By Brittany Moore 
From a young age, I knew what I wanted my future career to look like. I pursued a path in healthcare, determined to use my gift for compassion to help others. I loved it. Being a small part of someone’s life during vulnerable moments made me feel like I was truly living out God’s calling on my life.
Until I had children of my own.
The work I did was exhausting—physically, mentally, and emotionally. What I didn’t anticipate was how that exhaustion would grow once I had children waiting for me at the end of each day. I was giving my all to my patients, but my husband and kids were getting scraps. I was the kind of tired a weekend off couldn’t fix. And when the dedication to my job began to come at the expense of being the mom and wife I wanted to be, that’s when I knew a change was necessary.
One afternoon, as my then 1- and 3-year-olds played, I turned to my husband and said, “I can’t do this anymore. I want to change careers and find balance.” He didn’t hesitate to support me. He could see how exhausted I was. That same day, I registered for classes, and a week later, I began the summer semester.
For the next three years, I poured myself into my studies—summer, fall, and spring—until I finally graduated in May 2025. Going back to school with two small children was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. My family sacrificed right alongside me. Late nights, studying between snacks, and weekend grind sessions became our new normal. My husband and parents stepped up in ways I couldn’t have imagined, offering steady love and support when I needed it most. I felt guilty at times, wondering if I was asking too much of them, but I also knew I was doing it for our family’s future. Through it all, my children watched their mama work hard and persevere, learning that dedication, persistence, and chasing your dreams can create a life that truly aligns with your family’s needs.
Starting over is scary. It’s intimidating. It brings doubt and moments where you wonder if you’ve made a mistake. Am I too old? Am I leaving behind my calling? Could I balance this with my family? Those questions came up more times than I can count. But I also knew that staying in a career that left me drained and unable to show up for my husband and children wasn’t fair to them, or to me. Their needs, their well-being, and the life we were building together became my motivation to move forward, even when it was hard.
Starting over can also be beautiful. I’ve grown in ways I never expected, learning patience, resilience, and the depth of my own perseverance. My life had changed, and my career needed to change with it. And with that change came a fresh sense of direction. The kind that feels right in your gut. The kind that makes you excited to get up and keep going, even when it’s hard.
Fast forward to 2026: I started my new career in January, and it’s everything I hoped for and more. Making a career change in my mid-30s, with two small children, was terrifying, exhausting, and completely worth it. It brought me exactly where I was meant to be. I feel a peace now that I never knew was possible, and a balance my old career could never give me. My children and husband don’t get scraps of me anymore; they get all of me.
Life is short, and the years with little ones pass in the blink of an eye. I didn’t want to look back wishing I had tried something different, or regretting that I stayed in a path that no longer fit my life and my family. I wanted to be present, engaged, and intentional in every part of my life-for myself, for my husband, and for my children.
Was going back to school and switching careers hard? Absolutely. But so was staying in a career that created misalignment between work and family. Sometimes, we have to choose our hard. And the hard we choose can change everything. Not just for us, but for the people we love.
If you’re wondering whether you can really start over for yourself or for your family, the answer is yes. You can begin again. You can follow your heart. You can build a life that aligns with your values, your family, and your dreams. It won’t always be easy. Some days will be exhausting. Some days will feel impossible. But it will be worth it. Because the life you create when you face the hard things on purpose—that’s the life that fills your heart, strengthens your family, and lets you show up as your best self, every single day.
I chose my hard, and I hope you can too.
by Lindsay Detwiler 
by Rachel Zeko 
by Brianna Baranowski 
