Good morning!!! This little lady was 4 months yesterday which also means I’m officially back from maternity leave! 
I’m super excited to get to work despite still having remnants of the latest daycare scourge. But on this, the morning of my return, I also want to take a moment to take about the importance of paid maternity leave.
See, with my first, I had a very short leave. I was back at work at 6 weeks and it was awful. I hadn’t yet figured out anything about motherhood and my baby had not yet learned how to be a baby. We were tired, exhausted, overwhelmed.
Having to put him in the care of another that little made me anxious and as a result, no matter how hard I tried and how hard I wanted to, I could not focus on work. I tried and tried and just sat at my desk and cried for probably my first 3 weeks back.
And then we had nanny issues and I had to work full time and take care of him full time. I do not have easy sleep-all-day babies so this was probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. And I constantly beat myself up for not being good at work or at home.
Now, let’s talk about this leave. A 16 week fully paid leave. I am ready to come back to work.
I know my baby and know she is in great hands at childcare. She’s got a routine. And we have a bond.
I’m starting this morning really excited about everything I’m looking to accomplish, working with my excellent team, and kicking butt. I’m not anxious or worried about my child
and while I shed some tears the first time I dropped her off at daycare, that day wasn’t today because we’ve had enough time to do some trial days, practice a bit, and make sure everything felt right.
Because of my paid maternity leave, I can be an excellent mom AND and excellent employee today and not a few months from now. My daughter has a routine. I know what’s normal and not. And she’s generally sleeping pretty well which means I can function.
There will still be struggles. I need to pump multiple times a day. I have a more regimented drop off and pick up schedule and less time with my children is still makes me sad.
And I’m hoping I still know how to have adult conversations 😂
But again, I’m ready and excited as opposed to unprepared and unhappy. So please, offer parental leave to your employees.
