Returning to Work: The Rollercoaster Of Transitioning Back To Work Post Children

About this episode

Marley discusses the challenges and emotions surrounding returning to work after having children, including guilt and financial pressures.

I’m Marley, and this episode was actually recorded previously… only to realise my two year old had somehow hit mute on the microphone. Which honestly feels pretty on brand for this season of life. We’ve also just come out of what felt like an endless sleep deprivation spiral. About eight weeks of chaos that only really started improving after seeing a sleep consultant. So if I sound slightly delirious in this episode, that’s why. From there, I get into returning to work and childcare, and how loaded and personal the whole conversation can feel once you become a mum. I talk about the pressure a lot of families are under financially, and how daycare often ends up being the only realistic option because it’s the only thing subsidised. I also share my own weird guilt around using daycare three days a week while I nanny and study, and how I still catch myself feeling like I need to justify it. We get into the research around children and primary caregivers in those early years, while also acknowledging that some kids genuinely thrive in care. Like most things in parenting, it’s not black and white. I talk through some of the pros too. Identity outside motherhood, adult conversation…

People in this episode

Hosts: Marley, Marley Blunt

Topics covered

• returning to work
• childcare
• parenting
• guilt
• financial pressure
• identity
• support for mothers

Keywords

• returning to work
• childcare
• parenting guilt
• financial relief
• sleep deprivation
• daycare
• primary caregivers
• adult conversation

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