Tips for Working Moms

My maternity leave came to an end last month and it was honestly the hardest transition I've ever had to do. Granted, I had Maddox with me for 6 months and that's more than I ever thought. Usually, moms stay with their babies until they’re 3 months or sometimes less. I was fortunate enough that my job allowed me to extend my leave for an extra month, Now that I work full time certain things have changed and my job priorities get knocked out faster. I've learned that if I work faster not harder I can get home to Maddox quicker. Here are a few mom tips about going back to work.

Take one day at a time:

You've been home for so long loving and nurturing your baby that going back to work is no where in your thoughts and not to mention that its hard! You'd rather be home than dealing with people who don't understand how you feel. My first day back I told myself 'Prioritize everything that needs to be done so you can leave as fast as possible" Obviously, each day comes with its own burdens but as long as my To-Do list was completed I was happy. I decided to come in early and leave early that way I'm busy up until the afternoon.

Have Patience:

Be patient with yourself and with others. I came back to a crazy work environment with a lot of transitions and changes happening. At first, I was hesitant to continue working just because I didn't really need that in my life at the moment but I decided to give it a try. It has taken me a lot of patience and by a lot I mean an abundant amount! And of course when we pray for patience God laughs and well we all know how that goes. I had to learn how to transition back to work and how to socialize with people again. I also learned that I needed to be patient with my mother in law and mom who are looking after Maddox while I work. Its hard to accustom your baby to your personal routine and then switch it up. I knew I needed to be more open to change and just trust the process. When you transition back to work you have to know that everything is a process and that you may be a little insecure and even slow at first but it all takes time and LOTS of patience.

Be Assertive:

A lot of people say you may still have mommy brain and that, that's the reason why you're slow.. No, I never believed in that theory. Don't let what others think about you or how you're working affect you. You've been on baby mode times 100 for the past 3 or in my case 6 months. Yes, your transition might be a little slower than usual but that's normal. Don't let the negativity of others at your job bring you down. You get things done however you feel fit and however you want. Be assertive. May your Yes, be yes and your No's be no's. If you disagree with someone or something let them know.

Pumping at work:

When I first thought about pumping at work I was hesitant and I honestly wasn't going to do it. I started to think about it a little more and I came to the conclusion that my son needs to eat too. Work can always wait or be paused while you pump. The number one thing you really need to be concerned about while pumping is the location. I luckily have an office which is far away from people so it works out. I also share it with another person but their really never in there. I can freely put my Medela breast pump bra and go to town. Honestly if I needed to just pop my boob out and pump I would do so because the pain is unbearable. Keep in mind that your pump only comes with one set of pumping parts so you might want to buy extras to keep at work in case you ever forget them at home. I definitely recommend a small personal fridge so no one thinks your milk is extra creamer.

Last but not least, enjoy your day at work and when you're finally home with your little one learn how to disconnect. Don't worry about the emails, what you didn't finish, what was said. Who cares. At this point, its all about spending time with your baby and really being present.