How did I end up flat on the concrete floor, bruised in body and ego?

Funny how a time meant for renewal can also kick you on your butt!

The day after Labor Day has always signified new beginnings.

New schools, new routines, new energy.

But also, for many leaders, new pressure to hold it all together.

To show up with clarity, confidence, and a roadmap… even if the ground is shifting underneath.

I’ve been there.

Returning to work after maternity leave wasn’t just a transition.

 It was a full-blown disaster.

I had a feeling things weren’t going to go smoothly.

 But I didn’t expect:

 • Layoffs while I was out

 • A stressed, burned-out team

 • A toxic environment building behind the scenes

I was the first person in recent memory to go on maternity leave.

 There was no plan, no structure, and no real support.

 • The only pumping space was across an alley in a bathroom-adjacent room

 • I had to drag my laptop and gear with me to every session

 • "Urgent" meeting calls came in constantly, even while I was pumping

 • I had multiple bosses in different locations and couldn’t even plan my day

I didn’t have the confidence to advocate for what I needed.

 So I just tried to keep up.

And that’s how I ended up flat on the concrete floor, on the way to that alleyway, after slipping and falling on the concrete floor my first week back. (Yup, that hurt as much as it sounded like it did!)

Later that day, I picked up my son from a friend’s.

 Daycare hadn’t even started yet.

 I was starving, so I pulled into a random restaurant.

And cried.

No one knew what I was dealing with.

 • No one was checking in

 • I didn’t have the self-awareness to ask for help

 • There was no on-ramp, no playbook, and if there was, I didn't have teh wherewithall to look for it

Things got better eventually. But only because I made them better.

 With time, reflection, and a deep need to do things differently. Building a support system. 

That moment shaped how I lead today:

 With rigor and humanity.

 Because success doesn’t mean doing it alone.

If you support leaders through major transitions or are in one yourself, maybe this September is your moment to do it differently. Let's chat.

📸 Part of the first series of pictures on my very first iPad. Now, I need to work

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harder to get these smiles. Oof - change is hard!

Ac