If your plans include a point such as having a baby, you will have to go on maternity leave for some time. Usually this means that only one breadwinner remains in the family, usually a man, and those who decide to devote themselves to caring for a child find themselves in a dependent and vulnerable position. If this situation does not suit you, you should prepare in advance for going on maternity leave.
The girl-blogger shares her experience and talks about the steps that need to be taken in advance so that the time spent on parental leave is as comfortable and happy as possible.
Support your skills
Before going on maternity leave, strengthen your relationship with colleagues and your manager, write down their email addresses, phone numbers. While on the decree, periodically contact them, find out the news, ask about what is changing in your field of activity. If you keep in touch, it will be much easier for you to get to work later.
Be sure to take the time to not lose your skills: read professional literature, go through training. The blogger cites herself as an example: she worked as a programmer before going on maternity leave, and, of course, her knowledge was very outdated during the years of vacation. If she had not been engaged in self-education, then it would be very difficult for her to return to work.
If possible, take small tasks, work remotely at least a few hours a week, all this will allow you to maintain your intellectual form.
Create a financial pillow
Decree usually dramatically worsens the financial situation of the family. Instead of two workers, only one remains, and costs increase. There is one more point that I don’t want to talk and think about, but it’s necessary - no one is immune from divorce during the decree. Therefore, it is very important to take care of creating an airbag, the amount of which is at least 3-6 months of family expenses. If some unpleasant situation happens, you will not be without money, you will have an amount that will allow you to hold out for some time until the moment when you can go to work.
At the same time, the blogger in his recommendations emphasizes that you do not need to do this secretly from your second half. Just tell your partner that you need a safety cushion for peace of mind, you are determined that everything will be fine, but with such insurance you will be much more comfortable.
Do not turn into stingy
“When I left work, I began to behave like a meanie,” the girl writes on her blog. “I could no longer afford to spend money on myself, only on children and my husband.” For some reason, I decided that if I no longer earn, I must save as much as possible. But in reality, our financial situation was not bad, therefore there was no need for an obsession with saving, it was only my self-esteem, which was reduced due to leaving work. ”
The blogger insists that you do not need to do this, and recommends working on your beliefs and self-esteem so as not to feel discomfort due to the fact that you are on parental leave.
Discuss your responsibilities in advance.
Conflicts in a pair after the birth of a child often occur due to resentment and misunderstanding of the new roles of each of the spouses in the changed circumstances. Therefore, it is worth discussing everything in advance. What is the responsibility of the parent who stays at home with the child? His tasks include only caring for the baby, or does he still have to clean up the house, prepare food and do many more things? Usually, a working partner believes that someone who is at home has a lot of time and effort, so he can be burdened with additional responsibilities.
There is only one way out of the situation - to discuss and agree, also be prepared for the fact that you will have to reconsider responsibilities repeatedly.
Plan a time for yourself
Moms sitting at home with their children can literally feel locked up at home, especially in the first few months after giving birth.Therefore, it is incredibly important to set aside time for yourself. Be sure to discuss this need with your other half, agree on what day of the week and for how much time he can let you go.
What you will be doing at this time does not matter, the goal is to give yourself a full break in raising a child, to feel that you are at least a little, but still belong to yourself too.
Be sure to pay attention to preparing for maternity leave, then leave for child care will be remembered as a happy time for you.