Parenting While DOGE’d? Me Too! Let’s Talk About It.

A special Ask Me Anything event with the founder of Pivoting Parents

Hi, I’m Kathleen Borgueta. I meticulously planned my maternity leave. I was excited for it and to return to lifesaving work with a new perspective.

Instead, I was terminated from USAID while on maternity leave. I received a pink slip (with a newborn on my lap) and my benefits were terminated just hours later.

I went into survival mode. Then, I created Pivoting Parents to help me and others like me survive.

Join us on Thursday at Noon EST if you’re parenting through job loss and wondering how to pick up the pieces.

Job Searching When a New Parent

I had navigated layoffs and hard job markets before, but this was different. Yes, the job market was flooded and there was an industry-wide implosion. Yes, AI was changing everything.

But more than anything, I had also changed.

I needed a community that understood the collision of job loss, identity, and caregiving at a time when I could barely form a sentence or string together three hours of sleep.

When I couldn’t find that space, I built one. That’s how Pivoting Parents was born—a grassroots support and job search network for federal (and fed-adjacent) professionals navigating job loss while raising children.

What started as a personal lifeline has become a robust community where members can job hunt, network, and recharge.

Building What We Need

With nearly 20 years of experience in international development, I’ve seen this truth again and again: when crisis strikes, communities—especially mothers—step in.

In just three months, Pivoting Parents has grown to nearly 1,000 followers across platforms. Our last virtual event brought together attendees from across the U.S. and as far away as Moldova and Namibia.

We’ve hosted sessions with recruiters, freelancing and consulting experts, and a keynote from the founder of an $800M company on entrepreneurship and parenting.

It’s clear: there’s a real need to care for those doing the caregiving. And too often, parents put themselves last. This community is here to change that.

Parenting, Pressure & the Path Forward

There’s a deep dissonance between the joy of becoming or being a parent, and the heartbreak of losing your career at the same time.

As parents, we don’t get to fall apart when our jobs end. We have to keep going. Maybe you’re in that place now—trying to hold it together for your family while still figuring out what’s next.

That’s what I’ve been calling “parenting while DOGE’d.”

It’s confusing. It’s exhausting. And you are not alone. Pivoting Parents is a chance to pause, get perspective, and ask what you really need to know—from someone who’s been there and built a community to help others through it.

Ask Me Anything - Really!

Please join me on Thursday. You can ask anything. I’ll answer with honesty, clarity, and compassion—no spin, no toxic positivity

• Can I job search effectively with a baby at home?

• What helped me stop spiraling and start moving forward?

• What are Pivoting Parents up to and pivoting towards?

• What should I know about the parents or caregivers in my life who are facing this job market?

Please ask your questions in the comments now. Maybe you’ll get answers before Thursday. Regardless, we can address them on the call.

Paying Career Pivot Subscribers can RSVP to this event below.