Being able to stay home and watch your kids grow is very ideal for some moms, and luckily with maternity leave women have that option for a short period of time (real short compared to Canada). But once you have had the opportunity to stay home it’s hard to even think about going back to work. Today more and more families need to have two working parents in the home. If you are a single parent you must work to provide for your children, and you may even look for a part-time job or start your own business just to make ends meet. And with today’s economy, two incomes are necessary just to stay a float, even stay at home moms are looking for a way to make an income to help with the family finances. Going back to work can be a stressful ordeal. Leaving your baby behind, not seeing him everyday, worry about his care while he’s not with you are just some of the things women struggle with. In the next few paragraphs you will find five issues that mother’s face when they are going back to work.
One issue that mothers face when going back to work is the feeling of guilt when leaving your child with a stranger. Because you may be a single parent or both parents have a job outside of the home you may be in need for a baby sitter. Leaving your child with a complete stranger can be very stressful. Are they going to give your child the attention s/he needs? Will they contact you when something is wrong? How many other kids will be there? How will the other kids react to your child? These are all concerns that we have when it comes to the care of our children. A few ways to make this process less stressful will be to find a family member or close friend to watch your child while at work. If this is not feasible ask trusted friends and family for sitter recommendations. This is the best way to find someone who you would be comfortable with. A friend of mine found a place close to her job. She did this so she wouldn’t have to be too far from her child. She can also check up on her child without having to take time away from her job. After you have found a place or person you are comfortable with start the day care a few weeks before actually going to work. This allows you to get use to being without your child during work ours. It also allows your child to get use to being in the care of someone else. You can put your child in day care for a half a day, then a whole day. Keep doing this until you are ready to go back to work
A Decrease in milk supply can make a women feel less adequate as a mom. Going back to work will definitely contribute to a decrease in your milk supply. This happens because you no longer have the luxury of feeding your baby on demand as you did when you were home. Once your milk comes in it seems as if it just flows no stop. You begin to leak everywhere and anywhere, and if you are anything like me, your baby may even choke on all the milk that is coming out. The actual suckling (mouth to breast) of the baby is what stimulates your body to produce milk and with out that your body will adjust to compensate for the decrease feeding. The most important thing to do during this time is to say calm. Stress also hinders your milk supply. I would suggest that you invest in a really good electric dual pump. I really wish I knew how valuable this was. I probably would have been able to nurse a lot longer. Breast pumps can range anywhere from $30 – $300. Yes pumps can cost about $300 but it is worth it, if you need to go back to work and plan on nursing for more than three months.
This problem I have complained about my self. When I began to go back to work [http://allwomen-cirhia.com/?p=5] I realize that I only had about 4 or 5 hours to take care of everyone in the house. In order for me to run a smooth household I had to enlist the help of my husband and our older son. I delegated household duties so that I had less items to worry about when I came home. In order to delegate duties I needed to be okay, still working on being satisfied, with the work of my husband and son. Some women create an evening schedule or routine with their child so that they know exactly when they have time to manage the household chores. You can try to get all your clothes ready for the week on Sunday evenings, By doing this you do not have to worry about whether or not you have to iron clothes. You may still contemplate on what to wear, but it’s easier to pick out an outfit when they are all ready and waiting. Find 30 minute meals to make during the week. Began planning your meals for the next week so you know exactly what you need when you go grocery shopping. Once again, less thinking for the week. Some women would cook most of the meals for week on the weekends. This allows them to simply warm up dinners when they get home from work.
Another issue you may come across when going back to work is no longer finding the time to take care of yourself. When you get home from work you are so concerned with making sure dinner is cooked, the dishes are washed, the baby is fed, giving baths, and making sure everyone is in bed that it’s time for you to go to sleep. How do you find time for yourself without neglecting the needs of everyone else? Well first and foremost, remember that if you are not taken care of then your family will not get the proper care that they need. As I mentioned the above paragraph don’t be afraid to delegate duties. This will free up more time for you to do whatever you want. Take advantage of every moment alone. The subway, car, or bus ride home is great time to just think about your needs and wants. Try to escape from the people around you by reading a book or listening to music. Showers are more than just hygiene, they can now become your escape to the spa. Learn how to create a spa environment with every shower. let the heated water beat against your body as if you are getting a full body massage, this can be very relaxing. Some moms wake up before everyone just to have a little quiet time. During this time you can exercise, read a book, or a blog, or sip on a hot cup of coffee.
This last issue, along with others, has been a very important. With having a new born in the house it’s very easy to give all of your time and care to the baby. However, a marriage or relationship, cannot nurture itself. It is very important that you spend quality time with your mate. By spending this time together it will do a number of things. Your relationship will continue to grow and no one (not even yourself) will feel neglected. You will remember what it’s like to feel like a women, not just a mom, and much more. In order to accomplish spending more time with your mate you can do a number of things. Some parents put their children to bed no later than 8:30. This allows you to spend some quality time together doing whatever you choose. You can talk, watch a movie, or entertain each other. You have created a time where the two of you can be alone and nurture your relationship. If your lives are extremely busy implemented date night twice a month. Twice a month may not be enough for some, but you can do this as many times as your relationship needs it. Another way to steal moments with your husband is by giving a quick kiss while he’s cooking, or grabbing his butt while you pass each other in the hallway or on the stairs, besides it’s fun. If this is not your cup of tea, you can send love notes via text messages through out the day, or an email, or leave him a note before you leave the house. Have fun and enjoy, nurturing your relationship doesn’t always have to require you to spend time or money. It just requires a willing and creative person. These are just a few tips and ideas of getting over the Back to Work Blues. This can be a stressful time for any mom, but with the right tools and help it doesn’t have to be.
