I sacrificed my honeymoon and almost cut my maternity leave short for work. I've learned to prioritize my family and set boundaries.

Fri, 08/02/2024 - 06:17

The arms of a man in a white t-shirt holding a baby — Having a son changed Kari Shafenberg's perspective on work.
Getty/d3sign

Kari Shafenberg worked up to 80 hours a week early in her career until she was laid off.
She moved industries but struggled to set boundaries at work. Having a baby was a wake-up call.
After being asked to cut her maternity leave short, Shafenberg learned to prioritize her needs.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Kari Shafenberg, a higher education director in Colorado, about her experience getting laid off. It has been edited for length and clarity.

A man in glasses next and a blue shirt with a woman with red hair and a blue flowery top to his right. — Shafenberg with her husband.
Credit: Levi Shafenberg