The Return: Work, Motherhood and Everything In Between
When I finished up work on 7 March 2025 to begin maternity leave, I was excited and, if I’m honest, exhausted. I felt like the size of a house and had convinced myself I had 21 glorious days of “freedom” ahead of me before the baby arrived.
In my mind, those three weeks were going to be filled with brunches, lunches, beauty treatments and a very calm, very preened version of myself preparing for what came next.
As it turned out, our beautiful daughter had other ideas and arrived just over a week later, on 15 March. So much for the chilled countdown.
The shortest and longest year
I had heard maternity leave described as the shortest and longest year of your life and now I completely understand why.
Looking back, I remember it so fondly. It was full of sweet, sunlit moments, firsts I’ll never forget, and more love than I could ever have imagined. But it was also a year of total transformation, steep learning curves and navigating challenges that no book, podcast or piece of advice can truly prepare you for.
The biggest shock was probably the unknown. That, and the sleep deprivation – which, until very recently, was very, very real. Add in the mental load, the constant organisation, the shifting sense of identity and the permanence of being responsible for a tiny human, and it’s fair to say life changed completely.
Thinking about the return
Returning to work was always somewhere in the back of my mind, but by the time March 2026 came around, I felt a real mix of emotions.
There were the inevitable nerves and guilt, but also excitement. I was looking forward to adult conversation, structure, getting through a cup of tea while it was still hot, and enjoying lunch without constantly scanning the room for the next hazard my newly mobile daughter had discovered.
After a year focused almost entirely on someone else’s needs, it felt good to reconnect with another part of myself.
Back in the room
Before I came back, people told me, “You’ll feel like you never left.” At the time, I couldn’t understand how that could possibly be true. But strangely, it was.
The first week back felt surprisingly familiar. The people, the pace, the conversations – they were all still there. Catching up with my director, client teams, and joining in with the Belong programme activities made returning so much easier. I think part of it was also realising that the work version of me hadn’t disappeared, she was just finding her feet again
Finding the rhythm
Life looks very different these days. Mornings are less about calmly getting ready and more of a military operation involving nursery bags, snacks, spare clothes and trying not to bring the entire contents of the house with us.
Some days run smoothly. Others involve spilled coffee, outfit changes before 7am, and gently explaining why we can’t put clothes, toys, shoes in the kitchen bin.
It’s chaotic, funny, exhausting and completely wonderful. The daily hurdles have changed and so have my perspective. Motherhood has made me even more aware of time, priorities and the value of being focused. Anyone who knows me knows I already love a list, but now those lists sit somewhere between clients plans, new business, sicknesses, teething, food refusals and the mystery of why toddlers suddenly develop very strong opinions about absolutely everything.
A different perspective
Returning to PR after maternity leave has reminded me how much I enjoy the work. The pace, the variety and the breadth of client projects are all things I value.
But motherhood has also brought a sharper focus and, hopefully, even deeper empathy. It forces you to become the ultimate multitasker, staying calm under pressure when things don’t go to plan. I’m still finding the balance, and I’m not sure anyone ever has it completely nailed. Just when you think one part of life is ticked off, something else gets added.
A final thought
To anyone preparing to return to work after maternity leave, I’d say: give yourself grace. It’s completely normal to feel heartbroken and excited at the same time. Take your time, ask for support, and don’t expect to feel fully settled on day one.
For me, I’m delighted to be back. I’m lucky to work with brilliant colleagues, and the variety of client work makes every day interesting. But knowing I get to go home to my daughter at the end of it all makes it worth it. Cliché? Probably. True? Absolutely.