Back to the driving seat: Embarking on the Journey of Returning to Work after Maternity Leave
Before I dive into my reclamation journey, let’s take a moment to talk about the wild ride that is motherhood. It’s a rollercoaster of love, chaos, sleepless nights, and being tired 24/7. From forgetting things, especially on the stove to constantly resembling an ogre, it’s a whirlwind of emotions. Moreover, let’s not forget about the challenges of postpartum depression.
Nevertheless, Motherhood we all know is a Beautiful Mess that Keeps Us Going!
“ The moment I see my baby smile at me, I see nothing but relief, when my baby laughs, I hear an enchanting melody of pure joy, when my baby holds my hand or wraps its tiny arms around me, time stands still, and the stress of the world melts away.”
According to Indian law, mothers are entitled to six months of maternity leave, and some company policies even allow for an extension of up to six additional months, effectively granting a year-long break. However, let me assure you that for any mom, a mere year is never enough. The reality is that I constantly find myself juggling multiple responsibilities, and despite considering myself a skilled multitasker, I must admit that I often fall short in that department.
I availed the mandated six-month maternity leave, and fortunately, I was able to secure an extension of an additional two months. By that time, my baby had embarked on the exciting journey of exploring semi-solid foods, crawling, and even standing up with a bit of support. It may elicit an “aww” from others, sounds heart-warming and adorable, but let me apprise you that this mere tip of the iceberg comes with significant implications. As a mother, you have to be proactive and always on your toes, as you never know what your baby’s next move will be.
I highly recommend to all my readers that this is the perfect time to begin baby-proofing your home. This proactive step can potentially save you from any (god forbid) undesired situations and provide a safer habitat for your little one/s.
During this extended period, I found myself overwhelmed with concerns and worries. How would I navigate the challenge of balancing work and taking care of my baby? Can I effectively nurse my baby while working? Would I be making the right choice by returning to work, or would I be unintentionally neglecting my baby’s needs? Managing both responsibilities became a top priority, with my baby rightfully holding a slightly higher place in my heart. These thoughts keep swirling in my mind, creating a storm of uncertainty and stress.
As each day went by, the mounting stress continued to weigh on me, leaving me constantly worried about how to start and manage it all. Then, a realization struck me: instead of reading books and blogs on my phone, I should transition to using my laptop. This way, my baby would become accustomed to seeing mommy working on the laptop and gradually learn to play independently without interrupting when mommy is busy.
Although my baby didn’t quite catch on to the idea (but I still have hopes), I have to admit it worked out pretty well for me. During my maternity leave, I barely laid a finger on my laptop or did any work at all.
I began immersing myself in reading and gradually started solving problems, attempting online tests to reacquaint myself with programming. I did not intend to set lofty goals; instead, I simply aimed to regain the rhythm and familiarity of my previous coding and programming abilities.
The Attempt to Reclaiming My Career after maternity
I made my way back to the office, although it was more of a work-from-home scenario. You see, I had to move because my husband scored a new job that required him to be in the office regularly.
Here let me take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for my current organization, thoughtworks. They’ve been incredibly patient and supportive throughout my journey. We embarked on a collaborative effort, engaging in recruitment activities including a workshop on TDD, mentoring my folks (from past projects). Meanwhile, the dedicated staffing team worked diligently to find the right project for me, taking into consideration my location constraints and new motherhood. Their ongoing support has been invaluable to me throughout this journey.
With the guidance of my mentor, I not only discovered effective ways to make the most of my time and prioritize my learning and personal development, but we also mapped a path to reclaiming my career.
This unwavering support during the inevitable bumps along the way is precisely what anyone needs to persevere.
While support is undoubtedly a crucial factor, the most vital ingredient of all is your inner resilience, which empowers you to overcome any challenge that comes your way. In my case, the biggest challenge revolved around juggling the responsibilities of caring for the baby, managing office work, and handling household chores. Seriously, it covered every possible challenge you can think of!
After we moved, we ended up far away from our families. And let me tell you, I really missed the kind of support a young mom gets when she’s living with her family. I even tried hiring full-time help and part-time nannies, but none of them quite hit the mark. Maybe I set my standards sky-high, but when it is about the baby, us mommies don’t settle for anything less than exceptional.
Yeah… that’s a true story!!!
Nope, I don’t have a full-time helper, but I’ve outsourced some of the work to different folks. Gotta be honest, it’s not exactly going swimmingly, but at least I’m managing a bit better now. But here’s the thing, I can’t outsource the care and attention I need to give as a mother. That job is all on me, no shortcuts there!
Man, let me tell you, these days have been a real struggle. I’m constantly exhausted, feeling like I’m losing myself in the chaos. Honestly, I could really use a break. The thing is, right now I don’t have any work pressure (though I know it’s coming down the line), but I gotta start prepping myself for the future, for all those challenges that are waiting to pounce on me. It’s time to gear up and get ready!
I recently had the chance to visit my office for the first time since the whole COVID madness. It was a surreal experience. It felt like stepping into a time capsule, bringing back all those nostalgic vibes. But trust me I enjoyed being there, even though I was meeting everyone for the first time, It felt like the good old days are coming back.
Yes.. I definitely missed my little munchkin. Our office actually has a baby napping room, once my baby starts toddling around and can communicate (even if it’s just through gestures and babbling), I would bring in my baby.
Hey mommies, let me tell you something — there is no clear mantra for coming back or taking the driver’s seat. You just gotta trust yourself and go for it. Overthinking will not only waste your precious time but also drain your energy. Believe in yourself and take that leap of faith.
You’ve got this!
Your journey belongs to you. You’ll know & overcome your challenges only when you start driving again.
