I couldn’t afford a corporate job, a great home and two kids in California — so here’s what I did

After the birth of her second child, a California wine public relations professional left the corporate career she had built over a decade and started her own consultancy. She says balancing demanding work, family life and the cost of living had become impractical, and argues that entrepreneurship is becoming a way for some mothers to keep pursuing careers.

She describes long commutes and work travel as challenges for parents across California, whether they live near cities or in rural areas. Childcare costs contributed to her decision, but she says the wider problem is a work culture that offers too little flexibility; she cites California’s No. 48 ranking for childcare costs in 2026. She notes self-employment is not feasible for everyone, particularly single parents and people in industries with long or irregular hours.