woman with a job after motherhood with her daughter

Second Act: Finding a Job That Fits After Motherhood

By Last Updated

Walking back home after dropping off my daughter at her preschool, I welled up with emotion. It was my first day as a stay-at-home mom after a 20-year career as a news reporter and anchor, and I felt immensely grateful to be able to retire while my daughter was just 5 years old and my son was a newborn.

Soon, my family would relocate from New York City, where I’d spent the last four years hosting The Early Show on CBS, to our home state of Florida. For the next 10 years, I would devote myself to raising my children – giving up a salary for dividends far more valuable.

A young boy in a bright green rash guard and patterned swim trunks smiles excitedly with his arms outstretched while standing in shallow water at a colorful water park. Behind him, vibrant blue, red, and yellow water slides and play structures tower under a partly cloudy sky.

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I was a chef, chauffeur and tutor. I chaperoned field trips, volunteered in the classroom and headed up PTA committees. Then one day, it hit me. Aside from driving them, the kids didn’t need (or want) much else from me anymore. They were thriving independently. I’d done my job.

Now what? I remember asking myself, wondering if I had a second act in me. I felt I still had a lot left to contribute, but I’d been out of the workforce for a decade, and I didn’t necessarily want to return to the grind of the news business. My husband encouraged me to pursue my passion for writing. I began contributing to this magazine as a freelancer, dipping my toe back into work.

Soon, my articles were noticed by the executive producer at Daytime on Channel 8. An invitation to be a guest on the show led to an offer to host, which gave me a platform to develop my weekly parenting segment and podcast, “Maggie and the Moms.”

My desire for reinvention after motherhood is shared by countless women who find themselves asking the same questions and battling the same doubts, including three local moms who each found new careers by evaluating their talents, conceiving an idea and finding the courage and support to go for it.

FINDING A CAREER THAT FITS:

Starting a Meditation Movement | Katie Krimitsos

Katie Krimitsos
Katie Krimitsos of The Women's Meditation Movement

Katie Krimitsos was pregnant with her second child when she heard her intuition whisper, “You’re done with this business, Katie.” The suggestion took her by surprise, since she had just spent the last four years building a lucrative business as a podcaster, influencer in the business world and strategist for women entrepreneurs.

“I had a tight knit community of women whom I loved supporting, and I had carved out my own way of doing it as I raised my first daughter,” Krimitsos says. “I was hitting six-figure years and loving every minute of it, so hearing my intuition tell me I was done was unsettling,” she remembers. Weeks of contemplation and conversations with her husband led to clarity.

“One day, he looked right at me and asked, ‘What about that meditation idea?’”

Krimitsos’s husband had reminded her of an idea she’d mentioned a year earlier. Within weeks, she’d launched the first podcast in what would become the Women’s Meditation Network. Krimitsos slowly transitioned from her former business and built her new one into a network that now boasts 20 meditation podcasts.

“A lot of people thought I was crazy… and while it took me a few years to make money with the Women’s Meditation Network, once I did, my six-figure years turned into six-figure months, all while I’ve worked hours that have supported my ideal vision of family time. I firmly believe that when we courageously follow our intuition and stay committed to our true selves, we have the power to pour our hearts into our families and careers in a way that doesn’t take anything away from either, but rather expands and illuminates both because of our intentional self-expression!”

Crafting a Fun Life | Karimah Henry

Karimah Henry
Karimah Henry of @craftingafunlife

Karimah Henry loved being a preschool teacher. The opportunity to spend her days shaping her young students’ minds was challenging but fulfilling. “I loved the energy and curiosity of the children, and it was a privilege to be a part of their early education. But after becoming a mom, I decided to focus solely on raising a family.”

Henry had two sons and devoted herself exclusively to their care.

“I soon realized that wasn't enough for me,” she says. Realizing that the desire to be with her children and fulfill her own needs were not mutually exclusive, she opened herself up to new, more flexible work possibilities.

“I was fortunate to find an opportunity to be a contributor for a local mom blog that led me to creating Crafting a Fun Life,” Henry says. “I was able to start a business that aligned with my passion while also being able to take care of my family.”

In her new role, Henry handles social media marketing for brands and local businesses and partners with local nonprofits to provide activities for families. She encourages women mulling over a career change to visit the local library to access resources for career prep, core skills and job hunting, along with classes that may lead to discovering a new passion.

“Take the time to reflect on your goals – sometimes they change after becoming a parent – and plan your transition carefully,” she advises. “Also, networking is crucial when planning a career change. I was able to secure a lot of opportunities by stepping outside of my comfort zone. I was terrified of small talk and meeting new people. Motherhood changed that.”

Blossoming Into a “Dream Job” | Padgett Holloman

Padgett Holloman
Padgett Holloman and family, of Stemplicity Floral

Mother of three Padgett Holloman left her first career as a speech/language pathologist a year after having her youngest child, fulfilling her “heart’s desire” to be a full-time mom.

Nine years later, she turned a creative outlet into a floral business she could run from home while still prioritizing family and friends.

“Starting and operating Stemplicity Floral has been a dream job,” Holloman says. “I can accept the work that I want to, as my time (and mental bandwidth) permits, and still be able to do what I love and make all the kids' activities and carpools work!” In her busy seasons, like around holidays and homecoming, Holloman’s kids “step up to the plate at home, taking on more responsibilities themselves.”

In the second chapter of her career, Holloman has found the often-elusive work/life balance that has led to true satisfaction. “One measure of success in work and life is the joy it brings you,” she muses.

“To women nervous or hesitant to shift gears or try something new, I would say: Make sure your family is on board and supports the move, then go for it! You'll never know unless you try, and if you don't, you'll probably always wonder ‘what if…?”

Padgett Holloman Stemplicity Floral
An arrangement by Stemplicity Floral

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iStock-904479804 | Originally published in the March 2025 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.