When you have children, you have to make a choice about your career. While a lot of parents are able to keep on working, many mothers decide to take some time away from their work in order to look after their children in the first few years of their lives. There’s nothing wrong with either decision, you just have to work with your family circumstances.

However, many mothers then find themselves in the position of having to almost start again once their kids are a little bit older and they want to rejoin the field. A few years away from work can leave you rusty, or you might want to work part-time so you can still be more present at home.

How can working mothers strike a balance, while also giving their career the boost it needs?

Mom holding her baby in her lap while using a laptop at a table

Plan Ahead

One mistake that some people make is that they think they can jump right back into work, without any problems. While this can be done, it’s usually when people have planned ahead that the transition is as smooth as possible.

You may be able to talk to your employers about your plans while you’re pregnant and, in some cases, your employer might agree to welcome you back after a longer period of time. Whether you have paid or unpaid leave, this conversation can give you a lot more security when you want to reenter the workforce.

If this isn’t the case, you can still plan ahead a few months before you’re able to start work again. Look for options that suit your skills and experience so that, when it comes to it, you’re ready to apply.

Build Your Skills

Before you jump into work, you can use this opportunity to get new skills and qualifications. Online courses are incredibly good for this, because you can work on your education while your children are asleep and you have a quiet few moments. Because you can work at your own pace and from home, you can keep your education going and build up your skills.

This means that you can reenter the workforce more easily and, in some cases, even find better work opportunities than you had before. This can give you a bit of a headstart, which is sorely needed if you’ve been out of work for a few years.

Coping Emotionally

You might have your plan worked out in advance, and you might be working toward new skills, but one thing that catches some people off guard is that it can be really hard to actually go back to work.

It can involve complicated and difficult emotions, like guilt and the increased stress of juggling work and parenting your children. You will need more support and, if you were a stay at home parent, you may need to discuss how the roles in your household change. 

Online therapy can be such a lifesaver, because it allows you to deal with these emotions and to find ways to cope with the stress of the increased workload.