Will Children Ruin your Dreams & Ambitions? A Truthful Answer for Young Women

I never saw myself as the “mom” type.

I always imagined myself in a power suit, not postpartum pajamas. I had CEO dreams—running boardrooms, traveling the world, making big moves in red bottomed heels that meant business. In my mind, success looked like a corner office, not a cradle. And honestly, I believed that’s what I was supposed to want.

The world around me said to dream big, climb high, and never look back. And if I wanted to truly “make it,” something had to be sacrificed. According to culture, that something was motherhood.

So at sixteen, I let go of the idea of having kids. It felt like a fair trade for admiration, influence, and a successful future.

And I did find success early. I chased after every opportunity with intensity—studying Mandarin Chinese, business, and public speaking. I was all in. Teachers and mentors applauded my ambition, and some even warned me that children would only slow me down. “Kids are a burden,” they said. “A roadblock to your potential.”

So when I got married, and five years later my husband said he wanted children—I panicked. I was in the prime of my career, leading, speaking, and soaring. The idea of pregnancy felt like a derailment of everything I had worked for.

Still, I loved my husband, and I knew I owed him an open heart. So we made a deal.

First: I would keep working. I made it clear that I was not the homemaker type and never would be.
Second: We’d use daycare once maternity leave ended.
And third: We would share all parenting duties equally.

It felt practical. Safe. Contained.

But then—eight months later—I saw those two pink lines. And what I felt next wasn’t the fear I thought would well up in my chest. It wasn’t the dread I expected.
It was joy.

Real, surprising, holy joy.

I felt honored. Like God had personally entrusted me with something sacred. This wasn’t a burden—it was a calling. And in that moment, He began to gently unravel the walls I had built around my heart.

With every kick in my womb, something softened. Something healed. I began to hear the Holy Spirit more clearly than ever before. He whispered to me:
“The greatest thing you do in life may not be what you do… but who you raise.”

I began to realize that God wasn’t asking me to give up my purpose.
He was redefining it.

When my baby arrived, everything changed. Not in a scary, “I’ve lost myself” kind of way—but in a deeper, “I’ve found myself” kind of way. I didn’t fall behind—I fell in love. And suddenly, the ladder didn’t matter as much. The success could wait. The stage, the spotlight, the salary—they all faded in comparison to the little life in my arms.

No one told me it would feel like this.

They called motherhood a distraction. A detour. A death to your dreams.
But what if it’s actually the beginning of your greatest calling?

To the young Christian woman wondering if you’re cut out for motherhood—I see you.

Maybe you’ve been told that being a mom will ruin your future. Maybe you’re afraid you won’t like it. Maybe you think you’re too ambitious, too driven, too independent.

I used to believe all of that, too.

But here’s the truth: You were made for this.

God has anointed you with strength, wisdom, tenderness, and courage.
Motherhood won’t steal your dreams—it might reshape them into something even more meaningful.
You can still chase your calling. But you might just find that your calling expands when you open your heart to love this deep.

C.S. Lewis once said, “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.”
And now, I understand what he meant.

Yes, I’ve found my way back into the marketplace. I still have dreams. I still lead and speak and work. But now, everything I do flows from a different place. A deeper place. I know what my true priorities are—and my greatest title will always be Mom.

So if you’re unsure, scared, or wrestling with what you want your future to look like… bring that to God. Lay it before Him. He’s not intimidated by your questions. And trust me—if you say yes to His plans, He’ll surprise you in the most beautiful ways.

You won’t lose yourself.
You’ll find more of who you were always meant to be.