by Deidra Romero posted in Parenting

Making the transition back to work after having a baby is fraught with contradictions. I started worrying about this transition back almost as soon as I found out I was pregnant. It's a big step in any woman's life and it's also a major shift for families. Navigating this uncharted territory would have been so much easier if my boss had understood these things.
I want to be here but I don't want to be here.
I want to work, but I also feel incredibly torn. I can't stand the thought of missing each tiny gasp, sneeze, and smile. But I also want to keep something just for me -- my career.
Just because I need flexibility doesn't mean I'm not working just as hard (or harder!).
It's a sad truth that most workplaces don't give employees enough flexibility to strike their own balance between work and home life. Flexibility doesn't mean you are a wimp or high-maintenance. It means you are a human being who wants to be able to make your own choices about what your work and life should look like and how that affects your family. I love my job but everything in my life just turned upside down. Again.
Giving birth and adjusting to life with a newborn is one thing, but coming back to work and finding this new rhythm is another thing.

I'm not ready for this.
Is it any surprise that I'm not ready to return to work after 12 weeks" And I know I'm lucky to get 12 weeks. We all know America's maternity leave policy is a big fat joke.  I'm not ready....