National Working Moms Day is celebrated every year on March 12 and is a day to show appreciation for and to recognize working moms for their contributions to society. Blue Yonder associates Charlotte Coy and Katie Thorne share the ups and downs of being a working parent.

Share a little about yourself and your role at Blue Yonder.

Charlotte: I live in North Yorkshire with my husband Adam, baby son Hudson, and stepdaughter Phoebe. When I returned to work from maternity leave, I started a new role at Blue Yonder as Practice Director, UK Retail. My role drives delivery excellence and revenue growth through building strong customer relationships, managing a team and optimizing its delivery strategy. I originally joined Blue Yonder in 2019 as a Customer Success Director, managing several UK retail customers over five years. To let off steam, and when time allows, I am working towards a black belt in both kickboxing and karate. To relax, I play the drums and piano.

Hudson was born in July 2023. Giving birth was the most precious experience I’ve ever had. Life thereafter changed in magical ways I could never have imagined as well as in ways which have challenged me in so many new ways, bringing unanticipated feelings and emotions both positive and negative.

Katie: I work as an Account Manager in the UK focusing on new customer logos at Blue Yonder. My journey with the company started back in 2013 when I joined as a marketing intern during my university placement year. After gaining experience in different areas, I moved into the sales team in summer 2020, where I’ve been ever since.

In June 2023, 10 years to the day after I joined the company, I became a mum to my little girl Darcey, which has been the most incredible experience. Juggling work and motherhood is a whole new adventure — filled with love, laughter, and plenty of sleepless nights! My maternity leave was so valuable, not just for bonding with Darcey and fully embracing motherhood, but to also ensure I was in the right headspace mentally before returning to work and hitting the ground running. 

Both: Now, as we navigate this new chapter as working mums, we’re excited to share some of our experiences — the highs, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way. Hopefully, other new mums can relate, and we can support each other in this ever-evolving journey!

What is the most challenging part of being a working mom?

Charlotte: The most challenging part for me is being tired and “on” all the time. From the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed, you are transitioning into different roles throughout the day. Mum role first thing in the morning, then straight into work role after nursery drop from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., then back into mum mode for evening meal, bath, and cuddles before bed.

During the weekday, it’s often difficult to find time and energy for a workout or activities with your husband, friends, etc. During the weekend, when there is no work, you can focus on family and friends, as well as activities you enjoy. Having boundaries between work and family life isn’t easy – but I’m trying.

The above challenge accelerates tenfold should Hudson, me or my husband be unwell, which occurs frequently given Hudson goes to nursery and brings home illnesses regularly.

Katie: Becoming a working mum has been one of the most rewarding and biggest transitions of my life. There are so many incredible moments but also plenty of challenges along the way.

One of the hardest moments was leaving my little one for the first time to attend a customer meeting. It wasn’t just the mum guilt of being away — it was also the added challenge of still breastfeeding and having to navigate how to make that work. The mum guilt creeps in even more on days when my little one isn’t feeling 100%, yet nursery is the only option.

Time is another big challenge. There are evenings when deadlines mean I have to open my laptop and trying to explain to a one-year-old why Mummy can’t play isn’t easy. Balancing work commitments with wanting to be present for my little one is something I’m still figuring out — some days feel manageable, others not so much!

Finally, I never truly appreciated how much I was capable of doing while running on so little sleep until becoming a mum!

What is the most rewarding part of being a working mom?

Both: Being a working mum has its challenges, but there are moments that make it all worthwhile. One of the biggest is knowing we’re setting an example — showing our little ones the value of perseverance and ambition. We hope that one day they’ll look at us with pride, knowing we worked to create a good life for our family.

Charlotte: A big part of my sense of purpose comes from my career. Being a mum does not mean I have to sacrifice that, although it does mean I have to be ready and willing to take on the challenges it presents. Despite feeling tired a lot of the time, the reward from my mum role and the joy of watching my baby son develop, smile when we play, and cuddle when he’s tired makes it all worth it.

Katie: The best part of my day is nursery pick-up — seeing that huge smile and hearing an excited “mummy” as she runs for a cuddle. No matter how stressful work has been, those moments remind me that while I may not be there for everything, the time we do have together is full of love.

Both: That said, we’re still figuring it all out. Some days, we feel like we’re managing well; other days, we wonder if we’re doing either role — mum or professional — particularly well. Before motherhood, we had a clear sense of purpose at work. During maternity leave, we gave 100% to our little ones. Now, balancing both feels like an ongoing adjustment. But we remind ourselves and each other that just because it’s hard doesn’t mean we’re not doing a good job.

Maybe the reward isn’t always obvious in the day-to-day, but we hope we’ll look back and see everything that we made possible — for ourselves and for our families. For now, we’re taking it one step at a time.

What have you found most helpful for you when returning to work after leave?

Charlotte: The number one most important thing for me has been the support and trust from my manager upon returning to work and taking on my new role within the team. They have been unbelievably flexible, supportive and understanding. I have been able to ramp up my role gradually and been given appropriate grace when periods of illness have struck me or Hudson.

Katie: The biggest thing that helped me transition back to work was having a team that understood the challenges of being a working parent. Having flexibility upon my return meant I still got that special one-on-one time with my little girl, which made a huge difference. It’s helped ease the mum guilt and made the shift back to work feel more manageable. I’m grateful to have a supportive manager and team who understand how important that balance is — it’s made all the difference and helps me to be more focused on the days I am at work.

What is the one thing you hope our readers will take away from your story?

Charlotte: Allow yourself to feel sad about leaving your baby. Feel all your feelings and remind yourself that there’s purpose in going to work. A lot of parents can feel guilty if they’re not doing hands-on parenting, but you’re providing for your family and there’s deep purpose to that.

Also, be kind to yourself. This time in life is a big shift and you need to alter your expectations of yourself. If you’re up half the night with your baby, that’s going to have an impact on your energy levels at work. But also, know that it’s not going to be like this forever, so be gentle and compassionate with yourself while you’re in the thick of it.

Katie: Balancing work and motherhood is hard, and that’s okay – you don’t always feel like you’re doing both roles well, but you’re figuring it out, just like many other mums. It’s normal to feel lost at times.

Also, mum guilt is real, but you’re doing your best – whether it’s missing your little one during the workday or feeling torn when they’re unwell, you’re making choices with their best interests in mind.