Returning to work


Once you've decided to go back to work the practicalities of making your decision work are a whole new ball game, never mind coping with the guilt! In this section women share their experiences of life as a working mum.

 


"The hardest thing about working was coping with the time's when our son was sick. My husband and I would argue over who's work was the most important and hence who could afford to take time off!! When I look back now I feel sick about it as we just lost sight of the fact that our son was ill!!"



"I missed my support network when I returned to work. It would have been brilliant to meet other mums who were trying to cope with the responsibilities of a job and raising a family"



"Going back to work really helped my relationship with my husband. I suppose I understood better the difficulties of juggling home and work and I didn't just take his reluctance to help at home personally"



"Organising my son's change bag and food each morning before setting off for the childminder was a nightmare to begin with. Then I picked up some practical tips from friends which mad things a bit easier:
  • leave a supply of nappies, clothes etc with the childminder;
  • prepare as much of their meals as possible the night before and leave the bag in the fridge;
  • if possible get up and dressed yourself before waking your child."



  • "I didn't so much feel guilty about for leaving my son with a childminder when I went back to. What was harder was that I felt guilty about enjoying being away from him and getting my own space!"


    "I am in the work outside the home mum category, not due to being career orientated but by having to. I hate the late evenings when my children (4 and 2 years) are in Nursery from 0830 until 1900 (twice a week), but have no choice so we all have to get on with it. I still experience the look of horror on stay at home mums faces when I tell them about my working hours and it makes me feel such a bad parent. But we need my income to survive financially and that is without having the exotic holidays etc etc."


    If you are struggling with juggling work and family commitments and feel that you would like to talk to somebody about your personal situation you may be interested in 'Life Coaching'. You can also find help or advice on balancing the demands of work and home through the organisations below.


    SUPPORT LINKS


    Working Families, formerly Parents At Work and New Ways to Work, is a campaigning charity which supports and gives a voice to working parents and carers, and helps employers create workplaces which encourage work-life balance for everyone.

    They offer a range of factsheets covering issues such as maternity rights, flexible working, parental and emergency family leave, paternity leave plus an online forum and free legal helpline.

    Working Families
    1-3 Berry Street
    London
    EC1V OAA

    Tel: 020 7253 7243
    Fax: 020 7253 6253
    Answerphone for free factsheets: 020 7490 2414
    Legal helpline freephone 0800 013 0313

    www.workingfamilies.org.uk


    mother@work - The webzine that deals with working lives, family lives and personal lives. Practical advice and information to help you get the balance right.

    www.motheratwork.co.uk


    RGMC Management Consultancy and Life Coaching Services

    Many parents struggle with work/life balance issues when trying to juggle their work commitments with parenting responsibilities. RGMC can help you and your employer to develop flexible working solutions and ensure that opportunities for staff to work flexibly are implemented in a way to support both you and the business.

    To find out more visit www.rgmcltd.com/faq.htm#Flexible Working



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