When the date of maternity leave is approaching, young mothers begin to overcome doubts and fears. Will I be able to work normally after such a long break and how will the child perceive my absence, will he cope without me? And what if I do not want to go to work? Is it okay not to want to go to work at all? We asked moms on maternity leave and recruitment specialists and gathered the most important tips for those who come to work after maternity leave.
Prepare a child
Most often, young mothers are worried about how the child will react to their absence. And preparing a child for this event is the first thing to start with. Do not put off going to kindergarten at the very last moment. Adaptation period it lasts several months for children, and it will be good if it ends before you go to work. Even if you do not plan to take the child to the garden, but want to leave him with his grandmother, you need to prepare in advance. Do not worry if the baby is capricious in the first days or even weeks, becomes too emotional or sleeps poorly - this is how the signs of adaptation manifest themselves and this is absolutely normal (these are normal signs of serious changes in life). But if after three months the situation has not changed - it is worth showing the child to a neurologist or psychologist.
Commentary by Maria Konovalova, weather mom:
“We need to talk with the child, show him how proud you are that he is already big and goes to kindergarten. Agree (and be sure to) that every evening you will tell each other everything that happens during the day and consult in difficult situations. And you will spend the weekend together. ”
Do not try to deceive the baby and leave while he is busy with something. In this way, you are depriving your child of the opportunity to say goodbye to you. It is better to turn farewell into a ritual, repeat it every day, thereby ensuring emotional contact before parting.
Organize life
The most common fear after worrying about a child is the fear of a large number of new responsibilities. Mom understands perfectly well that even after she starts working, household chores will not disappear anywhere: she will have to devote time to cleaning, cooking, washing and other daily chores. Most likely, housework will take away all her free time.And for sure she will no longer be such a good hostess as before, and therefore will begin to feel guilty and shameful.
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Experienced mother Maria Konovalova advises immediately to think over and solve all everyday difficulties and be sure to find helpers. Relatives, neighbors, babysittingas well as cleaning companies and laundries can relieve mom of part of household chores. When all the disturbing moments are carefully thought out, the anxieties will disappear.
Prepare yourself
Career development experts confirm that moms do lose some skills during maternity leave. The working pace and dynamics are reduced, professional skills are weakened; more time is spent on performing even the simplest tasks. But the decree is not to blame. Any employee may encounter similar difficulties after a long break in work.
Comment by Julia Novikova, CEO of the Career Development Center:
“If you plan to return to work, you need to follow the news in your industry, to engage in self-education. Now it is quite accessible: you can take online courses and trainings, participate in webinars, listen to lectures and read professional articles. This will help you maintain your “working form”, keep abreast of all the news and keep up with your colleagues professionally. ”
Some managers practice a soft adaptation program for women who have passed maternity leave. They are offered remote work with visits to the office for several hours a day or several times a week. Do not be afraid and try to offer this option to your employer.
Find a job to your liking
If you have nowhere to go after the decree, then start your job search with a competent resume. It should reflect your knowledge, skills, values and interests. The employer should find out what your advantage is over other job seekers and why you are ideally suited to this position.
READ ALSO: How to successfully pass an interview after the decree: tips for a successful interview
Comment by Julia Novikova, CEO of the Career Development Center:
“The main concern of employers is the constant“ asking back ”and hospital young mothers. Reassure your leader, explain that you have a reliable assistant, in the person of a nanny or grandmother. Also, employers often fear that after the birth of a child, a woman will no longer want to go on business trips and stay at work during emergency situations. Talk about the knowledge that you received in the decree, suggest ideas. Employers need a "twinkle in the eye," and not the hackneyed phrases "I can no longer stay at home" and "I just need work."
If you want to open your own business, start with a presentation for your family and friends. It is they who at the initial stages will be your support and support - investors of their kind. And so they need to "sell" their idea.
READ ALSO: Business mom: how to achieve success in business and be a good mom
Work mom
Career development on maternity leave has now become a fashion trend. But nobody forces you to follow it. The desire to stay a homemaker is perfectly normal. If your family’s financial situation is stable, then discuss this option with your husband. But what if the money is sorely lacking, but you don’t want to go to work? In this situation, you can use an alternative solution to the problem.
Comment by Anna Polyakova, owner of the recruitment agency:
“You can try your hand at remote work - to carry out projects at a time convenient for you and improve professional skills. For example, the majority of employees in our recruitment agency are mothers with children who work at home. They are growing professionally and at the same time they themselves determine the amount of work, choose projects for the selection of personnel and build their own schedule for their implementation. "
It is important to make a decision that you cannot do without going to work, a kindergarten or a nanny. If a mother goes to work without much desire, “I can’t and don’t want to”, then the children feel it. In such situations, they may manifest psychosomatics (body protest): frequent illnesses, nausea in the morning and diarrhea. Thus, the child unknowingly helps her mother not to go to work and stay at home.
Solving problems as they become available
Many mothers experience extreme stress when it comes time to go to work after maternity leave. We wind ourselves up, we draw terrible pictures in our imagination, where a child suffers in kindergarten, and we work very badly. But in reality, things can be very different.
Worried about a child in kindergarten? Read reviews about the chosen kindergarten and the teachers in your group, think over alternative options, for example, nanny or private kindergarten. Are you afraid that you have lost all your maternity skills? Take online courses, stay tuned for news in your industry, talk more with your colleagues, and discuss current affairs. Are you worried that you cannot find a job? Post your resume and respond to the maximum number of vacancies. Determine for yourself “trial period” and just try to stand it. And do not forget, no matter how your professional career develops, you already have a “mother’s position” that no one will ever take away.
READ ALSO:
- 7 main reasons not to be afraid to go to work after the decree
- Going to work after maternity leave: how to do it so as not to injure the child
- From a work decree: 8 of your advantages over other job seekers
Video consultation: to work after the decree: 5 fears of each mother and how to deal with them
