LinkedIn Life’s Post

MATERNITY LEAVE Such a happy time, but so many mums have that dread of having at some point to leave their precious baby & go back to work. Handing them over to someone else every morning, maybe missing out on those precious firsts, certainly missing out on valuable time, because, let's face it, kids grow up so quickly.. We say it so much, but it's so true. What if it didn't have to be that way? Why not build up a business around nap time & feeds so that you can either go back to part time work or not have to go back at all. Its exactly what I did!!!! And what so many other lovely mums I work alongside have done. Lis has just become a new mum & it has totally changed her perception of work & life. She really doesn't want to go back to work & is using all her free time in between being a mummy to make sure that happens.. When the Why is Strong,You Really Can Achieve Everything You Want.. Are you on Maternity & Feeling the Same? Let's Chat #maternityleave #workaroundfamily #workyourownhours #familylife #directselling #networkmarketing #mumsinbusiness #businessmums

What’s that quote? “The days are long but the weeks are short.” - someone somewhere I can’t believe 5 weeks of my time at home with a newborn have already passed. In that time, I’ve come on here many times to share my thoughts, but have honestly come up empty in the creative writing department because you know, it’s tiring keeping a tiny human alive while also running around with a 4 year old before school starts! So here are some of my raw thoughts/feelings, and no, they aren’t poetic or completely put together so bear with me: - I’m physically exhausted but also super proud of how my body adapts to change and a different type of needed exertion. - I’m feeling extra grateful that we’ve been smart about saving and strategically planning. Because of circumstances/unique timing this time around, I was contracting and started a new role too soon to get financial maternity benefits which means I’m not contributing as much financially for the first time for our family. - I miss the mental challenges that the work I love doing brings, but not enough yet for it to outweigh soaking in my time at home. I don’t know if that’s appropriate to say, but it’s true. I’ll get there. I know I will. But I’m not there yet. - In a time where you ‘have to be or believe one way or another,’ the messy in between takes an emotional toll. Stay at home or working parent. Democrat or republican. Just name it and there’s something separating us. The more I reflect on this, the more I long to raise our girls to live in the middle. You want to dance and join robotics? Great. You want to advocate for women AND partner with your spouse? More power to you. You want to be present at home AND challenge yourself mentally and in the workplace? Do it. Our world doesn’t set us up to live in this middle, but I sure am advocating for more of it - this has become more relevant these past few weeks and as November’s election approaches. For now, I’ll head back to snuggling my newborn because we’re still figuring each other out and I don’t want to lose that time. As far as the post below, I couldn’t agree more.

🎉 𝐈’𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 Higgs LLP! 🎉 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘰𝘴? - Motherhood has been an extraordinary journey (the word 'relentless' has been used multiple times!) that has profoundly shaped my perspective and skill set. Through it all, I've discovered a newfound strength, resourcefulness, and resilience that I hope to bring to every aspect of my life, personally and professionally. - Taking time away to focus on my little family has been an invaluable experience and I am so proud of the person Oscar is becoming. It has however strengthened my love for what I do and reaffirmed that my career isn't just a job - it's a vital part of my identity. - I am eternally grateful for the incredible support I've experienced from my colleagues, who have made me feel like a fundamental part of the team even during my time away - thank you! - Maternity leave has given me clarity and a renewed sense of purpose, and I return to my role with even greater enthusiasm and dedication. 𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵? I can't wait to dive back into the action and what better time than the week we launched our new brand (more on that later!). My aim will always be to contribute to our shared success whilst making meaningful connections every step of the way, so if you fancy a coffee and a discussion that doesn't involve nap routines and childcare costs (ouch), then I'm good to go! #TeamSpirit #BackInAction #ClientEngagement #BusinessDevelopment

As I wrap up my 6-week maternity leave, I’m feeling a lot of emotions. I’m beyond grateful to my company for offering some flexibility by working at home for a few weeks, but let’s be honest—moms and dads need more time. Six weeks is hardly enough to recover, bond, and adjust to life with a new baby. This is my seventh child, and over the years, I’ve had leaves ranging from 2 to 10 weeks. No matter the length, it’s always felt like I’m rushing back to work before I’m truly ready. It’s hard, and we need to advocate for policies that give parents the time and space they really need. Longer leave benefits families, businesses, and society. Happier, well-supported parents lead to better performance and stronger retention at work. But today, just like I’ve done every time before, I’ll tackle it head-on, get back to work, and get shit done. Because that’s what we do, right? Here’s to the parents who juggle it all and the workplaces that support them. But let’s not stop pushing for better. #MaternityLeave #PaternityLeave #WorkingParents #Advocacy #PolicyChange #WorkLifeBalance #GetItDone

As I get ready to teach another semester of GHS 207-- "Global Women: Rights and Resistance," this post and infographic are particularly relevant to the upcoming class discussions about women in the family and gender roles.

We've completely lost sight of what's important in much of the west. We've become so hyper industrialized that the value of a human being has been reduced to the sum of it's total economic output. Valuable labor is only that which provides benefits to the company or the shareholder. Maybe it's the symptom of an ever weakening dollar, with ever decreasing purchasing power. Maybe it's the progressively disappearing idea of "work life balance" but whatever it is it's fostering an insidious resentment for motherhood. People are so bitter about having to constantly work, especially parents who were forced to send their children to daycare as infants, that the venom gets pointed at the mothers who stay home to raise a child instead of the socioeconomic factors that have made vocational motherhood nearly extinct. As a result we see women feeling the need to defend themselves and insist that being a mother is in fact productive on social media. We so often hear the expression "It takes a village" but how many of us know what that means? It takes a village to do what? It takes a village to raise a child. That's the origin of that saying. But we're so far removed from that mentality, from a collective rallying around mothers, from an understanding of the importance of raising the next generation that we actually have people trying to either take away, or provide as little maternity leave as possible. Never mind paternity leave.

I myself am not a mother, nor do I plan to be. I have never personally gone through an experience like child birth or adoption, I have however, witnessed women that mean a lot to me go through all of these experiences listed below and more. The difficulty of managing major life changes emotionally, physically, in relationships, and day to day management is enormous. Not to mention the career and financial stress it can have. It's important for everyone to realize not one pregnancy, baby, mother, family, or situation is the same. Some have an easier time transitioning back into normalcy while others are struggling years after giving birth. The point: We as a society and community need to support women rather than insert opinions on what this major life event "should" look like, or highlight imperfections and what they should/could be doing better. Companies need to understand they will lose valuable women if they don't show up for them when it's most important. Perspective, empathy, and support is everything.

As a Service Desk professional, people sometimes share with me that they were on maternity leave. On a ticket, I don’t include that information. - It’s personal information - It’s possibly stigmatizing - I don’t know how other analysts might prioritize that ticket if I include it - It’s unnecessary and unrelated to getting someone their access back (limiting access during extended leave of any type is a regular security practice) The only relevant piece on a ticket is that somebody is returning from leave and needs their access back. Other things I don’t include: - Gendered pronouns (who cares) - Shaming or condescending (stick to the facts - the monitor broke, restarting fixed it, not how it broke or how long the device was running) Document carefully - and respectfully.

I really wish HR departments would pay attention to this. Maternity leave is no holiday and the job insecurity on top of everything else that comes with having a baby should not even be a thing, but it is. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s rules could not be more clear: “An employee who’s been on unpaid parental leave is entitled to come back to the job they had before going on leave. They’re entitled to this job even if another person is working in their role as a replacement.” (fairwork.gov.au) So manufacturing an excuse to make a new mother redundant while on, or soon after, maternity leave is not only a violation, it is discrimination, and it is unconscionable. Yet it keeps happening. If only they understood the crippling and lasting effects this has on a person who has just given birth, let alone the ripple effect imposed upon innocent young family members. #workplacediscrimination #workplacebullying #maternityleave

This could not be more accurate 😔 Maternity leave is often seen as a serene and blissful time, filled with moments of bonding with your newborn and taking a break from the hustle of work. Many imagine it as a sort of extended vacation, where you're free from the stresses of the office and can simply enjoy your new role as a parent. But the reality is much more complex. Yes, there are moments of pure joy, but maternity leave is also one of the hardest and most exhausting times in a new mother's life. The sleepless nights, constant feedings, and endless nappy changes can leave you feeling utterly drained. The physical recovery from childbirth, combined with the emotional rollercoaster of adjusting to motherhood, can be overwhelming. There's also the pressure to "do it all", to be the perfect mother, partner, and sometimes even try to stay connected to work. Maternity leave is not a break, it's a period of intense, unpaid labour where your focus shifts entirely to caring for another human being. It’s a time filled with immense love, but also challenges that are often underestimated. The reality is that maternity leave is far from easy, it's a journey of navigating new responsibilities, finding your new normal, and learning to care for yourself and your baby amidst the chaos. Big up to all you mums out there, your awesome 💗 #motherhood #maternityleave #newmums #newborn #superwomen #selfcare #strength