Should I Go Back To Work After Having Children? How To Choose…
Should I go back to work after having children? How to choose…
Everything changes when you become a mother and a crossroad in many parents’ lives is the point at which they decide to go back to work after having children. Your little ones are only babies once and the time we spend with them in the first few years is often the most precious, so choosing when to go back to work is a big decision to make.
There has been a lot of focus on the question whether women can have it all and us ladies still battle with the whole work-life balance. Here are some advice on how to deal with the pressure and to make sure that the decision you make is the right one for you and your family:
Ask for advice
The decision as to when to go back to work after having children is a personal one that only you and your family can make, but it can sometimes help to get an outsider’s objective opinion. Seek advice from impartial sources; many people find clairvoyant readings, such as those provided by TheCircle for example, can be helpful in making big decisions about the future like this.
Think about your finances
The decision is often down to financial circumstances; many of us simply don’t have the option of spending longer than six months to a year off work on reduced pay. Consider childcare costs as it may turn out that you end up paying more to put the kids in nursery or with a child-minder than you expected, and it might end up making less sense than you thought going back to work.
Consider the consequences
It’s not just about whether you can afford to put your kids in nursery. Can you handle the emotional side of going to work while your kids are young? Do you have a good partner who can support you in your decision? Can you leave your work early to make it to your daughter’s ballet recital? Will you be driving yourself mad spending another day in the house? We need to be rounded individuals to be good parents and having a fulfilling career and a life outside of the home is an important part of that.
Remember your entitlements
One more factor worth considering is that once your children reach the age of three they are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week in the UK, which makes the financial argument a little more weighted towards going back to work when your children are slightly older.
Do you think we should go back to work after having children? Let us know in the comments below!
By: Emma Carey