How I Made Room in My Career for Motherhood
Liz Teich, a commercial and personal wardrobe stylist, opens up about the career changes she made in order to have time to enjoy family life with two young kids.
Before I became a mother, I was so focused on my career as a commercial stylist, securing major campaigns for retailers. When I had my son, I was at the pinnacle of my profession. I was terrified to tell my clients and agents that I was pregnant because I thought they’d stop hiring me, be disappointed in me, and think I’d lose my edge or not want to not take on as much. I was shocked to find that (mostly) everyone was happy and supportive in the industry.
At the same time, I began to be picky about who I worked for. I weeded out some of my clients, choosing to work for ones who didn’t give me a hard time when I said I needed to go to the bathroom (hello, pregnancy!) or pump. During my first pregnancy, I found myself apologizing for these things and working through discomfort. The second time around, if someone offered me a stool to sit on while working (sitting is seen as a sign of not being busy in my industry), I even accepted that.
When I became a mom, my perspective as a blogger and content creator also shifted. I was doing that on the side for fun, but I started to understand my self-worth being a mother—time is money, and my time is valuable. I also have such a unique perspective in the industry as both an authority in fashion and in the parenting space, making me even stronger at this aspect of my career. I began to find my voice and niche as a result.
I started to understand my self-worth being a mother—time is money, and my time is valuable.
Through social media, I gained quite a following of New York moms who were going through the same experiences as me, navigating motherhood and balancing a career. Moms around the city started asking for my help with their wardrobes, so I decided to create a personal styling business in conjunction with everything else I do. I began meeting with local moms and doing “Closet Cleansing,” which helps them edit and focus on their wardrobes, making it easier to get dressed every day.
In 2020, this expanded to a virtual business, working with moms all over the country. I’ve also connected with so many more moms nationally after giving birth to a baby during the pandemic, so I’ve been helping new moms navigate both their wardrobe and their life during this time, which I love. It’s really been amazing to see the shift in my career in the last 4-5 years, and I can’t wait to see what the next five will bring.
What I’ve learned in this process is that there is always something that has to give. When I had my second baby in the height of the pandemic, I had to essentially pause my career. I tried looking at this pause as an extended maternity leave, but it was difficult not to hustle more as a result. I signed with a new styling agency and even pushed my social media more. I didn’t give myself a break. I also didn’t have childcare with the two kids for most of the year, so I kind of was on the verge of a breakdown.
What I’ve learned in this process is that there is always something that has to give.
As a result, I’m now working on giving myself grace, and realizing that this time at home with my kids, even if I’m hustling behind the scenes and not getting paid for it, is such a blessing.
I’ve also been working on not being afraid to ask for help from family and eventually hiring a part-time sitter. The past few months of having that has been such a weight lifted off my shoulders, and I’m finding it easier to balance it all and value my time with both work and home even more.
Read More:
How I Knew it Was Time To End My Career Break
Editor’s note: A version of this story first appeared in 2021.
