Taking a must needed holiday break.
Stay Linked-In your PJs
I’m a month into motherhood and although there is no routine, I’m finding time to check my work email (no replies yet), scan industry e-newsletters and scroll my LinkedIn newsfeed – not all at one sitting.
On a recent LinkedIn visit, I received a private message from a past colleague just wanting to know what’s new. When I got that message I hadn’t had any adult interaction yet and after writing my reply I realized how much that exchange scratched the itch I had for adult conversation. From that day forward I’ve been trying to connect with many of my LinkedIn connections, allowing me to network and get social interaction without leaving my house. I currently have four conversations going.
Six-week countdown
I’m still in the postpartum period which is the first six weeks after delivery. Six weeks seems be the magic number I’ve been given for my mind, body and soul to adjust to my new existence. Specifically, I can’t exercise, start pumping, have sex, go anywhere too crowded, meaning I’m finding a lot of time to watch TV, HBO and TedTalks i.e., not finding time to get in touch with my professional identity, except for when I found this interesting TedTalk. Public policy expert Anne-Marie Slaughter tackles the controversial topic of paternity leave and can answer “Why women still can’t have it all.” But really, is this only a question for women? Here Slaughter expands her ideas and explains why shifts in work culture, public policy and social mores can lead to more equality — for men, women, all of us.
I’m sorry for judging
I’d like to apologize to any new mother who I ever judged for saying something like “I can’t…come out, answer the phone, return a text, find time to shower, clean my house…because of my baby.” – I get it, I have recently said or at least thought all of the above.
Three weeks into motherhood and all I can say is, no matter how much people tell you or how much you read there is no preparing you for the physical, mental, emotional, life-altering change you will face once a baby arrives and there is no time for work.
Maternity leave must read: The MomShift
It seems the only career and motherhood success stories we hear about are those of celebrities and ‘bigshot’ CEOs whose lives and achievements are not relevant to the choices and struggles that everyday moms face. This was making it difficult for me to imagine my work life after mat leave…or at least until I came across Canadian author Reva Seth’s new book, The MomShift: Women Share Their Stories of Career Success After Having Children.
A nod to the COO who got me to lean in
I can’t post anything else about working mums without acknowledging the woman whose been creating awareness about the lack of women in leadership roles, the ways women are held back and the way we hold ourselves back.
In her inspirational TED talk Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg is changing the dialogue from what women can’t do to what we can do. She uncovers why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their professions — and offers three powerful pieces of advice to women aiming for the C-suite, or, in my opinion, any women wanting a career and family.
No better time than mat leave
Maternity leave is first time since university that I will be taking a long pause from the everyday grind of work. Obviously being at home with a newborn is not exactly a restful pause; nevertheless, it involves stepping away from the office and my professional identity. I haven’t had my baby yet so how I will feel mentally and physically after the delivery, how the baby will be and what I’ll really do is still very unknown. But there’s no doubt that there will be chunks of time – maybe after the initial shock to the system wears off – that I will have to ‘turn inward’ to reevaluate my current and future career goals. Specifically, what skills I want to gain or keep fresh over coming months, whether I should continue building my LinkedIn profile/, CV, or perhaps just learn something I’ve been interested in but never had the time.
The buddy system isn’t just for kids
What do you think of when I say “buddy system”? Probably two school-aged kids holding hands when crossing the street, right?
Well, it’s no longer just for kids. Since a lot can happen in a year, like grow and then give birth to a human being, some companies have developed a maternity buddy system to help those on mat leave stay abreast of things like new policies, procedures, software systems, new hires, fires and clients. The system partners a mother with a colleague who can keep her in the loop and ensure she is aware of changes in office personnel, as well as any developments that would affect her work.
The good, the bad and the ugly of maternity leave
It’s day four of my maternity leave and as I read about what I consider to be incredible public policy advancement by the Canadian government – job-protected, paid maternity leave – I’m realizing what a contentious topic it is. Not just for working women, but for employers and employees in general. Here is the short on the good, the bad and the ugly of maternity leave.
12 months off work?!
As I walk – rather waddle – out of my office of four years for the last time, I feel scared, nervous and apprehensive. Not for the impending labour and delivery I will soon have to tackle, but scared for the Groundhog Day I’m going to experience at home once the baby arrives. Don’t get me wrong, I’m incredibly excited to start this next chapter of my life (and plan to embrace everything that comes with it), but when you’ve been working in a professional setting for more than a decade the thought of being home all day for 12 months can be quite jarring to say the least.
Staying ABreast 