In April, Ward told BBC Sport he had “questioned” the longevity of managing in the WSL while having a young daughter.
She says she “can’t see herself” moving abroad because Hartley lives in Sheffield with her other mother when she is not with the former Villa boss.
“It’s not that easy to work in another country, but the WSL or international football would be good for us in our personal lives,” Ward added.
“Villa supported me and I was fortunate. But I also wanted to make sure that when I was at work, I was at work and I didn’t worry about being a mother.
“A lot of it was up to me. I’ve seen environments where now you can do both. I probably didn’t know how.”
“There are things that would have to change. It’s one thing to not work in all areas and have a cut-off point. Now I know that I have to work smarter and not just 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
Ward used the time off to “learn” and gather feedback on his management style from players, coaches and senior staff members.
“When I come back, I think I can be stronger and better than ever as a coach. I’ve learned a lot,” Ward said.
“Taking a break allows you to sit and reflect. I was able to see what I had done well, but also what I could change.
“It’s been a really intense six or seven months. I asked for some honest feedback on areas I needed to improve and it’s been the best for me.”
