Shortly after Karmen turned 2 years old I started a part time weekend job, which has now developed into 3 full days during the week. At the beginning I had conflicting feelings about going back to work, which I will go into in a moment, however now I really enjoy it, and it offers a great balance and value to my life.
To begin with I had not considered working a job, part time or otherwise whilst Karmen was so young. This was partly due to my beliefs and partly due to the way I was feeling (post natal depression). It was a friend who first suggested to me to go for a job, it was something she was currently doing and having been in a similar situation to my own with similar emotions she pushed me into applying and going for it, for this I am truly so grateful.
I remember the day of my interview I was incredibly nervous, which would of been totally out of character for the 'old me' to the point where I actually cried as I was getting ready as I had zero confidence in my ability or that anyone would want to employ me or even like me! I was sweating and shaking during the drive to the job interview and my eyelid was twitching like crazy, which would of been stress related, such a minor day became a major inner trauma for me but in the end was totally worth it, as I started work that following month.
I have never looked back, working was something that undoubtedly helped me through my mental health journey and also a major factor was having adult interaction and feeling like you have a purpose in life other than being a parent. It felt good to be doing something for myself, a job that perhaps the 'old Kim' would have done and slowly you gain back your own identity.
I am very fortunate that I work in a lovely environment with a great group of people some of who have become genuine friends and I now feel like I have a really good balance where I am able to do the school run on 2 days of the week and have weekends to enjoy with my daughter and for the 3 days I go to work I am my own independent person who is contributing to the world and my own well being! I also think it is a really good example to set for Karmen, who knows that her mum goes to work to earn money to provide a nice life for her but she also doesn't feel like she misses out on time with me.
If you are having doubts about what is best or maybe you feel that you would like to go back to work but are having feelings of guilt then I would say to step out of your comfort zone but one step at a time and find the balance that works for YOU, don't worry about what is right for other people or what their opinions may be, negative or positive.
Going back to work is a decision I 100% do not regret. Don't get me wrong, I sometimes wish for more even and to have the old lifestyle of working full time in the city, with the social life and good pay that it brings too. But I always try to tell myself that I can have that back one day if I wish, but it will be when the time is right for that situation in my life.
Kim x
To begin with I had not considered working a job, part time or otherwise whilst Karmen was so young. This was partly due to my beliefs and partly due to the way I was feeling (post natal depression). It was a friend who first suggested to me to go for a job, it was something she was currently doing and having been in a similar situation to my own with similar emotions she pushed me into applying and going for it, for this I am truly so grateful.
I remember the day of my interview I was incredibly nervous, which would of been totally out of character for the 'old me' to the point where I actually cried as I was getting ready as I had zero confidence in my ability or that anyone would want to employ me or even like me! I was sweating and shaking during the drive to the job interview and my eyelid was twitching like crazy, which would of been stress related, such a minor day became a major inner trauma for me but in the end was totally worth it, as I started work that following month.
I have never looked back, working was something that undoubtedly helped me through my mental health journey and also a major factor was having adult interaction and feeling like you have a purpose in life other than being a parent. It felt good to be doing something for myself, a job that perhaps the 'old Kim' would have done and slowly you gain back your own identity.
I am very fortunate that I work in a lovely environment with a great group of people some of who have become genuine friends and I now feel like I have a really good balance where I am able to do the school run on 2 days of the week and have weekends to enjoy with my daughter and for the 3 days I go to work I am my own independent person who is contributing to the world and my own well being! I also think it is a really good example to set for Karmen, who knows that her mum goes to work to earn money to provide a nice life for her but she also doesn't feel like she misses out on time with me.
If you are having doubts about what is best or maybe you feel that you would like to go back to work but are having feelings of guilt then I would say to step out of your comfort zone but one step at a time and find the balance that works for YOU, don't worry about what is right for other people or what their opinions may be, negative or positive.
Going back to work is a decision I 100% do not regret. Don't get me wrong, I sometimes wish for more even and to have the old lifestyle of working full time in the city, with the social life and good pay that it brings too. But I always try to tell myself that I can have that back one day if I wish, but it will be when the time is right for that situation in my life.
Kim x
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