Picture this: The stadium is roaring, you’re living your dream career, but in quiet moments, you start to wonder—can I do this and start a family?
This isn’t just a question for football stars. It’s the question echoing in the minds of so many of us balancing ambition with the hope to build a nest. And recently, two icons—Manchester United’s Ella Toone and Arsenal’s Alessia Russo—dared to ask it out loud in the BBC’s revealing conversation on pregnancy in football.
Their powerful exchange stops you in your tracks. If women scaling the heights of English football are asking, “Can we have families without sacrificing everything we’ve achieved?”, what about the rest of us? Is the dream of career and parenthood really possible—or just a fairytale from glossy magazine spreads?
Let’s dig into the myths and the new realities, and discover the surprising ways ordinary people are making “having it all” less of a fantasy and more of a fact.
The Myth: You Have to Choose
We’ve all heard it: “You can’t be a superstar and a supermom.”
But listen closer to Toone and Russo’s heartfelt chat. They’re kicking the old playbook out the door. More and more, women (and families of every shape) are questioning whether they must pick between their careers and their dreams of parenthood.
- Are you supposed to hit ‘pause’ on life’s joys to climb the ladder?
- Will people judge you for wanting both?
- Is there a way to defy biology’s clock or society’s pressures?
Spoiler: The old rules are out. The new era is all about rewriting your own script.
The Reality: Innovation Is Changing Everything
Here’s where things get really exciting. Across the world, individuals and couples are discovering innovative tools and communities that make family-building possible on their terms.
It’s not just tech billionaires freezing eggs in Silicon Valley—it’s everyday people like you and me. Technology, empathy, and creativity are cracking open the doors that once felt bolted shut.
- Flexible Work & Supportive Teams: More workplaces (even sports leagues!) are offering parental leave, coaching, and mental health support. If football teams are learning to adjust, maybe your workplace can too.
- Alternative Family-Building Paths: IVF, surrogacy, and home insemination kits are more accessible, less taboo, and increasingly celebrated.
- Courageous Conversations: Thanks to public figures like Toone and Russo, talking openly about fertility, motherhood, and ambition is no longer off-limits.
Meet the Everyday Game-Changers
Let’s shine a spotlight on an example you might not expect—at-home insemination. Not everyone wants or needs the clinic route. For some, privacy, comfort, and cost matter most. Others are navigating medical conditions, diverse relationships, or even just plain old nerves!
That’s where innovative solutions come in. Companies like MakeAMom’s home insemination systems are quietly revolutionizing the game. Their reusable kits aren’t just tools—they’re confidence-boosters, giving people of all backgrounds more control over their family-building journey. No fanfare, no judgment—just privacy, practicality, and a real shot at your dream.
It’s not about selling you on a gadget. It’s about sharing how the right resources can empower you to pursue parenthood—even while you chase your own “stadium moments.”
What Football Teaches Us About Parenting
Back to Toone and Russo. What’s the real lesson from their viral conversation?
- Teamwork matters: The right support system—on the pitch or off—makes you unstoppable.
- Every journey looks different: There’s no single path to glory. Some score the winning goal; others assist from the sidelines. Some conceive in clinics, others at home.
- Resilience is everything: Setbacks will happen. (Missed goal, negative test, tough diagnosis.) Keep moving. There’s always another match.
Ready to Break the Rules?
In 2025, the world is finally realizing that “having it all” isn’t about perfection—it’s about the courage to define your own all.
So: If you’re holding onto two dreams—don’t let go of either. Gather your tribe, find the resources that work for you, and take that first step. Whether you’re a football superstar or a star in your own story, your path to parenthood (and fulfillment) is yours to create.
What’s your biggest goal? Have you found creative ways to move forward? Drop your thoughts below or share your story with the Nestful community. Let’s champion each other to victories—on and off the field.