Episode 5: Motherhood - Guilt, Career Choices, & Chaos

Hannah and Tara get candid about the chaos of modern motherhood—sick kids, conferences, birthday parties, and that ever-present tug-of-war between work and home. They unpack why “having it all” rarely means “all at once,” how to make peace with imperfect weeks, and the difference between avoiding guilt vs. building resilience (for you and your kids). From honoring a long-promised solo trip to Paris to inviting family to extend a work trip, they share real choices, real feelings, and zero performative perfection. Expect solidarity, not prescriptions—and a reminder that changing your mind is not failure, it’s growth.

Timestamps (Approx.)

• 0:00–1:20 – Welcome + Olivia Knox shoutout; Buc-ee’s birthday party legend 🦫
• 1:20–6:30 – Hosting, sick-kid season, and deciding to do the trip anyway
• 6:30–12:10 – “You can have it all—just not all at the same time” (and why self-care isn’t optional)
• 12:10–18:40 – Guilt vs. resilience: letting kids feel feelings without fixing everything
• 18:40–26:30 – The first long solo trip, mom guilt, and keeping promises to yourself
• 26:30–33:40 – Changing plans: leaving engineering, starting a business, and the grief of pivoting
• 33:40–39:30 – Ambition after kids: scrutinizing roles, timing, and what actually fits your life
• 39:30–44:40 – Autonomy, equity, and why your choice ≠ letting other women down
• 44:40–48:50 – Modeling boundaries, honest repair, and raising kids who choose you later

Key Takeaways

• Messy is normal. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s a rolling average that balances out over weeks, not days.
• Keep promises to yourself. Resentment costs more than a plane ticket.
• Guilt ≠ guidance. Let guilt inform you, not govern you. Build resilience instead of erasing discomfort.
• Ambition can evolve. Wanting different work after kids isn’t “less driven”—it’s better aligned.
• Autonomy is feminist. The “right” choice is the one that’s right for you, not the internet.
• Model the relationship you want later. Apologize, repair, and lead with respect so they’ll choose you when they don’t have to.