Working Motherhood in Marin - The Juggle Is Real
If you’re a mom that works outside the home (because ALL moms work), you already know: the juggle is real. Between deadlines and dinner, meetings and meltdowns, it can feel like there's no room left for you. And if you’re reading this, maybe you’ve already whispered to yourself: “I can’t keep doing it all like this.”
You’re not alone. So many of the moms I work with in therapy are navigating the same impossible-feeling balance—and it’s not about being “bad at it.” And honestly, it’s not even about balance, is it? That word suggests there’s a way to keep everything in perfect harmony. It’s more about the constant push and pull of motherhood—the mental load, the spinning plates, the sense of being expected to carry too much with too little support.
Let’s talk about that.
The Reality of Being a Working Mom in Marin
Whether you work in tech, healthcare, education, or you’re self-employed, working in Marin often means long commutes (especially as more companies are requiring people back in the office), tight schedules, and pressure to be “on” all the time. Add parenting to the mix, and suddenly your to-do list multiplies—but your capacity doesn’t.
Some common challenges I hear from working moms are:
“I feel like I’m failing at both work and home.”
“There’s no time to rest, let alone take care of myself.”
“I’m so burned out, but I don’t know how to stop.”
“Even when I’m doing everything right, I still feel behind.”
Sound familiar?
The System Wasn’t Built for Working Families
Let’s name something that doesn’t get talked about enough: our education and childcare systems were never designed with two full-time working parents in mind.
Today, over 60% of families with children have two working parents—yet most schools still end around 2:30 or 3 p.m., with many even releasing early once a week. Meanwhile, the standard full-time job ends at 5 p.m. or later, creating a daily gap in care that working parents are expected to fill.
On top of that, there are frequent school holidays, early dismissals, and summer breaks—with limited infrastructure in place for families who can’t simply “take the day off.” According to the Economic Policy Institute, teacher workdays, early dismissals, and school holidays add up to an average of 29 days per year when parents must find alternative care.
This isn’t about blaming schools or teachers—they’re doing their best within an outdated system too. The issue is that the structure still assumes one parent (usually the mom) is available, flexible, and unpaid. But that’s not the reality for most families today.
And when parents inevitably struggle to keep up with this imbalance, we’re left feeling like we’re the problem.
You’re not the problem. The structure is.
How Therapy Can Help Working Moms
Therapy isn’t about fixing you—because you’re not broken. It’s about giving you a space where you get to be the priority. A place where you can untangle the mental load, process the guilt, and reconnect with who you are outside of your roles.
In therapy, we might explore:
Redefining success on your own terms
Processing mom guilt and perfectionism
Setting boundaries at work and home
Navigating career identity and transitions after becoming a parent
Coping with burnout and overstimulation
Advocating for yourself in a culture that doesn’t always support working parents
Local Support for Working Moms in Marin
As a maternal mental health therapist based in Greenbrae, I understand what it’s like to raise a family here—both the challenges and the strengths of our community. Whether you’re working in downtown San Rafael, commuting on 101, or Zooming from your kitchen table in Mill Valley, support is within reach.
My therapy practice offers:
In-person sessions in Greenbrae
Virtual therapy for moms throughout California
Specialized focus on the working mom experience
Lunchtime and early evening session availability
Finding Support with Others: A Group for Moms
One of the most powerful things we can do as moms—especially as working moms—is realize we’re not meant to carry all of this on our own. That’s why I created “Surviving Modern Motherhood”, a group specifically for moms navigating the complexity of parenting today.
Whether you're balancing work meetings with school pickups, wrestling with guilt about screen time, or just craving a space where you can be honest without judgment—this group is for you.
Session includes:
Guided discussion on topics like burnout, boundaries, and identity
Peer support from other Marin moms who get it
Space to vent, laugh, cry, and exhale
Practical tools you can actually use in real life
You Deserve to Feel Like You Again
You’re more than your job title. More than a calendar full of pickups and deadlines. More than a to-do list.
If you're a working mom in Marin and you're ready for support that truly sees you—as a parent, a professional, and a whole human—I’d love to connect.