Are you feeling burned out and stretched thin?

Then you’re in the right place. Whether you have to work - or you just want to - while raising young kids as a Catholic mom, you don’t have to choose between two equally unappealing options: on one hand, throwing your whole self into your work and missing time at home with your kids, and on the other hand, choosing to stay home even when your finances, life circumstances, or even your sanity (!) might benefit from you working a bit.

There is a third way. Another option between two extremes that may not seem to fit you well. Because not every mom is meant to be a full-time homemaker, and not everyone is privileged to decline paid work. And, on the other hand, not every mom feels good about leaving the home 50 hours a week to work while kids are young. Some women may be called to one of those two paths, but for so many others, the third way is more appealing, more attainable. The Third Way may involve full-time work, but on a more relaxed and flexible schedule that involves lots of time at home with the kids. It may mean part-time or freelance work. Maybe it’s a hybrid setup, with some office days and some days at home doing “the mom thing” from sun-up to sun-down. Regardless, there are many ways women can negotiate their professional commitments in a way that enables them to be engaged and hands-on at home - all while staying faithful, calm, grounded, and yes, happy and flourishing.

That doesn’t mean there’s not a cost - this juggle can be exhausting. Trying to be a present, faithful mother AND a professional, all while finding ways to care for yourself, your home, your marriage … it is alot!

I’m a working Catholic mother of three young children, and I often feel overwhelmed. This is my attempt to share what I’ve learned along the way about integration, balance, and finding joy in my vocation as a mother who also works outside the home. I firmly believe there’s a way to work that doesn’t make moms feel like they’re constantly burning out, a way that allows us to grow in faith and virtue while getting smarter, sharper, and helping our families be financially secure. There’s a way to do this that also allows us to be present in the home and to our young children. In short, I believe it’s possible to flourish as a working Catholic mom.

What you’ll find in these letters:

• Personal stories sharing what I’m learning

• Tips - either from things I’ve tried or wisdom shared from other Catholic moms

• Recommended reading for Catholic working moms

• Journaling questions to help you discern next steps in your career or vocation

• Interviews with other working mothers about how they structure their days

• Recipes (because be honest, the shopping/cooking/planning never ends when you have children)

• Sample schedules, rhythms, and routines for different life stages

• Prayers.

I’m humbled to be learning alongside you, and I hope what I share in these pages is helpful and encouraging