illustration by waldek graczyk

Juggling Life as Tech Mom

Vuyo Mhlotshane
2 min readApr 24, 2023

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Moving to a new country can be exciting and daunting at the same time. The idea of starting a new life in a new place is exhilarating, but it can also come with its own set of challenges. And when you add being pregnant into the mix, things can get even more complicated.

For me, this was my reality. I moved to The Netherlands while seven months pregnant, and I found myself struggling to keep up with everything that I had going on. I am a cloud-native engineer, but I also had responsibilities as a Women Techmaker and co-organizer for Google Developer Groups. I was managing social media accounts, planning events, and trying to stay on top of my work.

But it was all too much. The stress and pressure of everything began to take its toll on me, and I found myself dropping the ball on people. I wasn’t responding to messages or emails in a timely manner, and I was struggling to keep up with all of my responsibilities. It was a tough time, and I felt like I was failing at everything.

But eventually, I realized that it was okay to ask for help. I reached out to my colleagues and fellow organizers, and I explained my situation to them. I told them that I was struggling and that I needed their support. And to my surprise, they were incredibly understanding.

Together, we worked out a plan that would help me manage my workload without feeling overwhelmed. I delegated some of my responsibilities to other members of the group, and I focused on the tasks that were most important. I also took some time off to rest and take care of myself and my growing baby.

It wasn’t easy, but with the support of my colleagues at Container Solutions, I was able to pick up the pieces and get back on track. I learned that it’s okay to ask for help and that it’s important to take care of yourself, especially during stressful times.

Now, as I look back on that time, I realize how much I’ve grown from that experience. I’ve learned to prioritize my responsibilities, and I’ve learned that it’s okay to say no sometimes. I’ve also learned that it’s important to take care of myself and to ask for help when I need it.

To anyone who may be going through a similar situation, know that you’re not alone. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, and it’s okay to ask for help. And remember, sometimes, it’s important to take a step back and take care of yourself. Because in the end, your well-being is the most important thing.

Remember, being a good mother is not about being perfect, but about doing your best and loving your child unconditionally.

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Vuyo Mhlotshane

Cloud Native Engineer,Ex WTM @GDG_JHB, Co-founder Loakit, 2021 Top 15 Young Geeks,#MS_InsiderUp Founding Memeber,