Yes we are ‘MORE THAN JUST A MUM’ and we do love a good coffee in the morning, listening to our most recent podcast, having a flick through the morning Metro, checking out the ONE fit guy on the train and beside all the added extras we do love having a job. Well at least we think we do, especially when you have been out of the game for nearly 12months.
We have together a few tips to make the move back into business that lil bit easier. Hands on our hearts we are not pretending its easy peasy because its not and no matter how your lil bundle of joy (and dirty nappies, sore breasts, sterilised bottles, sleepless nights) exhausts you - the hardest part of working is not seeing your baby and believe it or not as they get older it gets harder!! Now who ever said Mothethood was a breeze??? Certainly not us!
Going back to work after having a little one is an extremely difficult transition but it can be done but with the help of family, friends and planning you can put your mind at ease and reassure yourself that your child is in safe trustworthy hands. Going back to work has to be gradual. Maybe start putting your child into creche a few weeks before you go back to work (so you get used to your child leaving daily and you get some time to yourself) or work part time if you can so your child has a 2/3 days at creche and the rest of the time at home with you or if you are extremely lucky leave your little one with the grandparents or your brother, sister or other family and friends. Always have a back up plan and a back up for the back up plan incase your child is sick and granny or the child minder can’t make it.
The time you spend with your child is precious as we all know there not young forever. So make the most of it and enjoy bonding whether it be in the morning, evening or weekends. There is always time for mother and baby bonding be it reading in the morning or before bed, having breakfast/lunch/dinner together, co-sleeping, cuddles, shopping, playing games, singing and dancing together, picnics and day trips to libraries, parks, galleries, cinema and museums.
On the home front take full advantage of online shopping for both homeware and groceries (plan/have a rough ideas of meals). Try and do housekeeping during the week so your not cleaning the whole weekend (focus on kitchen/bathroom). When it comes to back to work wear make sure your work outfits are roughly planned out and fit well if not invest in some basics and mix and match.
Technology has developed which which keeps mum’s smiling and benefits mum’s worldwide. When it comes to staying connected whatever you do and wherever you are you can constantly keep up to date with what your little bundle of joy is doing day and night. Instagram and Vine and other platforms allow for photo and video sharing, Facetime on the iPhone enables people to speak and see each other via phone and skype and web cam allows face to face interaction using web cam, speech and chat all over the world (great for travelling mumma’s). Sending photo’s via phone and email is very popular and can be done with great ease with the wonderful invention of the smartphone. Other great things include lunchtime visits or a visit during the working day.
Also make some time for your mummy life. Keep in touch with the mum friends you made at y
Here are a few sites that will hopefully make going back to work that lil bit easier, and just remember ladies don’t feel intimated or inferior! Without women like us their wouldn’t be any humans! We make the world go around! And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!!
WORDS BY JENNIFER ARE
Gingerbread is a UK charity which offers support, advice, cv help and confidence boosting training for single mothers.
Working Mums is a site that connects mums and employers with part time and full time jobs and offers support and advice
Jobs4mothers.com is an online jobsboard helping mothers find flexible work
