Although you might have taken a few years off work to focus on bringing up your young family, when your kids head off to school, you might find yourself with much more time to yourself than you are used to. With your kids occupied throughout the day, you may start to think about returning to work yourself. Here are some top tips for returning to work once your kids have started on their educational path.
Get a Degree
If you are reluctant to return to work in exactly the same position that you held before, you might consider getting a degree in the last years or months of your maternity leave. As a new mother, you will usually have ample time at home to work on your studies while your kids are napping or having playdates. By getting a degree, you will then be able to kickstart your career as soon as you return to work, opening yourself up for a promotion or even for a career change. In that case, if you previously disliked working for your company or you disliked your position, you should consider getting an online degree, such as an online law enforcement degree. You will be able to complete this degree entirely from your own home and in your own time, ready for when you decide to make a slow transition back to your workplace and working life.
Return Gradually
Although you might be extremely eager to become a working mom, the transition between being a full-time parent and juggling both work and family can be difficult. To prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed and burnt out as soon as you return to work, you should try to return to work gradually. If you are still on a company’s payroll, you should consider speaking to your boss about the possibility of cutting down on your hours or about having a flexible arrangement. This will then allow you to ease yourself slowly back into working life and will give you time to catch up on everything that you have missed while you have been away. You might also look for a part-time job, or, if you are returning to somewhere you have worked before, you might consider visiting the office before you start back officially.
Find Childcare
Many moms worry about what will happen if their working hours do not coincide perfectly with their children’s school hours, with most jobs not catering toward the hours that are usually needed by moms. If you know that you will often be working too late to complete the school run, you should consider trying to find a babysitter or nanny for your child. They can make sure that they are cared for when they get home from school. This means that you can relax in the knowledge that your children will be in safe hands even if you cannot always be there for them.
If you do not want to go down the childcare route, you should look for jobs that have hours that usually fit in with your child’s schedule, like that of a teaching assistant. These will then allow you to have an independent working life while also ensuring that you do not miss out on any of the milestones in your children’s lives.
Get Support
You should also make sure that you get support from those around you when you are bringing up a child and working at the same time. This will ensure that you do not feel as if you are alone and that you have to give up work completely to look after your kids. For instance, you should speak to a partner, if you have one, about splitting childcare between you and about the possibility of them becoming a stay-at-home parent. You could also speak to other family members who live close to you. Even if they cannot help you with childcare duties, they may be able to provide you with a quiet place to work or even simply provide a listening ear when times get tough and you feel like quitting work altogether.
Find a Job You Are Passionate About
The most important step that you can take, though, is to find a job that you are incredibly passionate about. Many moms may feel reluctant to return to work unless they are excited about their working life. If your career is not engaging you anymore, you should consider a complete career change that can ensure that you come home from work with a smile on your face most days, and that can help you to be completely present for your children. You should consider what your hobbies and interests are and whether they could be turned into a new job. You might also visit a careers counselor, who can help to give you the best tips to find a job that you adore.
Speak to Your Kids
You should also make sure that you discuss your return to work with your kids. Change can be worrying for children, especially alongside the change that starting a new school can bring them. You should discuss what your kids should expect when you start work and try to get them into a new routine as soon as possible. You should also listen to any worries that they may have and try to alleviate these as much as you can.
Find a Job in a Great Location
Lastly, as a mom, it is even more important that you can find a job in a location that is close to both your home and your kid’s school. This can help you to cut down on your commute time and make doing the school run easier. You may even be able to pick the kids up and take them home during your break.
By doing this, you will be limiting your stress and ensuring that you do not have to wake up incredibly early to prepare for the day to come.
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