I've been on maternity leave with my newborn for the last six months. I'm enjoying the time at home, but lately I've started thinking about going back to work. How do I decide when is the right time? How do I know what the best decision is for my family?
Questions about returning to work are among the most difficult you will face as a parent. The answers aren't easy, but here are a few things to consider as you weigh your options.
It's a Family Affair
Not only does this decision have an impact on you and your baby, your husband or partner will also be affected. Before you get back into the game, you're going to want to sit down and have a long, hard talk about how your role will change once you're back at work and no longer working full-time as a mother and homemaker. How, for example, will you split household chores when you're both working 40 hours or more a week?
In Good Hands
It's pretty hard to concentrate on the job with visions of your 6-month-old rolling down the stairs or worrying that your nanny is teaching your daughter to cuss like a sailor. That's why a smooth transition back to work can only happen when you know your child is with a safe, stimulating and positive caregiver. You'll set yourself (and your child and employer) up for failure if you return to work harboring doubts about the security and safety of your child.
The Cost of Going Back to Work
To make ends meet these days, most families need two incomes. Raising a child is expensive, but so too is daycare. Make sure returning to the office puts you ahead financially. If, for example, the monthly expense of going back to work is $2,000 and your take-home pay is $3,000 per month for a 40-hour week, you may want to reconsider when you realize that, after expenses, you're taking home $6.25 an hour. That said, your 401(k) and health benefits should also be considered in this equation. Additionally, while your short-term earnings may not leave you far ahead financially, rejoining the workforce sooner rather than later will improve your earning potential in the long run.
Get Over the Guilt
Many women feel guilty for simply wanting to go back to work. The fact is that play dates and baby talk aren't for everyone—and there's nothing wrong with wanting to work and be a mom. The key is knowing what's right for you and your baby. After all, if you're happy, then there's a good chance your baby will be, too.
Nicole Williams is a career expert and the best selling author of Wildly Sophisticated: A Bold New Attitude for Career Success. Her uniquely accessible approach has made her a popular guest expert on television's Good Morning America, CNN, Good Day New York and Fox News.
