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What if home isn’t a place on a map but the person who falls asleep in your arms? That’s the thread we pull as Alla Kamenskaya joins me to share how a decade-plus of living across Russia, the USA, the Maldives, Switzerland, China, and Singapore gave way to a new season shaped by a toddler, resilience, and a redefined career path.

We get honest about the gap between preparation and reality. Alla arrived at motherhood with checklists, courses, and a can-do mindset—and still found herself stunned by postpartum emotions, mom brain, and the slow, painful grind of a month of breastfeeding challenges. You’ll hear how she navigated the noise of well-meaning advice, chose what to keep, and learned to trust her instincts when nothing seemed to fit the handbook. The eventual breakthrough became more than a feeding milestone; it was a lesson in surrender, patience, and self-compassion.

From there, we talk community and identity. As an expat, Alla intentionally built networks—expat meetups, Russian-speaking groups, and mom circles that trade tips without judgment. She shares how hard it was to let others help, what finally shifted, and why reclaiming me time through tennis changed her mood, confidence, and outlook. Along the way, we explore stress relief that works in real life, the surprising joy of bedtime smiles after a stormy day, and how to balance ambition with presence when your industry expects long hours.

If you’re navigating a career pause, early parenthood, or a move far from home, this conversation offers practical steps and a gentle reminder: ask for help early, curate kind communities, protect your energy, and define success on your terms. Subscribe for more stories that blend candor, culture, and courage—and share this episode with someone who could use a little hope today.

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Host: Edit Kerekes, former diplomat, senior strategic advisor, mom of two.

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