Choice mom boss: The juggling act of work and motherhood
When I made the decision to become a choice mom and throughout my pregnancy, I would wonder…
How will I manage working while raising my baby?
Will I be able to maintain and serve my clients while tending to all my baby’s needs?
Will sleepless nights affect the quality of service I provide to my clients?
Will I still be able to see all my baby’s milestones and be there when she needs me?
For many single mothers by choice, balancing work and raising has its unique set of challenges. After 2.5 months, I dove back into work part-time, running my own consulting and coaching business meant there was no paid maternity leave for me. And as the sole provider, I was determined to support and maintain my existing client base while providing for my baby. Additionally, I was excited to launch my new venture into choice mom coaching and help other single women achieve their dream of becoming mother.
I wanted to share my personal journey and insights as a choice mom, navigating the first few months of transitioning back to work.
My Journey and Insights as a Choice Mom
Having Reliable Childcare:
As a single working mother, finding reliable childcare was crucial. Thankfully, my mom lived nearby and was able to support me during this transition. With her by my side, I could attend calls and meetings, knowing my little one was in the best care. Without her help, I might have needed to explore hiring a nanny.
Nurturing my Baby on the Bottle:
Balancing breastfeeding with work demanded careful planning and dedication. I was determined to breastfeed for as long as possible in the first year, but that meant introducing a bottle early on. I sought advice from a lactation consultant, who suggested starting at four weeks. Thankfully, my baby didn't mind where the milk came from as long as she got it when she was hungry.
Overcoming the Challenges of Pumping at Work:
As I ventured back into office spaces, pumping at client meetings presented its own set of challenges. I would run half and full day workshops at times on my own and would have to use the breaks to pump. So I often found myself in the bathroom stall sweating as I was in a rush, trying to quickly pump so I could be back before the break was over. Or pumping in my car before heading into the meeting or after. Fortunately, most clients were understanding, but it required careful planning to balance pumping with a day full of meetings.
Setting Consistent Routines:
Creating a consistent routine for my baby was essential to a smoother transition back to work. I tried to make feeding time, awake windows, naps, bedtime as consistent as possible. Having my own business allowed me to align client calls with her sleepy moments or after feeding times.
Managing the Exhaustion:
As a mompreneur, I needed to be at my best for clients, even with limited sleep. To keep my energy up, I relied on personal development practices I had developed over the last 10 years. Going to bed early, rejuvenating meditations, engaging in a quick HIIT workout, and eating healthy foods all played a crucial role.
Mastering Productivity:
Years of honing my productivity and reading several books on the topic paid off during this phase. Creating a daily to-do list for work tasks and staying laser focused on one thing at a time during my baby's naps helped me manage my time effectively. As I type this, she is napping. Also, putting my phone away to avoid distractions allowed me to be present whether I am in a meeting or getting client deliverables done
Facing the Challenges of Mom Brain:
The struggle was real for me (and still is). With the multitude of responsibilities – raising a child, managing my business, building a new venture, and having a life – staying organized became essential. The only way around it for me was keeping my calendar up to date and writing things down. But even with that, there have still been a few occasions where I have been late to a meeting or lost track of time with bubs.
To anyone reading this who is a choice mom or aspiring to be one, know that the journey is unique and filled with both challenges and joys.
I won't sugarcoat it; there are days I'm beyond exhausted by bedtime.
And yet I somehow muster up the energy and focus to work on a choice mom coach blog post or draft a couple insta content before going to bed.
The biggest unknown will be how your baby adapts to the new world. Personally, I was incredibly fortunate that my little one was a good sleeper and followed a consistent schedule like a champ. Once she started sleeping through the night, I found additional time to work after she fell asleep.
To Sum Up
For those of you worried about going back to work soon after the baby comes. I get it. It was one of my biggest concerns having my own business and not having a full year of maternity leave that we have in Canada. But know, you’ll find a way to juggle it all. It might not be perfect, it’ll probably be messy but with determination and love, you'll rock the beautiful journey of being a choice mom, masterfully balancing work and motherhood!
—Reema
Ready to conquer the exciting journey of choice motherhood while juggling a successful career? I invite you to explore my website, where you can learn more about my coaching services and discover valuable resources.
Whether you need guidance in managing work and motherhood, overcoming challenges, or embracing the joys of this beautiful journey, I'm here to help you thrive in both roles. Book a free consultation coaching call today, and let's embark on this ride together.
