If you’ve ever felt like you needed a childcare plan before you were “allowed” to tell anyone you’re pregnant, this episode will feel familiar.

Join us as we talk about childcare: the waitlists, the deposits, the sticker shock, and the identity shift that can hit when your work life and family life collide.

We share what we’ve actually done across different seasons: daycare, sitters and part-time help, an au pair experience that changed everything, consulting with a baby, navigating shutdowns, and figuring out after-school coverage once the “daycare era” ends. We’re not here to tell you there’s one right answer. We’re here to remind you that you can change your mind, build your village over time, and make a plan that fits your life.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Why childcare decisions feel so heavy

(00:21) The reality of parental leave in the US

(01:03) Daycare waitlists, deposits, and finding the right fit

(06:25) Weighing the budget & identity shift

(10:16) Nannies, au pairs, and the true cost of daycare

(16:38) After-school coverage when school ends at 2:45

(17:26) Starting a consulting business with a baby

(19:03) Making maternity leave work when self-employed

(22:26) Childcare options & building your village

(28:54) What saved our lives this week

Connect with Mallory Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorylee/

Connect with Shannon Curran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/

Produced in partnership with Share Your Genius

www.shareyourgenius.com