The Decision to Go Back to Work After Having Kids

I always thought I would be a working mom. After having my first child, that thought didn’t change. But when I found out I was pregnant with my second child, I started questioning if going back to work was the right decision. When I was about ten weeks pregnant my husband asked, “after you have William, do you want to stay at home until both boys are in school?” I was a little taken aback, but the fact that he was willing to consider making it work with only one salary really got me thinking about what would be best for our family. We would have to weigh the benefits of staying home versus working; two salaries versus one (but not having to pay for daycare), being home to make sure the boys were being cared for the way we wanted, being present for all of their milestones, etc. After a couple of weeks of thinking about it, I made the decision that going back to work would be best not only for me, but for the boys as well. Here were a couple of the reasons why:

1. I want to have a successful career – Since graduating college over ten years ago, I’ve worked hard to advance my career. So taking a break for five years and potentially having to start from the bottom again just didn’t seem like an option.


2. Technology is changing and I can’t afford to be left behind – Working in the web development and strategy field things change on a daily basis. In the time I would take off to stay home, Google would have probably made five major updates to its algorithm, the website trends will have changed and then changed again — the list of potential digital changes are endless. So basically, I’d have to spend much of my time at home trying to keep on top of all of the changes.


3. I’m a better mom to my boys – Some women are meant to stay at home with their kids. I am just not one of them. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my boys, but I think I’d drive them crazy being home with them all day, just as much as they’d drive me crazy. By working, I cherish my time with them before and after work and on weekends.


4. I have flexibility in my current situation – My agency offers such flexibility that it almost seemed like a no-brainer. This is my third advertising agency and the only one that really promotes a good work/home balance. Rarely do I have to work late, my co-workers encourage visits from the kids, and if someone is sick, I can work from home if necessary.


5. I like having adult conversations – As much as I love my kids, I love having conversations that don’t revolve around Paw Patrol, trucks and trains, or using the potty.

I love my kids and I love my job, and I’ve found the perfect fit that allows me to succeed in both areas of my life. That is why I decided to come back to work after having kids.