Going back to work.
The prospect of returning to work can prompt a variety of thoughts and feelings and actually returning is often very challenging. You may feel some uncertainty about how to structure your role and workload upon your return, what days and hours you will be doing over the course of your initial return and in the future. Furthermore, there are challenges surrounding childcare arrangements, commuting or home working, and the general demands of family life. These concerns can also be accompanied by apprehension, or a need for clarity, around how to approach your employer about your proposed plans. Alternatively, you may not want to return or question whether the role is what you want to return to. The thought of going back and doing so often leads mothers to feel guilty about leaving their baby; it can be very challenging and have a real impact on how women feel at work and then at home. Having spent arguably the longest time you’ve ever spent away from work, returning can feel daunting and you may question your capability and skills. All of these common and real issues are hurdles in another transition you face as a mother, yet it is possible to feel confident and happy about the choices and plans you make.
This coaching programme tackles these concerns by providing the space to make sense of how you feel and make the right decisions for you. Moving to being a working mother is another shift in identity to navigate and these sessions will help you explore and craft what your positive transition back to work will look like. By constructing effective strategies and plans to ease back into work, as well as thinking ahead about how to handle challenging conversations or setting expectations with managers and colleagues you are supported to proactively manage this transition.
The Coaching sessions
Four 1-hour sessions tailored to you and your agenda in my Back to Work Mother Coaching programme can explore numerous topics and challenges. Timeframes for sessions can be discussed to suit your needs, however, some guidance is given below linked to the return date with associated potentially relevant topics:
01. Planning to go back?
- Between 3 and 1 month before return date.
· How do I feel about returning/discuss my choices?
· What type of working mother do I want to be?
· How do I want to structure work, childcare and home life?
· How shall I approach work about my plans?
· Any different concerns
02. Prior to returning
- Between 3 and 1 weeks before return.
· What support do I need in the first few weeks and from whom?
· Who are the key colleagues or staff members to engage with?
· Navigating difficult conversations about role and workload
· Setting expectations for myself, manager and colleagues
03. After returning
– Between 1 and 3 weeks after return.
· Discuss family/work life balance
· Discuss how you feel about being in work and away from your baby
· Any unforeseen challenges to overcome
· Changes in workload or pattern over the coming months
04. Being back at work
– Between 4 and 8 weeks after return.
· Overcoming any difficulties with work or relationships
· How you are adjusting to being a working mother
· What do you want to change or keep the same moving forward?
· Build your confidence through understanding your strengths and your journey to date
If you are close to or have already returned to work, don’t worry the sessions will be tailored to what you need and when you want them.
Getting back into the swing of things.
I look forward to supporting you through the return-to-work part of your motherhood journey.
Programme price £240
Purchase as a gift.
This coaching programme can be purchased as a gift. The programme outline with your personalised message and details about how to book in sessions will be presented on a beautiful Ascending Motherhood card and posted to your loved one.
I
a working mother
“During the session you challenged me to think about my return to work in a different way. One of the first things you encouraged me to do was acknowledge that I had been through a big life event and had taken the longest time away from work since my career began. It seems obvious but I hadn’t considered this before, and this was very helpful.”
— Alice, Campaign Manager.