Choosing What’s Right for You: Working Motherhood, Values, and Mental Health with Maya Bailey

In this episode, I sit down with Maya Bailey, a licensed mental health counselor, mom, and private practice owner, for an honest conversation about the emotional layers of working motherhood.

Maya shares her personal journey—navigating prenatal depression, leaving traditional employment to start her own practice, and redefining what success looks like as both a mom and a professional. Together, we unpack the guilt, pressure, and comparison so many mothers feel when trying to "do it all," and how important it is to come back to your own values when making choices about work, life, and motherhood.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing enough—or the right thing—this episode will remind you that your path is allowed to look different.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The emotional side of working motherhood

• How to tune out societal pressure and tune into your values

• Releasing comparison and competition among moms

• How therapy can support you through career or identity shifts

• … and a whole lot more!

The Early Days: Expectations vs. Reality

Maya shared that before her first child was born, she thought she had a clear plan. She wanted to be both present as a mom and fulfilled as a professional, so she set out to launch her own virtual private practice after birth.

But the journey wasn’t straightforward. Struggling with prenatal depression—a condition many moms don’t even know exists—she realized she needed more flexibility and more compassion for herself than she had planned.

“I wanted to model joy in my work,” she said, reflecting on her own mother’s struggles with a stressful job. “But I also learned quickly that being kind to myself had to be part of the equation too.”

Isn’t that something so many of us can relate to?

Defining Success for Yourself

When we talked about moms who feel stuck in careers that don’t align with their values or needs, Maya emphasized the importance of defining your own version of success.

For her, success isn’t about money or titles. It’s about balance, presence, and quieting that critical inner voice.

She reminded us that change doesn’t have to happen all at once. Small shifts—like exploring different career paths, looking for flexible options, or talking things through with a non-judgmental person—can open doors you didn’t think were possible.

Returning to Work: Navigating the Guilt

One of the hardest transitions for many moms is heading back to work after maternity leave. The guilt can feel crushing:

• “Am I a bad mom for leaving my baby?”

• “Am I a bad mom for enjoying being back at work?”

Maya’s wisdom here was powerful. She leaned on self-compassion—a practice grounded in mindfulness, recognizing our shared humanity, and extending kindness to ourselves.

She explained that guilt often shows us what we value. If you feel guilty about leaving your baby, it’s because you love them. If you feel guilty about enjoying work, it’s because your career matters to you. Both can be true—and that’s okay.

The Comparison Trap

We also talked about something that shows up everywhere, especially on social media: mom vs. mom comparisons. Stay-at-home moms, working moms, part-time moms—we’ve all felt the tension.

Maya pointed out that comparison and judgment often come from our own insecurity. “Blame is just a discharge of pain,” she said, quoting Brené Brown. When we feel stuck or unsure of our own choices, it’s easier to look outward and criticize someone else.

But the truth? Every path is hard in its own way. Staying home, working outside the home, juggling remote work—they all come with challenges and sacrifices. Instead of competing, we can build communities that honor the many ways of being a good mom.

Aligning with Your Values

So how do we stop comparing and start feeling secure in the decisions we make for ourselves and our families?

Maya’s answer: alignment.

Check in with yourself regularly. Are your choices matching your values? Are you living in a way that reflects what matters most to you? If so, then you’re on the right track—no matter what it looks like from the outside.

And when discomfort shows up (because it always will), see it as a guide. Loneliness might be nudging you to connect. Overwhelm might be telling you it’s time to slow down. Guilt might be reminding you how deeply you care.

When we tune into those emotions with compassion instead of shame, we move closer to wholeness.

There’s No Rulebook for Motherhood

Motherhood is never one-size-fits-all. It’s messy, complicated, and often filled with contradictions. But as Maya reminded us, there’s no perfect rulebook—we’re all figuring it out as we go.

Whether you’re working full-time, part-time, or staying home, the most important thing is choosing the path that honors your values, your needs, and your family. And then, giving yourself the grace to shift when things change.

Connect with Maya Bailey:

 Follow her on Instagram: @maya_rain2rainbow

Follow her podcast on Instagram: @girlbossgraveyard

Email her: girlbossgraveyard@gmail.com

Visit her Website: https://fromrain2rainbow.com/

Your Next Step…

If this conversation resonated with you, you’ll love having a resource that supports your mental health as you navigate these big decisions. Download my free Postpartum Mental Health Toolkit: A Resource Guide for New Moms—— your totally free resource for finding support, clarity, and calm in motherhood.

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