Do you have two children? I see… I’m afraid you won’t be suitable for us,” Alena, a mother of two, heard yet another rejection at her latest interview. “You’ll be sick all the time, constantly taking sick leave… Why would we want those problems? We need a more reliable candidate. All the best!”
“Look at yourself,” her mother-in-law, Nadezhda Petrovna, scolded Alena once again, “how long are you going to walk around without a job? Living off my son!”
Alena swallowed the tears that burned her throat and threatened to spill out.
“I’m looking for a job! But no one will hire me because I’m a mother of two children! I’m trying, really!”
Nadezhda Petrovna snorted and slammed the door behind her. Alena remembered the day when her life started to fall apart. There had been yelling back then too…
“Alena, this is absolutely unacceptable! Mistakes like this in the report are a disgrace!” The company director, Viktor Pavlovich, had exploded at her. “Can you imagine what would’ve happened if we’d sent this to the clients?”
Alena sat before him, hands clenched under the table, her nails digging into her palms.
“Viktor Pavlovich, I would’ve submitted everything on time, but the marketing department gave the data late. I had to work through the night to fix it,” she replied calmly.
“I don’t need excuses!” he shouted. “I need results!”
His voice seemed to come from far away. The room swirled before her eyes. Her head felt as if it were filled with lead.
“Are you even listening to me?!” he barked.
“I feel sick…” Alena whispered before losing consciousness and slipping off her chair.
She woke up in the hospital. White ceiling, the smell of medicine, the steady beeping of the monitor. Nearby, Sergei had fallen asleep, slumped against the chair. His face showed worry and exhaustion.
“Sergei…” she whispered faintly.
He jumped awake and immediately smiled brightly.
“Alenushka! Finally, you’re awake! We were so scared.”
“What happened? Why am I here?”
“You fainted at work. Right in the director’s office. They called an ambulance quickly. The doctors said it’s stress, overwork… even a pre-stroke condition.”
Two days later, Alena returned home. She was greeted by her sons—six-year-old Kostya and three-year-old Misha—holding drawings and homemade cards. Her mother had made pancakes, and the house was filled with warmth and care.
Once the children fell asleep, Alena and Sergei stayed in the kitchen alone.
“I’ve decided to quit,” she said while stirring her tea. “With that boss, you can’t last long—one step away from a stroke.”
Sergei looked at her carefully.
“Are you sure? Fifteen years at the same company means a lot.”
“That’s exactly why I’m sure,” Alena put the cup down. “For fifteen years, I endured humiliation, worked harder than anyone, and all I got in return was yelling and disdain.”
“Then I support you,” Sergei gently squeezed her hand. “The most important thing is that you’re healthy.”
The next day, Alena handed in her resignation. Her heart raced, but she was resolute. She entered the director’s office and placed the document on the table.
“What’s this?” Viktor Pavlovich didn’t even bother to look up.
“I request to resign voluntarily,” she replied calmly.
“How dare you?! After everything the company has done for you?!”
“I have the right to leave after fifteen years of work,” Alena looked him straight in the eye.
“Well then, get out!” he shouted angrily, signing the resignation. “Just don’t expect a recommendation!”
The two-week notice felt like an eternity, but the last day finally arrived. Alena handed over her work, said her goodbyes to her colleagues, and walked out of the office. She felt lighter than ever.
At home, her husband and children were waiting with a homemade cake and balloons.
Alena smiled. She had two higher education degrees, extensive experience, and fifteen years of successful career behind her. The job market would surely value her. Her new life was just beginning.
She was certain that finding a new job would be easy. A month, and everything would fall into place. But reality was harsher.
The first interview went almost perfectly. The HR manager of a large company smiled and nodded approvingly.
“You have incredible experience, Alena Sergeevna! Fifteen years in one company—that’s a sign of reliability.”
Alena smiled modestly.
“I’ve always worked for results. I didn’t plan to leave, but circumstances changed…”
“Of course, I understand,” the woman leaned forward slightly. “Do you have children?”
The question sounded gentle, but Alena tensed internally…
“Yes, two sons. The older one is six, the younger one is three,” Alena replied with pride.
The HR representative’s face changed sharply. The smile disappeared, and her gaze turned wary and cold.
“Alena Sergeevna, I’m afraid this position involves frequent business trips. With small children, it will be very difficult, if not impossible.”
“But the job description didn’t mention business trips,” Alena said in surprise.
“We’ve slightly adjusted the terms. Sorry, we’ll call you back.”
Alena knew there would be no call.
In the second company, things were going much better. Her ideas sparked lively interest, and they even discussed the induction schedule.
“One last question,” the HR specialist said. “Do you have children? How old are they?”
“Two. Six and three years old,” Alena answered carefully.
“They’re still small. I bet they get sick often?” the man squinted.
“Like all kids, of course… But grandmothers help,” Alena blurted out. She found herself lying just to have a chance at the job.
“You see,” he took off his glasses, “statistics show that mothers with preschool-aged children rarely stay long in their roles. You’re a great specialist, but we need someone with more stability.”
The third interview ended even faster than it started.
“Alena, your resume doesn’t have any information about your children,” the hiring manager noticed.
“Six and three years old.”
“I’m sorry, but our schedule is very tight. Sick leave will cause problems.”
“I almost never take sick leave! Only once last year!”
“Good luck in your job search,” the woman said curtly.
Weeks turned into months. Alena updated her resume, sent it out to every possible company, went to meetings. The result was always the same—a polite refusal as soon as they found out about her children.
Six months passed. Savings were rapidly dwindling. Sergei worked overtime, took on weekend jobs. The atmosphere at home became heavier with every passing day.
One Saturday, Nadezhda Petrovna arrived unannounced. As always, her bluntness was her defining trait.
“Alena, excuse my directness, but this can’t go on,” she looked sternly at her daughter-in-law. “My son is completely exhausted. Why did you quit in the first place? You could have taken maternity leave for Misha—it’s your right, he’s only three.”
“Mom, what does maternity leave have to do with it?” Sergei interrupted. “Alena had a pre-stroke condition from the constant stress!”
“I know these ‘female conditions,’” Nadezhda Petrovna snorted. “Fainted, and everyone should run around. Meanwhile, my son works himself to the bone instead of resting.”
“Mom!” Sergei raised his voice.
“Nadezhda Petrovna,” Alena said quietly, “I’m looking for a job every day. But as soon as they find out about the kids, they reject me.”
“Then don’t mention the kids!” Nadezhda Petrovna exclaimed. “Or say they’re grown up.”
“And if Kostya gets sick? What then?” Alena stood up from the table. “Sorry, I need to check on the boys.”
The next day, Alena met her friend Natasha at a small cafe. She had left the boys with Sergei.
“I can’t take it anymore, Natasha,” tears rolled down her cheeks. “I feel worthless. I can’t find a job, I’m living off my husband, and my mother-in-law is constantly pressuring me.”
“Don’t listen to her, you know what she’s like,” Natasha handed her friend some tissues.
“But she’s right. Maybe I shouldn’t have quit?”
“Are you out of your mind? You should be thankful you left before something worse than a stroke happened!” Natasha exclaimed. “You did the right thing, trust me.”
“But what’s the use? I’ll never go back to that company. And now… At every interview, they look at me like I’m a stranger.”
“Maybe you can temporarily work somewhere, not in your field?”
“You think they won’t ask about the kids there?” Alena said bitterly. “It’s the same everywhere. No one wants a mother with two little ones.”
“Maybe your parents can help with the boys?”
“They work themselves. My mom has two years until retirement, my dad—five.”
“A nanny?”
“On what money, Natasha? All our savings are gone. Soon, I’ll have to ask Sergei for money for lipstick. I’m so ashamed.”
Natasha looked at her friend with sympathy, but she couldn’t help. Natasha herself had three kids and barely made ends meet with a part-time job.
Alena slowly walked home, reluctant to return. She knew her beloved children were waiting—but they were so demanding. Her tired husband. And a future that didn’t seem to hold any bright spots.
“How did I get here?” she thought, looking at the gray, cloud-covered sky.
It felt as if the weather reflected her inner state. Despair pressed down on her like a heavy blanket, suffocating her.
Days merged into one endless cycle: checking job websites, sending out resumes, rare interviews, and repetitive rejections.
“Mom, you just don’t understand,” she said on the phone, “I go on a website, see a suitable vacancy. Education—higher, experience—fifteen years, knowledge—at a professional level. I send it all, and… nothing.”
“Maybe you should call them yourself?” her mom suggested.
“I call. They say I’m not a good fit. And you can hear it in their voice—it’s not about me. They’re just scared of my kids.”
She tried to find work through acquaintances, but there, too, success eluded her.
“Alena, I’m sorry, but our project manager has to be available 24/7. Night calls, urgent tasks on weekends. How will you manage with two little ones?”
“Misha, I’ll manage. I’ll find a way.”
“And how will you pick them up from kindergarten if the whole team is working late?” he shook his head. “Trust me, when the boys grow up, call me. I’ll grab you with both hands!”
Alena expanded her search: she looked at positions like administrator, assistant, even considered barista training. But everywhere, the schedule didn’t align with her motherly duties.
“Is it really impossible to find a job from nine to six? Is it such a rarity?”
Alena cried often, hiding her face on Sergei’s shoulder. He silently hugged her, not knowing how to help. Money disappeared quickly, like sand slipping through her fingers.
The only real offer came from the police. After reviewing her resume, the HR manager was practically excited about taking such a qualified candidate.
“Alena Sergeevna, you’re a perfect fit for us! With your experience and education, you can immediately apply for a serious position.”
It seemed like salvation. But when they discussed the details, everything fell apart.
“The shift schedule is one day on, three days off,” the HR representative explained. “Good salary, full benefits…”
“And what about the kids?” Alena asked quietly.
“Those are your personal matters,” the woman shrugged. “We don’t change the schedule.”
Every Sunday, the visits from her mother-in-law became more unbearable. Nadezhda Petrovna would come with groceries but also with barbed comments.
“Another new piece of clothing?” her sharp gaze noticed everything. “Where did you get the money for that? My son has no food, and you’re buying blouses?”
“It’s an old item, I just don’t wear it often,” Alena replied quietly.
“Of course, of course,” Nadezhda Petrovna sneered. “You sit at home and can’t find a job. No doubt, you don’t want to look for one.”
Sergei tried to intervene.
“Mom, stop it. Alena sends out resumes every day. It’s just the job market right now.”
“In my day, women with three kids worked!” Nadezhda Petrovna snorted. “Now everyone’s a weakling. Living off others!”
After such visits, Alena would lock herself in the bathroom, turn on the water, and cry silently.
Help came unexpectedly. Natasha sent a short message with a link:
“Check this out, maybe it’ll work for you.”
It was an online course in 1C and accounting. Three months of training, forty thousand rubles. Plus extra modules.
“How can I get this money?” Alena wondered.
But inside, something whispered:
“This is your chance. Don’t miss it.”
She told no one. She borrowed money from her parents, Natasha, even a former colleague from another city. She gathered the necessary amount.
The training began. Alena studied at night, when the children and Sergei were already asleep. Her eyes were heavy with sleep, but she stubbornly watched the lectures, did the assignments, and passed the tests. No absences. No delays.
“You look awful,” Sergei noticed one morning. “Not sleeping well?”
“Fine,” she smiled. “Probably the weather is affecting me.”
Her mother-in-law found another reason to criticize.
“Is this a new tablet?” Nadezhda Petrovna stared at the device in Alena’s hands. “Expensive thing. What’s your husband spending on?”
“It’s Sergei’s old one. He gave it to me to watch movies,” Alena replied, holding back irritation.
“Movies, huh?” Nadezhda Petrovna snorted distrustfully. “And when do you have time to look for work?”
“Mom, enough already,” Sergei couldn’t take it anymore. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, better be quiet.”
“Well, I’ll be quiet,” Nadezhda Petrovna sighed theatrically. “But it’s obvious how you’ve enchanted your wife. Kicked out your own mother!”
Three months flew by quickly. Alena successfully completed the courses and received a certificate with honors. Now, the most difficult part began—the job search.
“I don’t understand,” Sergei said, watching his wife spend hours on the computer. “What are you so busy with?”
“Looking for a job,” she replied without taking her eyes off the screen.
“By your old profession?”
“No,” Alena finally turned to her husband. “Not my old one. My new profession.”
She had to explain everything. Sergei was initially angry—why had she kept quiet about the courses, about the debt—but then he just hugged her tightly.
“You’re amazing. I believe in you. You’ll manage.”
And then it came—the first call. A small construction company was looking for a part-time remote accountant. The salary was modest, but the job was from home. Alena passed the online interview and heard the cherished words:
“We’d like to offer you the position. When can you start?”
“Tomorrow!” she laughed happily.
Her first paycheck felt like a gift from fate. Fifteen thousand—nothing luxurious, but it was earned. Alena immediately gave some to her parents.
A week later, the second offer came. Then the third. By the end of the month, Alena already had three clients—her income was about fifty thousand.
“Sergei, look!” she showed him the bank statements, her eyes sparkling. “I did it!”
“I never stopped believing in you,” Sergei hugged her. “I knew you’d manage.”
Alena organized her schedule: while the kids were at kindergarten, she did most of her work, finishing the rest in the evening. No pressure, no bosses breathing down her neck.
Three months later, she had six clients. Her income surpassed one hundred thousand. All debts were paid off. There were even some savings.
“Natasha, I owe you until the end of my days,” she told her friend when they met. “If it weren’t for you, I’d still be stuck, breaking my head.”
“I always knew you’d make it,” Natasha smiled. “You think better than most.”
“And the best part—no office, no bosses,” Alena said joyfully. “I work from home, next to the kids. Even when Kostya was sick, I didn’t miss a single day.”
The next visit from her mother-in-law was special. Nadezhda Petrovna came in, as usual, to inspect, but suddenly froze when her gaze landed on the new couch.
“What’s this? Where did it come from?” she asked suspiciously.
“We bought it last week,” Alena replied calmly.
“Using my money again?” Nadezhda Petrovna threw out immediately.
“No, mom,” Sergei stepped in, clearly enjoying the moment. “This is Alena’s. With her own money.”
“Her own?” Nadezhda Petrovna snorted in disbelief.
“With the money I earned,” Alena replied firmly. “I’m an accountant now. I work remotely.”
“An accountant?” her mother-in-law shook her head. “That’s unexpected.”
“I just decided to learn a new profession,” Alena shrugged.
“And do they pay well?” Nadezhda Petrovna asked challengingly.
“Enough to not have to ask anyone for money,” Alena answered. “And even more than before.”
Her mother-in-law fell silent, looking lost. Apparently, she hadn’t expected this turn of events.
“Well… congratulations,” she finally said. “Though it’s strange—working at home. The office is more fun and interesting.”
“Yet, the kids are nearby, and no one is nitpicking,” Alena smiled. “I like it this way.”
When Nadezhda Petrovna left, Sergei hugged his wife.
“I’m proud of you,” he said. “You didn’t break when everything was against you. You just kept moving forward.”
Alena snuggled into him. She felt real happiness. She felt freedom. She was forty years old, had two children, but she had found herself again. The main thing was not to give up when it seemed like there was no way out.