Motherwife

Caitlin Field Jacklin

A weekly conversation for mothers who want to lean fully into motherhood while raising young children, and work on their own terms. Host Caitlin Field Jacklin, a former Deloitte senior leader, shares candid and raw stories from transitioning to full-time motherhood from a demanding career in 2025 and building a purpose‑driven home—along with practical encouragement for creating a life that reflects your faith and values. Caitlin wishes to serve as an inspirational blueprint for choosing motherhood over a demanding career while you have the blessing of young children to raise.

Episodes

  1. Feb 2

    Money is Important, But It Isn't Everything: Budgeting for a Downshift

    Finances are the primary practical reason mothers choose not to downshift or step out of the workforce even if they truly want to. This is a reality for so many families. In our scenario, I knew even if I could not step out of work completely, I could certainly choose a role or gig work that was more conducive to a 15-hour work week. Many mothers - including me - continue to toil away in demanding corporate leadership roles out of fear ("I've worked so hard and I am so far down this path. I've put in a decade. What else would I do?") or, as in my case, ego ("I run a practice at a Big 4 firm, am damn good at my job, and could be a CEO in time. How could I accept a "demotion" or less prestigious role, even if it improved my quality of life?"). Please don't get stuck in this way of thinking. I did, and it kept me from my happiness, my faith, and my true calling: to be a high-value mother rather than a high-value employee for this stage of our lives. My husband and I made financial decisions that set us up for me to be able to take a step back (i.e., living below our means, my husband taking a big and risky career step that paid off, and investing our money wisely). Even if I couldn't fully stay-at-home, I knew in my heart I would rather pick up gig work, start my own business, or drive for UberEats than to continue to operate within a corporate structure that wasn't built for mothers. I looked at Nick and said, "if we spend every dollar we make for the next few years, this will be worth it to me" followed by even more increasingly radical "what ifs" (selling the house, downsizing, moving). Sharing my experiences, our conversations, and how we made this major life transformative through Motherwife is incredibly important to me if it can help you and your family on your journey. Making this decision is a step of true faith and the best thing we have ever done as parents. I'm praying for you.

    27 min
  2. Jan 26

    Before & After: Life Post-Consulting

    A reflection seven months into being primary on kids, home, and all things family operations in lieu of running a practice at Deloitte. We’ve found a system and structure that works for us - and are more proactive in making changes as we need to. Our kids’ needs will change, our hopes and goals as a couple, my husband’s professional aspirations. My single biggest piece of advice is this: no matter your circumstances (income, lack of familial support, market conditions, geography) - you are not stuck where you are today. Many of those “mile markers” you’ve established (i.e., I’m going to get through the next six months to collect my bonus, then evaluate and leave) are entirely arbitrary and I encourage you to rethink them. If your current setup is not working, sit down with your spouse today to assess exactly what is not up to your standards (root causes, not symptoms), and design a gameplan to get even incrementally closer to what 1) works best for your family and 2) is aligned with your values. I’ve spoken with many women who feel constrained, typically economically, and that they cannot forego their income. Which may or may not be true: there are other companies and/or roles out there to be explored. Are you stuck - or are you choosing to be? Could you take a pay cut for an increase in quality of life, less stress, more flexibility? Have you and your spouse sat down to quantify that and envision your ideal against where you are today? This process isn’t quick or easy. It's incredibly hard. It takes effort, intention, and evaluation of trade-offs while removing fear from the equation. How would you design your life if fear weren’t a baseline for your decision-making?

    28 min

About

A weekly conversation for mothers who want to lean fully into motherhood while raising young children, and work on their own terms. Host Caitlin Field Jacklin, a former Deloitte senior leader, shares candid and raw stories from transitioning to full-time motherhood from a demanding career in 2025 and building a purpose‑driven home—along with practical encouragement for creating a life that reflects your faith and values. Caitlin wishes to serve as an inspirational blueprint for choosing motherhood over a demanding career while you have the blessing of young children to raise.