Back to work

My maternity leave is coming to an end in September and I’m really anxious about this new chapter as a first time mom returning to work.

I had a conversation with a career mentor recently and she said the next five years will be “career making” for me, and asked me what kind of lifestyle I want for myself in 5, 10, 15 years. I want to be client-facing and financially independent, but I also want to prioritize my kids and my own health and wellness. The problem is the way she asked me made it seem like you can’t choose both sides; you’re either career-focused or family-focused. How would you answer this question about lifestyle?