• I was terrified when my son was diagnosed with a life-threatening allergy to almonds.
• He handled the diagnosis bravely, and our friends learned how to use EpiPens.
• He no longer has this severe allergy, but the experience made me so grateful for our community.

In July 2023, my 8-year-old son and I were having a smoothie together in our small town in Australia when he started to complain that his throat felt strange.

He kept on saying that his tongue felt like it was getting bigger, and I noticed he had a red rash down his chin. Our doctor referred us to an allergy specialist, and by October, he'd gotten a skin-prick test.

It revealed one of my worst fears: Our son had a life-threatening allergy to almonds.

Our whole world changed instantly

Allergies such as this can cause anaphylaxis, and symptoms can include difficulty breathing, coughing, fainting, severe stomach pain, and tongue or throat swelling — just like my son experienced.

If not treated immediately, anaphylaxis can be fatal. As I sat there listening to the prognosis, I couldn't believe it. No one in our families had ever had a severe allergy that we knew of, and I didn't know much about them at all.

The pediatric allergist gave us a referral for an EpiPen (an auto-injector used to treat life-threatening, allergic emergencies), issued us with an action plan about what to do in the event of exposure, and said she'd see us in 12 months.

Those first few weeks after the diagnosis, I had terrible anxiety about the situation. I cried often and had nightmares about my son having a bad reaction.

We began carrying an adrenaline injector and antihistamines with us every time we left the house. When my son ate something new, we'd check the labels meticulously for almonds in any form.

Grandparents were schooled in how to use an EpiPen. Friends offered to learn how to use one before a playdate, lest they should have to jab my son.

I started getting ahead of myself and worrying about the teenage years when my son might be drunk at a party and eat something without thinking or when he was older and traveling, unable to decipher ingredients in another language.

It was a rough period, but my son handled it all like a champ. He would religiously check every ingredient label himself, and he got into the habit of asking parents at birthday parties if the cake contained almonds.

After a year, it was time for the follow-up test

After 12 months of stress, we headed back to the allergy specialist for our follow-up appointment.

As I sat there watching my little boy's back flair up with a tapestry of different-sized welts (based on his reaction to the various skin-prick allergens), I felt terrified. What would this test reveal?

"That's interesting," the pediatric allergist said, just as my heart felt like it was going to leap out of my chest. "His almond reaction is half of what it was last year."

She suggested my son do an "almond challenge," in which they'd introduce small amounts of the nut into his system in a controlled setting. We agreed.

When the big day arrived, I asked my son how he felt. "I'm not scared, mummy," he said. "I'll be all right." As he drove with my husband to the allergist's office, I kept thinking how brave he was, even at such a young age.

That day, I could barely concentrate at work until my husband called with the best news of my life: Our son hadn't reacted.

Tears streamed down my face. I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude, but we still weren't quite out of the woods yet.

For seven days after, my son was instructed to eat a small amount of almonds a day at home and note any reactions. When there was nothing to report, he was given the all clear.

To mark a week of no reactions, I gave my son my full blessing to give his former arch-enemy — the almond — the middle finger, and our family had a good chuckle.

We found a silver lining in a stressful experience

Only a very small percentage of children with an allergy to tree nuts outgrow them. It seems my son was one of the lucky ones (or maybe there was another reason his initial skin-prick test was so elevated, we'll never know for sure).

A severe allergy diagnosis really does rock your world, and I feel for others who have to navigate those turbulent waters. Through this experience, though, I learned a lot about the value of true community and friendship.

Our friends made separate cakes just for our son, checked ingredient lists like forensic detectives, and stepped up when given an EpiPen to potentially use.

I also realized that bravery comes in all shapes and sizes and that we can often learn so much from our children. When presented with a scary situation, my young son faced it with courage — perhaps we could all use a little more of that.

• Daniel Peebles left a film career to care for his sons, one of whom has cerebral palsy, full time.
• Peebles' wife, Courtney, started a toy business in 2023, which she runs from their home.
• The family business, Solobo, supports them now as Peebles embraces life as a stay-at-home dad.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Daniel Peebles, a 27-year-old stay-at-home dad in Arizona. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

While I was growing up with my dad in Virginia Beach, he would surf often. When I was 8, he asked me to start filming him surfing.

I learned to love telling stories, and as I got older I picked up the camera again to make videos for my family and friends in our town for $100 each.

I grew that into a successful film career, but I quit to stay home and care for my two children, one with special needs, while my wife runs a company.

When I was 18, I started making real money with film projects

I decided not to go to college because I knew what I wanted to do for a career. At first, filming was just a hobby, but I started to get serious and charge more.

Through word of mouth, local businesses in our area contacted me to ask if I offered filming and editing services. I charged local companies between $1,000 and $3,000 per project.

In 2017, I met the woman who would become my wife

Courtney was working as a producer at a megachurch. We worked together on film projects and hit it off. We married in 2018 and moved in together.

I realized that the film projects I was doing here and there would not be enough income for a family — I needed a real job.

In 2018, I worked for six months at a mortgage company. Courtney was a multimedia specialist at the time. We were making good money but were miserable and wanted to spend more time together. We both quit at the end of that year.

I went back to freelancing for film projects in 2019

Our first son was born in December. Courtney stayed home with our son, and I picked up freelance film work, but I lost all my film clients when the pandemic hit. Since opportunities were scarce, I networked and got a full-time job as a film director at Ironclad.

I was grateful for the work and the $80,000 salary. With bonuses, it was well into the six figures annually. Our second son was then born in May 2021.

My younger son has cerebral palsy, which meant a lot of care

I traveled constantly. There were some weeks where I was gone three weeks out of the month. Every time I left home, I felt a ping because I didn't want my sons to grow up with a dad who wasn't around.

After my son's diagnosis, I started scaling back and moved into more postproduction, which kept me at home.

My son requires supervision at all times and is on long-term care through our state. I'm the registered provider under the program. If I weren't registered, attendants would come to our home whenever needed.

Courtney became frustrated with our younger son's toys

Courtney found that the toy industry lacked toys for neurodivergent kids. My younger son had a lot of mobility issues with his hands. She couldn't find any toys to help him with those movements.

She started making things just out of cardboard, and then she kept having more ideas. Courtney started Solobo LLC, our family toy business, in March 2023. We invested $10,000 we had saved into prototypes.

At first, she worked on product creation, marketing, sales, and logistics for the business at night while I worked during the day.

We decided I would quit my job and let Courtney pursue her dream

As the business grew, I told Courtney how miserable I was being away from her and the boys, and we talked about her passion for the business. I hesitated about becoming a stay-at-home dad, but it seemed to be the right choice.

I was on my way to becoming the lead director of production when I quit my job at Ironclad in June 2023. I took the leap even though we had no savings at that point.

My dad traveled a lot for work while I was growing up, and I didn't get to see him as much as I wanted to. Staying home with my sons was more important to me than the money.

My day-to-day life as a stay-at-home dad is totally different

One of my kids wakes me up — they're my alarm. I get up and cook breakfast for the family. Courtney goes upstairs to work while I play with the boys.

We have activities a few times a week. I teach them practical things, like how to swim. The boys go to school a few times a week, too — it's an inclusive learning space through play.

I help Courtney with fulfillment coordination, inventory, and logistics at night. We have a few regular subcontractors and a team of pediatric experts.

Money is tight at times, but the business pays our bills

Our relationship has become stronger. Courtney and I first met through work, so it's cool to be working with my best friend again. I get the privilege of spending more time with my boys than most dads, and it's beautiful.

I've had people approach me who are genuinely puzzled that Courtney and I don't get tired of always being around each other. We work, laugh, cry, and dream together, and I wouldn't have it any different.

How I grew up — dads work and moms stay home — I felt there was a stigma for stay-at-home dads, but I did it anyway. I can see how we're building a better future for our boys.

The toy business continues to grow

I love the stay-at-home dad life. The only reason I would consider returning to work depends on the level of care our son needs (as he gets older) and where our business is by then.

Everyone thought I was crazy when I quit my film industry job to become a stay-at-home dad, but it was the best decision for our family.

• While struggling with parenting duties, Babette Lockefeer considered quitting her business.
• Her husband didn't agree with her decision to stop work and be a stay-at-home mom.
• Lockefeer was angry at first but later realized she wouldn't be happy if she wasn't working.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Babette Lockefeer, 35, from the Netherlands, about navigating motherhood alongside her career. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Four months after my second child was born, I wasn't living life as I'd envisioned it.

I was in the midst of a big project for my business as a leadership and team facilitator and struggling to balance my career and motherhood. I felt overwhelmed, stressed, and sleep-deprived.

In the summer of 2021, I told my husband I wanted to quit the business. He immediately said no.

At first, I was angry. I'd always valued doing important work and my career, and I was willing to stop doing that for our family, but felt he wasn't letting me.

Over time, I realized he was right: I wouldn't have been happy as a stay-at-home mom. Talking with my husband and processing my feelings helped me realize that being a mother wasn't a detriment to my career. I had to deal with some insecurities and make some changes at home to understand I could do both.

I was always a high achiever at work

I started my career in 2014 as a consultant at McKinsey. I spent two and a half years there, but in 2016, I joined Alibaba as a global leadership associate. I spent around half a year in their Dutch office, helping Dutch e-commerce players connect to the Chinese market.

In the summer of 2017, my husband, who I'd met as a student, and I moved to China, and I worked for Alibaba in Hangzhou.

I really enjoyed it. We had monthly trainings where we learned more about China, e-commerce, and leadership. The training made me realize that my real interests lay in leadership development. In 2018, I left Alibaba and started my own business in the leadership space, TheoryY.

I was also pregnant with my first child at that time. Five months after his birth, in December 2019, we decided to leave China and move back to the Netherlands.

Soon after we returned, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I got pregnant again and had a second child in February 2021. Because of the pandemic, it was difficult to have family assistance with childcare or access to day care.

Around 10 weeks after giving birth, I started a new project with my business after being referred to a new client. Our newborn wasn't fond of sleeping, so we had a lot of broken nights.

For me, motherhood was about having a healthy attachment with my children, being present, and attending to all of their needs.

This was impossible to achieve all the time. I was too tired, overwhelmed, and full of doubt. With hindsight, I still did a good job as a mother, but I'd internalized the perfect mother myth.

Society's picture of an ideal mother is in direct conflict with that of an ideal employee. The employee is always available and wants to go the extra mile, but the mom also needs to be fully committed and always have the space to attend to her children's needs.

I was always a high achiever at work, but now, I had less time and energy to go the extra mile. I was working fewer hours than before having children, but when I was with my kids I wasn't always present because I was thinking about work. I felt like I wasn't doing a good job on the work front or the motherhood front.

My husband didn't think quitting would make me happy

My husband worked full-time. He was very involved as a dad. When our second child was born, he took some parental leave, spread across the year, plus six weeks of birth leave. But because I was self-employed and had more flexibility, I was always picking up things that fell off the wagon — which was a lot of the time during COVID.

I would spread my hours around, sometimes working in the evenings so I could still do the tasks I was hired to do. We never had a consistent schedule, and I felt like I was firefighting. Whenever a child was ill or had a doctor's appointment, the mental load was predominantly on my shoulders.

When I spoke to my husband about quitting, he said he didn't think it was the right decision. He also wanted to spend time with our kids and thought it wasn't fair if he was the sole breadwinning parent.

He also said he didn't think I'd be happy as a stay-at-home mom. I disagreed, saying I wasn't happy as it stood.

I spoke with my husband, processed my feelings and decided to continue working

From our first conversation, it was clear we weren't aligned, so we continued to discuss it.

I shared that I felt I was undervalued and wasn't appreciated by him unless I was achieving something professionally. He told me he still appreciated me now that I was a mom and wasn't on a steep career trajectory at the time.

I decided to continue working, but we also changed some practical things about our household. When our third child was born in July 2023, my husband was granted 26 weeks of parental leave by his new company, and he took all of it, taking full end-to-end responsibility for the household for the first time.

It allowed me to trust him fully with the kids and family chores going forward, so our dynamic has become more equal. We don't split things 50-50 all the time, but regularly discuss how best to divide responsibilities between us.

Looking back, I'm grateful that my husband could see that, in the long term, it wasn't a good idea for me to quit working. I need the intellectual stimulation that comes from a job, and my work fills me with the energy to show up as the mom and partner I want to be.

Do you have a story about balancing parenting with your career? Email Charissa Cheong at [email protected]

• Scott Disick, 41, says he doesn't plan to introduce his kids to a new partner unless it's "the right person."
• He has been co-parenting his three kids with his ex, Kourtney Kardashian, since their 2015 split.
• Dating as a single parent can be difficult since it can bring up complex emotions for your child.

Scott Disick, 41, says he has no plans to get into a serious relationship until his children get older.

Khloé Kardashian interviewed Disick on the first episode of "Khloé in Wonder Land," her new podcast, which premiered Wednesday on X. Disick spoke about navigating the dating landscape as a single dad.

Disick has three kids — Mason, 15, Penelope, 12, and Reign, 10 — with his ex, Kourtney Kardashian. The former couple called it quits in 2015 but continue to co-parent.

"They'd like me to be with somebody, I think. And they do voice to me that they'd like me to be with someone," Disick told Khloé, referring to his kids. "And I kind of say, until I find the right person, I don't really want to bring another person around unless it's like the end all, be all person."

The reality star said he didn't want his kids to "get attached" to somebody else in the meantime.

"But they're all starting to get older and it's not that much longer until they're of age, all of them," Disick said. "So for the next 5, 6, 7, years — if my attention is on them, I have the rest of my life to be a single guy."

He added that he likes that his focus is on his kids right now.

"And if I was with somebody else, I'd still be a good dad but I would have somebody that I'd be putting on a pedestal near them," Disick said.

Since his separation from Kourtney, Disick has been romantically linked to several other celebrities over the years — most notably Sofia Richie, whom he dated between 2017 and 2020.

Dating as a single parent can be difficult, especially since it can bring up complex emotions for your child.

"Children always respond with some confusion about their parent's new partner and what's different," Ron L. Deal, a licensed marriage and family therapist told Business Insider previously. "Confusion means 'I'm not sure what to do with you, where to put you in my heart, or what role you're going to play in my life.'"

A good way to manage the transition would be to talk your kids through the decisions you're making in the relationship and listen to their concerns, Deal said.

It can also be beneficial to reach out to professionals for support, such as through family therapy.

A representative for Disick did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular office hours.

• Jennifer Lopez plays the mother of NCAA wrestler Anthony Robles in 'Unstoppable.'
• Jennifer Lopez said she asked herself if she was enough for her kids when she was a single mom.
• She shares two kids from her previous marriage with Marc Anthony, which ended in 2014.

Jennifer Lopez said she wondered if she was enough for her kids.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly published on Monday, the actor opened up about being a single mom.

"I've been a single mom at times in my life and [I've asked], 'Am I enough for them?'" said Lopez. "And the truth is, all you need is really one good parent to love you."

Lopez, 55, is the mother of 16-year-old twins Emme and Max, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Marc Anthony. The couple married in 2004 and divorced in 2014.

In the film "Unstoppable," Lopez plays Judy Robles, the mother of NCAA wrestler Anthony Robles.

The film, scheduled to stream on Prime Video on January 16, is based on the true story of Robles, who was born with one leg and went on to become a champion wrestler in college.

"You hear it in Anthony's voice, and look what he's been able to accomplish," Lopez continued. "That's what the movie gave me: You are enough."

In May, Lopez discussed raising teenagers on Live with Kelly and Mark. "I'm alone in this in the teenage years," she said, explaining that most of her close friends don't have kids. "So yeah, it's challenging, you know, but I love my kids, and they are so brilliant and lovely and beautiful, and I enjoy it."

Lopez, who is in the middle of a divorce from Ben Affleck, is not the only celebrity to have had questions about parenthood. In October, Hoda Kotb, who adopted two daughters, said she wondered whether she deserved her kids at one point.

"And I thought, 'I'll just work really hard to be really good, because I'm not sure,'" she said.

In April, Ashley Espinoza, who has a daughter, wrote for BI about the loneliness of being a single parent.

"I focus my attention on something I can control, like paying off my student loans, writing a book, and having fun with my daughter every chance I get, assuring her that one parent can be enough," she wrote.

Sheila Hageman, a divorced parent with three kids, wrote last year that she's learned to cut herself some slack.

"I'm giving myself the grace to recognize that the experts aren't living our lives and that I don't have to be a 'perfect' single mom but rather a good-enough mom who loves her family and is willing to be flexible and creative in the face of challenges," she wrote.

A representative for Jennifer Lopez did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

• C-suite executive Michaella Solar-March's husband became a stay-at-home dad in 2017.
• The couple found it financially smarter for him to stay home than to hire a nanny.
• Solar-March balances career and family and feels the pressure as the sole financial provider.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michaella Solar-March, a 40-year-old C-suite executive in New York City. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

When my husband and I met in 2011, we were in love with our careers. I worked as a marketing director in the music industry, and he was a bartender and vegetable farmer. We both worked late but always made time to see each other.

We discussed getting married and having kids but never discussed the logistics of starting a family with our work schedules. We got married in 2012, and in 2015, I got pregnant with our first child.

Now, as a family of four, I work full time, and my husband stays home to watch the kids.

We both used to work full-time jobs with nontraditional hours

My husband worked in hospitality and often got called in on nights and weekends to cover shifts. I worked at Soho House in a global role and traveled internationally for two to three weeks every month.

We hired a full-time nanny so we could both continue to work. After nine months, we realized it felt like our nanny was raising our child. While we loved our nanny, we weren't comfortable taking such a backseat role in our son, Townes', life.

My husband loved his career but found that being a present father meant more to him. He didn't grow up with his father around — his parents divorced when he was three, and a single mom raised him. He wanted to be a present and constant support for Townes.

We decided in 2017 that my husband would be a stay-at-home dad, and I'd continue to work as the family's breadwinner.

It was less expensive for my husband to stay home with our child than to have a nanny

We realized my husband's salary was slightly more than what we paid our nanny. It seemed like a financially smart decision for him to leave his job. It also helped us both erase any anxiety about Townes and his care.

When we had our second child, Roma, in 2020, I was the global CMO for a commercial real estate business. Alex returned to work in 2019 as the general manager of a hospitality brand, and we thought we would hire another nanny for our daughter. Then the pandemic started.

We started interviewing nannies remotely and couldn't get comfortable with the idea, so again, Alex quit his job and resumed full-time childcare responsibilities.

The identity shift was hard to understand

When we first started dating, our identities were wrapped up in our careers. When my husband first became a stay-at-home dad and I became the breadwinner, I struggled with our new identities. I felt grateful that I could continue my career but guilty that he had to pause his.

I was also proud of his work and enjoyed the nightlife culture that came with his industry, so leaving that behind was a lifestyle shift for both of us.

My husband never felt bad about this shift. He poured everything into being the best dad, managing the household (cooking, cleaning, and handling the groceries), and constantly reassured me that he was more than OK with taking on this role.

I feel a lot of pressure to provide financially for my family

Neither my husband nor I are independently wealthy, so the long-term stability of our family and creating financial security for our kids are solely my responsibility.

I feel a lot of pressure. I'm naturally ambitious and self-motivated, and I take pride in being good at my work. Yet, I inevitably feel I have to overdeliver and drive value for my employers to ensure job security.

While I'm lucky enough to have an incredible boss and team, that pressure is always an undercurrent. If I'm not working, we can't pay our bills.

Being a C-suite executive and a mother requires compromise

I'm now the chief marketing officer for a Brooklyn-based real estate developer and management company. I'm fully committed at work and home but always feel I'm letting someone down.

I often miss dinner time with the family because of work commitments. Townes made a rule that I'm only allowed to be on my phone at home if I'm dealing with something for work. As my kids have become more aware and emotionally mature, they notice when I'm distracted.

I also feel societal pressure. There's an unspoken expectation that you must be an exceptional employee, mother, friend, community member, and over-performer in every area of life. Those titles are often in conflict with one another.

I have to compromise. I'm no less committed to an area of my life, but I acknowledge that sometimes I can't do it all and must make a choice.

I'm showing my kids a different type of family dynamic, and I'm proud of that

I had a stay-at-home mom who worked from home but was hands-on in the house. This allowed my dad to go out and work long hours every day. My family is now inverted.

I'm proud that my children see me go to work daily, knowing I come home every night after doing work I love and excel at. I hope this shows them they can pursue their professional passions with commitment and ambition.

Sometimes, Roma asks, "Why can't you stay home with Dad? Why do you go to the office every day?" But I know that in 10 years, I will have shown her what a working mother looks like. I also know that when I'm with her, I focus on giving her the attention and support she needs.

While our family setup might be unusual, it works for us, and I'm not sure it would work this well if we did it any other way. Eventually, my husband wants to go back to work, but not in a full-time capacity.

Want to share your story as a female breadwinner? Email Lauryn Haas at [email protected].