By Sydney Loden, Recruiting Manager @ eCommerce Placement
Being a working, stay at home mom isn’t an option for everyone, and I want to start this off by expressing how thankful and blessed I feel to have the opportunity.
Is it hard?
Absolutely.
Is it worth it?
More-so than I could ever put into words.
Before becoming a mom, there were two things I absolutely knew I wanted- to continue working, and to be home with my baby girl. Those are two huge parts of my identity now, and I knew I needed to find a way to combine them both, while still being my best self.
How was I going to do that? It seemed impossible, and some days it does feel impossible, but I am now six months into my work-from-home/ stay-at-home-mom journey, and I have learned a thing or two in this time that make the hard days a little easier, and make me feel like I am still the best mom and coworker I can be.
Here are a few tips and tricks that get me through the workday with an almost 9-month-old:
Waking Up Before the Baby
I know…you’re already a sleep-deprived, exhausted mom and I’m telling you to wake up before your baby and get the workday started. Sounds crazy! I’m not going to lie, it’s hard! But get out of bed, wash your face, get ready, and make that cup of coffee. You’ll be surprised how good those 2-3 hours of uninterrupted, quiet work time feel.
If you have the flexibility in your schedule to skew hours, at least right when you come off maternity leave, I highly recommend this. It helped me tremendously in feeling like I was contributing to my team and getting back into the groove of work.
(Tip: If early mornings aren’t an option, try to skew hours later in the day when your spouse or partner is home.)
Allowing Yourself Breaks to Interact with Your Baby
Mom Guilt is REAL and it seeps in quickly. Yes, it’s extremely important for your baby to learn to entertain himself or herself but creating that bond and catering to their needs and developmental milestones is just as important.
I knew I never wanted my little girl to think, “Gosh, mom is always on her computer and is never playing with me”, so I allow myself just 10-15 minutes here and there throughout the day to give her my undivided attention. Trust me, giving yourself that little break to laugh and play with your baby will help you stay productive throughout the day.
Screen Time
Do not let anyone make you feel guilty for allowing your baby or child some screen time. Yes, limit it, but there are SO MANY amazing videos on YouTube and even Disney+ that will keep your baby entertained and occupied, while also teaching them a thing or two!
Hey Bear Baby Sensory and Ms. Rachel on YouTube are amazing, and Dory’s Reef Cam on Disney+ is absolutely adorable. Hey, whatever it takes, mom!
Honesty with Your Boss
If you are having a hard day with your little one, just be honest. I have been so blessed with the most understanding bosses. Trust and honesty goes a long way. If the work ethic and honesty is there, your leadership will more than likely work with you in any way they can.
BREATHE
This isn’t easy. Babies are unpredictable and it is so easy to get frustrated and feel defeated. Be easy on yourself, easy on your baby, and just breathe. Take a walk, call your mom, do whatever it takes to stay calm. Remember that your baby feels everything you are feeling and feeds off your energy. Take each day as it comes.
I know this is not an option for everyone, but I hope this was helpful for any work-from-home/ stay-at-home mama’s out there, or any soon to be mamas! We are superheroes and can do more than we think we are capable of.
