This is me, one year ago, on the day I returned from maternity leave.  See that smile? It’s full of hesitation, fear, and a touch of excitement. 

This is me, three months ago, on my first day as a stay at home mom. See that smile? It’s full of hesitation, fear, and a touch of excitement. 

Yup. Different transitions - same emotions.

Career shifts are hard, but they’re even harder when you’re a mom making a transition that changes not just your job, but your identity.  Whether you’re returning to work as a brand new mom, leaving work to stay home with your kids, or going back to work after an extended stay at home adventure, there’s a special level of chaos that accompanies the transition.

Your priorities shift. Your identity shifts. Your relationships shift. And then there are all the other everyday things, like schedules, commutes, etc. And if you don’t take a second to stop, breathe, and take it all in, you can very quickly feel overwhelmed. Even worse, you may even begin to regret or resent your transition.

Here are 5 Tips to help you own your Mom in Transition career shift:

1) Don’t expect the transition to happen instantly.

Moms are a powerful and assertive bunch. We have a tendency to want to do it all and do it all perfectly right away. Give yourself some time to get back into the groove. If you’re going back to work after a new baby or going back after being a stay at home mom, don’t expect yourself to operate just as you did before. If you’re shifting to be a stay at home mom, don’t expect the same pace or schedule. Give yourself a slow ramp-up and celebrate the small wins.

2) Find your community.

Career shifts can be isolating. Depending on where you work, how big your office is, or your industry, you may be the only mom. Heck, you may be the only woman! Identify and connect with a few people who have gone through what you’re going through. You can look at your friends or family, or you can even find your community virtually. I’m connected to Facebook groups for both Work at Home moms and Stay at Home moms and find it incredibly comforting to hear that others share my challenges or to cheer on their successes.

3) Communicate your needs.

Communication. Communication. Communication. For reals. There is no such thing as too much communication. With your partner, co-workers, manager, family - be very clear about what you need. Ask for help. Ask for space. Ask for time. Be specific. Be intrusive. Don’t wait for someone to ask you what you need. Take ownership of the situation and over-communicate.

4) Find a mentality of self-care.

Too often self-care takes place in moments. You go get a mani/pedi or have a glass of wine. These things are great, but taking an hour or two for yourself is not enough if you don’t also have a mentality of compassion for yourself. Self-care also looks like giving yourself grace if you mess up, asking for help when you need it (that dang communication thing again!), or permission to indulge without feeling guilty. Treat yourself as you would treat your best friend going through the same situation.

5) Embrace the journey.

And what a journey it will be! Moms are superheroes and we come with our own brand of superpowers that make us stronger people. Own it. Embrace the ups and the downs. Know there will be hard days and awesome days. Know that no transition is permanent and if it’s not right for you, you can always change your mind. 

You got this mama. I believe in you.