There's an expectation that every career move has to go upwards. Traditionally that's what a career was, so when we become parents we still feel the next move should be a step up the ladder. But careers are less linear now. Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis call them "squiggly" in their book The Squiggly Career.
Becoming a parent is often a natural point to re-evaluate. Lots of other things are changing at the same time, including our values and our energy levels.
Wanting something different for right now
You can be ambitious as a parent of young children without climbing the corporate ladder. It can mean taking on new work, moving sideways into a different role at the same level or doing a secondment. When you choose your next role, look for one that gives you room to do those things.
Your career is long. For most people it runs from their 20s into their 60s. State pension age for most new parents is 68. A lot of the parents I coach are not even halfway through their career yet. There's a rush in your 20s