Why are Millennials in an interesting place balancing career & raising a family?

How do you grow your career without sidelining your family?

It was July 2022.

My wife and I were thrilled to welcome our second princess into the world.

A few weeks in, a thought hit me—and it was scary.

I was afraid there wasn’t any solution to my concern.

How can I continue to grow in my career while still caring for my young family, who needs most of my attention?

Raising 2 young children while trying to be a rockstar at work seemed like an unachievable goal.

I was sure about one thing: it couldn’t be either-or.

If you’re a millennial in your 30s or early 40s, your career is likely peaking—or about to. And yet, just as those doors are opening, so does the chaos of parenting, countless diaper changes, and sleepless nights.

How do you play this hand?

From what I’ve observed, most people fall into one of 3 camps:

1. They coast through this phase—too tired to push.

2. They over-index on work and put family on hold.

3. They try to do both—and end up doing neither well.

I naturally landed in the third camp, which meant I was constantly exhausted, distracted, and stretched thin.

But fast forward to 2025—I’ve learned a better way to navigate this.

Here are my 4 key lessons:

1. Life decisions are never singular

   Most of us compartmentalize. Career decisions in one bucket. Family in another.

   But the reality is that every choice bleeds into every domain.

   Saying yes to a late-stage project might mean missing bedtime stories.

   Taking that new role across the country might mean uprooting your support system.

   The sooner you stop treating work and life as separate tracks, the better your decisions will be.

   A better question to ask is:

   “What’s the ripple effect of this decision—and am I okay with it?”

2. Priorities are seasonal

   Ambition doesn’t die when you become a parent. But it does need a rhythm.

   There are times to sprint—new role, new opportunity, key window for growth.

   And times to anchor—when your family needs stability or your energy’s running low.

   The mistake isn’t in having priorities. It’s in expecting them to stay the same forever.

   Success over the long game means knowing what season you're in—and leading accordingly.

3. Level-setting expectations

   Most of the tension we experience—at home or work—isn't always about capacity.

   It's about “assumptions management”.

   We assume our manager knows we're overwhelmed.

   We assume our partner knows how much this project means.

   But silence is a breeding ground for resentment.

   Clarity isn’t confrontation. It’s compassion.

   Set expectations early and revisit them often.

   Not just to protect your time—but to protect your relationships.

4. Build a support squad

   The pressure we feel is invisible.

   Trying to be everything to everyone—without anyone to lean on.

   That’s a fast track to burnout.

   Whether it’s a mentor at work, a coach, or another parent who just gets it—your growth multiplies when it’s witnessed and supported.

   You don’t need 20 people. You need 2–3 who truly see your ambition and your humanity.

   Find them. Keep them close.

Balancing career and family isn’t a formula. It’s a habit.

Not every day will feel aligned.

Not every decision will feel clean.

But the more intentional you are—about your energy, your season, your support, the more clarity you’ll bring to the chaos. And that’s where growth happens.

Not in doing it all.

But in doing what matters—on your terms.

P.S. If you’re in this season too—juggling, rethinking, rebuilding— hit reply and share what’s been real for you.

I read every message, and I’d love to hear your story.

-Raghav.B