An Open letter to the Working Mother trying to Succeed in her Career

Fresh out of university you were confident, full of life and vivacious. You started work with enthusiasm and energy. You progressed, were promoted and before you knew it you were flying up the career ladder.

Next, you got into a serious relationship and thought that it was ‘time’ to move to the next stage of life. The ‘baby’ stage. Things were stable at work, so you went ahead and planned for a baby.

And then out of nowhere, BAM, pregnancy hit you like a ton of bricks. Early pregnancy was a hurricane of nausea, exhaustion and crying.

Your previously easy-going stable job felt brutal. Waking up to go into work took all your strength mentally and physically. And you spent most of your days feeling sick or running to the toilet to vomit. As the months progressed, yes, the nausea settled, but then it was near impossible to walk, as you were crippled with back and hip pain. And your previously sharp brain had been reduced to mashed potatoes.

You then give birth to your beautiful baby, and then there is another shift. You return from maternity leave as a completely new woman, with imposter syndrome, low confidence and a brain split between work and your baby.

You returned less than full time, and yet it seemed like everyday you were working overtime.

Even though you were working less hours, it seemed that more was expected from you when you were at work. The deadlines came at you thick and fast. Between being a mother, and working, you started to feel more stretched mentally and physically than you had ever been. You started to question whether this was all even worth it. All you wanted to do was look after your baby, and yet you were working whilst you paid someone else to care for them. In addition, you realised that you had little to no money but were working harder than ever before.

Does this sound familiar to any of the mothers out there?

This may be one of the hardest challenges as a working mother. Being everything to everyone whilst trying to live a balanced life and managing a career.

When the children are young, it can feel like this will last forever. However, slowly as the years progress, they will become more independent and confident, and will therefore need you less.

So, to all the mothers who feel that they are spread so thin that there is nearly nothing left, you can do this. You are capable of this, and that young ambitious vivacious girl still lives within you. She will make an appearance again.

Your career may not look how you imagined, but keep moving forward one step at a time, and one day you will get back on track.

We hope that you enjoyed the article ‘An Open letter to the Working Mother trying to Succeed in her Career’. Please drop a comment below, we would love to hear your thoughts.

Team Mamo & Mono xoxo