Being a working mum is a double edged sword. You feel guilty for being away from the kids, then you also feel guilty for having to take time off to look after those kids.
Adele Barbaro completely gets it, and thinks that we need to cut new working mums a bit of slack. Honestly, we couldn't agree with her more.
"You know the new mum at work? (Insert eye roll) The one that is leaving early because day care has called...... again," she writes. "The Mum that only talks about her kids in the lunch room. That Mum who is forever taking days off. And the one, that has a shorter working week and gets an extra day off? Don’t judge."
It might seem like the new mum has an easy time of it, but they really don't.
"Let me assure you that they are on edge at work, hoping that daycare won’t call and their heart drops when the phone rings. They don’t want to leave again. They know how it looks. And if they leave, it’s because they have nobody else to cover them."
Life with kids is a roller-coaster, both in and out of work.
"And when the kids come along, life gets pretty busy. They are consumed with looking after the little one and won’t have much to talk about, other than them.
"At 3am, when they are rocking a baby with yet another illness they are dreading that they can’t go to work the next day, again. They are sick of missing work and do not want to fall behind."
As for their day off, it's not exactly spent at the spa.
"And on their ‘day off’? Well, this is what it often looks like. This is what they are up to when they are not at work. There’s no coffee with friends or shopping sprees, beach trips or salon visits. It’s being rundown with hairy legs, mum buns and boogie filled snuggles. It’s selfless and can be bloody relentless."
Luckily for Barbaro, she has an understanding workplace- in the past she wasn't as privileged.
"I’m very lucky to work in a workplace now that gets it. But in previous roles I’ve felt the eye rolls and the guilt."
At the end of the day what the new mum needs is understanding.
"Know that the new mum is finding her feet. The missed days at work are short lived. And behind the dark eyes is the same women that was first hired.... and she will be back. But she just needs a little understanding and a knowing smile."
Exactly, whether your a working mum, a stay at home mum or a little bit of both mum, you're doing a great job.
