Strategies for when the mother returns to work or study
Emotional considerations
In the last couple of decades, many more women have embarked on combining motherhood with their work and careers or study ambitions. This may be due to financial necessity, the need to continue running your own business, having the opportunity to be able to easily combine a new baby with work or study or a desire to return to your workplace or study to keep your career on track. However, the reality for many families is that two incomes are often needed to support today's lifestyle commitments, and to maintain the quality and availability of support around them.
Whether you choose to work or study full or part-time, are self-employed or contracted, there are many considerations you will need to address, particularly your childcare arrangements. Thinking, planning (and booking ahead) for the type of childcare that best suits your needs (and that of your baby), will make for a smoother transition back into the workplace. Today, there are a range of childcare options available. You can read more about your choices in
childcare arrangements.
Returning to work can be an easy decision for some and harder for others. In many cases, women do not anticipate the emotional difficulties they can encounter (mainly immense feelings of guilt), when leaving their baby to go back to work. Whatever type of childcare you decide to use, you will inevitably go through many anxious moments worrying about your baby, their carer and whether you are doing 'the right thing'. This is very normal and part of the process of leaving your baby in somebody else's care.
Besides your own issues, you will probably need to deal with everyone else's opinion about your decisions surrounding returning to work. Mothers who 'return to work' as well as mothers who choose to 'stay at home' often spark polarised comments and debates amongst different people.