Rehabilitation during a medical leave from my corporate marketing job in 2021 allowed me to discover some much-needed relief and comfort. When my leave ended suddenly, I was forced back into a life made for a past version of myself.Before and after my leave, I attempted different accommodations to balance my needs, even switching companies and job levels, but nothing made enough of a difference. So, my partner, Jesse, and I began to prepare for what felt inevitable: my resignation from a part of my life I had tried so hard to make work.At the end of 2022, as JB’s second birthday neared, he said to me, “I’m sad…Mommy’s sick” with a look that crushed me. I felt overwhelming regret for how long it had taken me to accept my truth and prioritize what mattered most.While Mommy being sick will always be part of our life, I now see a choice in the way I live and how I spend my time and energy. Though giving up my income comes with major implications, it wasn’t much of an option, and I’m grateful for Jesse’s support as I balance my guilt with appreciation.
