financially to our household, puyat man due to time zone difference, worth it because I can have ample of time with my family."

Jashmine Tenorio Bailon, Training Specialist

"I decided to quit my job after having my son, 2021 yun. Honestly, I didn't know how to be a mom back then but I just made this decision para makapag-focus kay baby and to change careers. My cousin introduced me to try WFH kasi nga fit sa situation ko and convenient also.

"I slowly regained trust in myself. After awhile, mas naalagaan ko ang anak ko, kasi pakiramdam ko, there's a piece of me na nabuo ulit." —Jashmine Tenorio Bailon

"I never thought that finding a job was so hard. Akala ko with the credentials I have, papasa ako sa mga companies na nagugustuhan ko. I started with being selective pa sa job posts until I ended up applying for all open positions back then. Two, 3, 4 months had passed, walang tumatanggap sa'kin. Hanggang sa 6 months na ang lumilipas, wala pa rin. That was when I started doubting myself, magaling ba talaga ako? or akala ko lang 'yun? I remember crying to my husband kasi nga hindi ako matanggap-tanggap sa work.

"When I decided to give up and accept the fact that opportunities were not for me yet and that I had to focus as a mom and learn certain things, that's when the blessing came. 'Yung company na pinaka-unang inapplyan ko, invited me for an interview and I was hired immediately. Ang nakakatuwa pa dito, I was hired for a different post then the trainer offered me another position on the second day. Grabe si Lord talaga.

"This is when I started learning to do things (from a mom's perspective). I slowly regained trust in myself. I began unleashing my full potential (career-wise). After awhile, mas naalagaan ko ang anak ko, kasi pakiramdam ko, there's a piece of me na nabuo ulit. Alam kong gasgas na 'to pero, laban lang mga inay. Things will happen on the right time and place."

Donay Villegas, Freelancer 

"I resigned from my corporate job when I was 8 months pregnant. I dedicated almost a year being a full-time breastfeeding mom. I returned to the workforce in 2019 when my baby was one year old. I'm thankful to my mom who took care of her and two ates working for us then. Then in June 2021, I left again due to Delta variant of COVID-19, we were required to report sa office everyday.

"September 2021, I landed a freelance work, a great client whom I still work for to this day. Kaya laban lang! It's possible to work and be a present parent 24/7, pero wag kakalimutan alagaan ang sarili. Bawal tayo magkasakit!"

Sarah Aterrado, Freelancer

"I resigned from my full-time work in May 2020 because I was on my third trimester with my second child and I was bleeding from time to time due to polyps. My husband and I decided that I will not be going back to work until our son is at least 2 years old. But in March 2022, I gave birth to our daughter—our third child. So ayun, extended yung pagiging stay-at-home mom (SAHM) ko.

"Our daughter turned 2 this month. So February pa lang, I started looking for a job na since I needed to go back to work and I know the competition among the freelance and home-based workers has been tight ever since the pandemic.
In my niche, kailangan updated ka sa new technologies and best practices, so kahit wala ako sa work force, nagbabasa-basa pa rin ako if may time. But still, I was honestly anxious kasi almost 4 years akong walang work. I applied to a lot of companies and mind you, I had the nerve to be choosy pa rin. Haha. I want a job not lower than my asking rate and should be flexible time, these are non-negotiable for me since we have two toddlers to take care of.

"Fortunately, I am on a paid trial/probation period now. Hopefully mahire ng full time. Both my husband and I have been working from home and we have no yaya ever since, by the way. So kakayanin kaya namin with a full-time job, a teenager and a two toddlers, without a yaya? Wala kaming choice, kailangang kayanin!"

Em Cruz, Section Editor

"I did freelance online jobs ever since I gave birth to my eldest, then by the time she’s 4 years old, I decided to explore working again either online or as a part-timer as we also planned to enroll her na to school. I found a job posting for a digital marketing agency, applied, but the position didnt push through. But then they contacted me a few weeks after and offered me another position, with hybrid work setup (before pandemic ito, so I was really thankful na the setup fit my motherhood responsibilities din noon, plus i liked what I was doing).

"I’m grateful that I was privileged enough to devote a few years taking care of our child, na I was able “to choose family when in doubt.” I think that these days, parents in general are lucky that we have flexible working options available to us that allows us to be parents as well."

Kim Lizette, currently looking for work

"I also had to resign from my job last year para matutukan si baby since she is underweight. I was able to return from my maternity leave but after a month, I felt ako yung nagkulang sa pag-aalaga kaya underweight si baby. Sobrang hirap na decision pero kailangan ko pumili.

"As a full-time mom, grabe yung pag self-pity ko na “Hanggang dito na lang ba ako?” Feeling ko I lost myself sa motherhood.

"Now that one year old na si baby, nagsastart na ulit ako maghanap ng work. I want to do it for my well-being and of course sa future ni baby. (Husband is a good provider naman pero gusto ko lang din mag-grow). Kaya natin to mga mommy!"

Continue reading more stories at the Smart Parenting Village here.

This morning, I read this quote shared by a mom friend quoting C. S. Lewis, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream, Mama."

We are rooting for you.

About the author: Judy Santiago-Aladin is a section editor of Smart Parenting. She has a four-year-old daughter, and a baby on the way.

Find out how work-from-home moms juggle their work and mommy duties here.