Erika Head, M.S.’s Post

Reflections on Maternity Leave and Career Taking maternity leave and dedicating myself to raising my children was one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of my life. During this period, I developed valuable skills that I continue to apply in my professional daily life. 🔹 Time Management and Organization: The need to balance multiple responsibilities as a mother taught me to prioritize tasks effectively and use time productively. 🔹 Interpersonal Skills: Interacting with other parents and caregivers helped me enhance my communication and empathy skills, essential in any work environment. 🔹 Resilience and Adaptability: Each day presented new challenges, and I learned to be resilient and quickly adapt to changes—skills that are extremely valuable in the corporate world. 🔹 Broader Perspective: The career break gave me a new perspective on the balance between personal and professional life. I returned to the workforce with a renewed vision of the importance of creating a work environment that values and supports the needs of parents. Returning to work after maternity leave was a challenging restart but full of learning and growth. Today, I am grateful for the opportunity to have experienced this and to bring all these skills and insights to my career in Human Resources. To professionals who are about to take maternity leave or are returning to work after this period, remember that every skill developed during this time is valuable and transferable to the professional environment. Maternity is not a career break but a phase of personal and professional development. Let’s celebrate and support all parents who, like me, balance dedication to family with passion for their careers! #Maternity #Career #Balance #HumanResources #PersonalDevelopment #Leadership #InterpersonalSkills

Navigating the change when coming back from maternity leave often means a shift in who you are, this is an excerpt from a published article in Life Coach Magazine. Embracing your new identity In my years of coaching, I’ve observed that those who approach change with flexibility and openness tend to adapt more smoothly. Your ability to be flexible is one of your greatest assets. You’ve already demonstrated incredible adaptability in your new role as a parent – now it’s time to apply those skills to your professional life. One of the most profound aspects of returning to work after maternity leave is the shift in identity. Take some time to reflect on your values, beliefs and goals. How has motherhood changed these? How can you integrate these changes into your professional life? What new strengths and perspectives can you bring to your work now that you’re a parent? Returning to work after maternity leave is a significant change, but it’s one that you can navigate successfully. Be patient with yourself, stay flexible, and don’t hesitate to ask for support when you need it. Remember that change, while often challenging, also brings opportunities for growth and new beginnings. Welcome back to the professional world. You’ve got this! Please do read the full article https://buff.ly/3ZPlAwH

Returning to work after maternity leave can be a significant transition, filled with both challenges and opportunities. Here’s a heartfelt reflection on this important step: Navigating the Return to Work After Maternity Leave 20th May marked my return to work after 6 months of maternity leave, and it’s a whirlwind of emotions. Balancing the joy of motherhood with the demands of my career is no small feat, but I’m determined to make it work. The Emotional Rollercoaster Leaving my baby for the first time was incredibly tough. There’s a mix of guilt, anxiety, and sadness, but also a sense of pride in taking this step. I remind myself that I’m setting an example for my child about resilience and dedication. Finding the New Normal Adjusting to the new routine is challenging. Mornings are a flurry of activity, and finding a balance between work and home life is a work in progress. I’m learning to be patient with myself as I navigate this new chapter. Support Systems Matter I couldn’t do this alone. From a supportive partner and family to understanding colleagues, having a strong support system makes all the difference. I’m grateful for everyone who’s helping me transition smoothly. Embracing Flexibility I’ve learned to embrace flexibility and prioritize what truly matters. Sometimes things won’t go as planned, and that’s okay. What’s important is that I’m here, showing up and doing my best each day. Career and Motherhood: A Harmonious Blend Returning to work doesn’t mean sacrificing my role as a mother. It’s about finding harmony between my professional aspirations and my responsibilities at home. I’m excited to continue growing in my career while being present for my child. To all the new moms out there navigating this journey, know that you’re not alone. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, and it’s okay to ask for help. We’re in this together, and we’re stronger than we think. Here’s to new beginnings, both at home and at work. 💪❤️

Navigating the change when coming back from maternity leave often means a shift in who you are, this is an excerpt from a published article in Life Coach Magazine. Embracing your new identity In my years of coaching, I’ve observed that those who approach change with flexibility and openness tend to adapt more smoothly. Your ability to be flexible is one of your greatest assets. You’ve already demonstrated incredible adaptability in your new role as a parent – now it’s time to apply those skills to your professional life. One of the most profound aspects of returning to work after maternity leave is the shift in identity. Take some time to reflect on your values, beliefs and goals. How has motherhood changed these? How can you integrate these changes into your professional life? What new strengths and perspectives can you bring to your work now that you’re a parent? Returning to work after maternity leave is a significant change, but it’s one that you can navigate successfully. Be patient with yourself, stay flexible, and don’t hesitate to ask for support when you need it. Remember that change, while often challenging, also brings opportunities for growth and new beginnings. Welcome back to the professional world. You’ve got this! Please do read the full article https://buff.ly/3ZPlAwH

Returning to Work after Maternity Leave – We can do it! ⭐   And just like that it’s a wrap on my maternity leave and I’m back to work with a bigger role as a mother of two. Returning to work after a maternity leave is a significant step in a journey of a working parent. By embracing this transition, it requires adaptability, a lot of planning, self-compassion and managing time more effectively than ever. Throughout my career, I have had several requests, specially from women, who expressed their fears around “What’s going to happen when I go on maternity leave? Is my job still going to be there when I come back? Will it impact my career?” Returning to work after being home with a new baby is “a transition that’s like no other”, from your practical day-to-day schedule, to your new responsibilities of taking care of a little human who might not be sleeping very well. It’s an intense physical and psychological adjustment. Reentry is a challenge, and there’s no perfect path. From my experience it’s important to have faith “that you will walk it well,” and know that there are many ways of doing so. Here are some pointers that helped me navigate those first weeks back at work. 🍀 Be gentle with yourself, self-doubt, insecurity, mum guilt – it's all normal. Seek support from your family, team, and peers. 🍀 Align with your manager on your goals, be up front with your boss, ask for advice and counsel on how to reenter successfully. 🍀 Plan and get organized, prioritize what you need to catch up on and build a support system.  One of the many things I’ve learned in my transition back is the power of your community. 🍀 Take time for YOU to do something that helps you reset. In my case playing tennis once a week it’s been my nonnegotiable ‘me’ time. Block it out on your calendar and commit to it just as you would if you had a meeting with leadership. YOU This transition has been smooth and possible with the support of my incredible and inspiring Team: Patrícia Paulo, Bernardo Santos Silva,José Morais Barbosa, Maria Corte-Real Soares, Madalena Castro Pacheco de Carvalho, Carolina Aquino Bacalhau and Marguerita Silva, thank you for your commitment. The journey of becoming a parent is a profound one, filled with joy, challenges, and transformation. Thank you, Paula Carneiro, for being not only a great boss but an incredible mentor as well, you have been beyond amazing during this time.  Wishing all new parents, a successful and fulfilling return to work after parenting leave. #maternityleave #parenting #worklifebalance #edpwechooseearth

Balancing Act: The Journey Back to Work After Maternity Leave As I sit down to write this post, I can't help but reflect on the whirlwind of emotions I've experienced over the past few months. Six months ago, I welcomed the most precious addition to my family: my baby. Becoming a parent has been the most rewarding journey of my life, but it has also come with its fair share of challenges. One of the toughest decisions I've had to make recently was returning to work after my maternity leave. Leaving my little one, who has become my top priority, was heart-wrenching. The thought of being away from them for hours at a time filled me with a sense of guilt and anxiety. Many parents can relate to the conflicting emotions that arise when faced with the prospect of returning to work after welcoming a new addition to the family. Balancing the demands of a career with the responsibilities of parenthood is no easy feat. As a new mom, I found myself grappling with feelings of doubt and uncertainty about whether I could successfully juggle both roles. However, as the day approached for me to return to the office, I realized that I wasn't alone in this journey. My colleagues and employer were incredibly supportive, offering flexibility and understanding as I navigated this transition. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to take the leap and rejoin the workforce. Returning to work after maternity leave has been a challenging adjustment, but it has also been incredibly empowering. Stepping back into my role has reignited my passion for my career and reminded me of the importance of pursuing my professional goals. To all the new parents out there who are facing a similar transition, know that you are not alone. It's okay to feel a mix of emotions as you navigate this new chapter of your life. Lean on your support system, both at home and at work, and remember to be kind to yourself as you find your footing. Returning to work after maternity leave is undoubtedly challenging, but it's also a testament to the strength and resilience of working parents everywhere. Together, we can navigate this journey and thrive both personally and professionally.

Returning to work after maternity leave was both exciting and challenging. Was it easy? No, not at all. It's been an incredible journey of self-discovery, balancing family life, and pursuing my career passions. During this time, I've learned the importance of self-compassion, setting boundaries, and having a strong support system in place. It wasn't always easy, but I've returned to the workplace feeling more empowered than ever. For all the working moms out there, remember that taking that maternity leave doesn't mean you're taking a step back. It's a pause to recharge and come back stronger. Your journey is unique and valuable. 💖 Let's share our experiences and support each other on this incredible path of motherhood and career growth. 🤗🌷 #WorkingMom #MaternityLeave #CareerGrowth PS: What emotions did you have when returning back to work?

I came back from maternity leave at the beginning of April after 10 months of nurturing my baby and learning how to become the best mum I can be for him. I came back full time. It wasn't an easy transition and there were many days I wanted to give up, leave work and go back to my long morning walks, endless trapped naps and nursery rhymes. Because that was my happy place like I had never known any other before. But what I didn't know is that I also had to learn how to embrace my new identity: I was living in a constant emotional rollercoaster, but I was genuinely good at my job once and I was determined to become better on my return. Not all at once, of course. If I've learnt anything in the past few months it's the importance of taking one day at a time, of setting small achievable goals and to trust my gut. And here we are: I've been integrating the skills and experiences gained during maternity leave in my professional life, and I am CONFIDENT in my abilities and the unique perspective I bring to my role as a working parent. ~ In addition to the old silly waffly me that still shines in the background 😄 ~ On the slim chance you’re still reading... This is the reflection I want to share to finish my essay: Returning to work after maternity leave can be challenging, but with the right strategies and support (thanks to all the Simply Commerce team, you've been amazing!) we can successfully navigate this transition and thrive in our professional roles.

This is a must read post ( even though I am a biased individual). But so many learnings for everyone not just women professionals working, contemplating motherhood or those on maternity leave or those who have taken a break from their careers and are thinking of joing back. For everyone of us in Managrment, for HR leaders , what we need to do to ensure smoother reintegration into the work place , how to leverage some of the new mindset moms develop to help the company. It will be a great opportunity missed if this cohort of managers and leaders are not made to feel comfortable . The article also reinforces the benefits of having good mentors and the willingness to engage and share deeply personal observations. What do you think ? Do share your experiences, challenges , best practices on this topic. Especially managers , leaders and HR professionals and those who have been through this journey of career break and re-entering professional work life. #maternity #employment #motherhood

Let’s Talk About Career Gaps Due to Maternity Leave A friend of mine, a CMA, has recently faced the tough reality of re-entering the job market after taking a career break to care for her baby girl. Unfortunately, she’s encountered multiple rejections largely focused on her time away from work. It’s frustrating to see that maternity leave is still viewed as a red flag. I recently watched a hiring expert who suggested candidates should highlight skills they learned during their leave. Really? For those of us who have been through this, the reality is often far from that polished narrative. During maternity leave, many of us are: -Surviving on little sleep: while keeping a tiny human alive. - Managing quick meals: (grilled cheese, anyone?) in between diaper changes. - Wearing the same milk-stained shirt for days:, all while trying to navigate the chaos of family visits and laundry. These “accomplishments” are not just mundane tasks; they demonstrate resilience, multitasking, and immense emotional strength. Recovering from one of life’s most demanding experiences while feeling joy and exhaustion is no small feat. Isn’t that enough? Taking time off for family is a valid choice and should not be held against anyone. Sometimes, we just need to step away from work to care for what truly matters. And that’s perfectly okay. #ResumeGap #MaternityLeave #TooFar #ResumeWriting