Being a working mother is not easy. Resuming work after maternity leave is bound to be a very big change for both the new mom and the baby. Juggling work and managing a child at the same time requires a whole lot of planning and organising. To begin with you must start looking out for suitable child care arrangement at least a month or two before you resume work. In this articleChildcare OptionsWorking from HomeHow to Spend Quality Time with Your Child as a Working Parent?Tips for Resuming Work after Childbirth Here are a few things you need to plan before you get back to work after your maternity leave. 1. Childcare Options There are a number of childcare options which you can consider making use of depending upon whether these are available in your local area or not. You must also take into consideration your working hours before zeroing in on any of these options.Creches - More and more working moms nowadays choose to leave their babies in creches. Many creches are professionally managed and equipped to look after children as young as six months old. Baby Sitters or Maids - You can consider hiring a baby sitter or a maid to look after your child at home while you are away at work. In this type of arrangement you have the flexibility of fixing the working hours for the baby sitter or maid depending upon your own office hours. You can hire a full time live in baby sitter or a one for day care only. Relative - Most parents prefer to leave their child under the care and supervision of a relative who is happy to look after their child. A relative is normally someone the child is familiar with and whom the parents trust completely.2. Working from Home Many a time new moms are unable to make up their minds and decide whether they want to be stay at home mom or a working mother. What most women do not realise is looking after a small child is by itself a full time job. It requires a lot of hard work and patience to deal with a toddler. Hence in terms of efforts required to be put in, both options of staying at home or working are almost the same. Staying at home will become necessary in case of women who are not able to make safe child care arrangements for their baby. Monetary consideration can also impact this decision. You have to factor in additional cost of childcare before ascertaining whether the salary you are earning is worth the effort or not. If childcare is an expensive proposition and your salary just about covers it, working from home may be the best option for you and your child.How to Spend Quality Time with Your Child as a Working Parent? Out of sheer guilt most working moms overdo at the home front. This is absolutely uncalled for since working is something you enjoy. Although there may be certain challenges initially your child is bound to get used to both her parents working. On your part you can do some of the following things to spend quality time with your child. a) After returning from work and while being with your child completely focus your attention on the child. You may need to switch off your mobile phones and computers to give undivided attention to your little one at home. b) Make meal times family times and real special for your child. You can get the child to help you cook or set the table. Simple things like peeling potatoes or mixing pancake batter is something that small kids enjoy doing. Make sure to eat meals together at the dining table while chatting about the happenings of the day. Irrespective of whether your child is old enough to talk or understand it is important that she hears and shares food with you. c) Make weekends special by doing something which your child enjoys like swimming or visiting the zoo. In this way you can deal with the challenges of being a working mother. However, as a working mother you must make sure that you are not compromising on your baby’s health, safety and development.
Being a working mother is not easy. Resuming work after maternity leave is bound to be a very big change for both the new mom and the baby. Juggling work and managing a child at the same time requires a whole lot of planning and organising. To begin with you must start looking out for suitable child care arrangement at least a month or two before you resume work.
Tips for Resuming Work after Childbirth
Here are a few things you need to plan before you get back to work after your maternity leave.
1. Childcare Options
There are a number of childcare options which you can consider making use of depending upon whether these are available in your local area or not. You must also take into consideration your working hours before zeroing in on any of these options.
Creches - More and more working moms nowadays choose to leave their babies in
creches. Many creches are professionally managed and equipped to look after children as young as six months old.
Baby Sitters or Maids - You can consider hiring a baby sitter or a
maid to look after your child at home while you are away at work. In this type of arrangement you have the flexibility of fixing the working hours for the baby sitter or maid depending upon your own office hours. You can hire a full time live in baby sitter or a one for day care only.
Relative - Most parents prefer to leave their child under the care and supervision of a relative who is happy to look after their child. A relative is normally someone the child is familiar with and whom the parents trust completely.
2. Working from Home
Many a time new moms are unable to make up their minds and decide whether they want to be stay at home mom or a working mother. What most women do not realise is looking after a small child is by itself a full time job. It requires a lot of hard work and patience to deal with a toddler. Hence in terms of efforts required to be put in, both options of staying at home or working are almost the same.
Staying at home will become necessary in case of women who are not able to make safe child care arrangements for their baby.
Monetary consideration can also impact this decision. You have to factor in additional cost of childcare before ascertaining whether the salary you are earning is worth the effort or not. If childcare is an expensive proposition and your salary just about covers it,
working from home may be the best option for you and your child.
How to Spend Quality Time with Your Child as a Working Parent?
Out of sheer guilt most working moms overdo at the home front. This is absolutely uncalled for since working is something you enjoy. Although there may be certain challenges initially your child is bound to get used to both her parents working. On your part you can do some of the following things to spend quality time with your child.
a) After returning from work and while being with your child completely focus your attention on the child. You may need to switch off your mobile phones and computers to give undivided attention to your little one at home.
b) Make meal times family times and real special for your child. You can get the child to help you cook or set the table. Simple things like peeling potatoes or mixing pancake batter is something that small kids enjoy doing. Make sure to eat meals together at the dining table while chatting about the happenings of the day. Irrespective of whether your child is old enough to talk or understand it is important that she hears and shares food with you.
c) Make weekends special by doing something which your child enjoys like swimming or visiting the zoo.
In this way you can deal with the challenges of being a working mother. However, as a working mother you must make sure that you are not compromising on your baby’s health, safety and development.
