Should You Quit Your Job After Having A Baby?
Woman's Era|March Second 2019

The big question.

Roopika Sareen
Should You Quit Your Job After Having A Baby?

I was in my early 30s and expecting my next big promotion in professional life when I got pregnant. Of course that didn't stop me from putting in my best efforts and working for long hours. I was up for taking on more responsibilities that would advance my career and planned to join back into work after six months of maternity leave. I was very career-focused and didn't really envision myself really enjoying children and children’s activities.

But my feelings towards motherhood – and career – changed after our twins were born.

Not ready to leave our babies with a nanny or at a daycare, I was upfront with my team members and went ahead with an extension to my maternity leave. I utilised all maternity and childcare benefits that my company offered including utilising all accumulated privilege leaves, childcare leaves as well as 12 months Sabbatical!

Resuming work after a gap of over two years wasn't as easy as it felt that time. I went back to work, but longed to be at home with our kids.

Three months into my second innings at work, I decided to take a decision.

Quitting my job never existed as an option for me. I was raised to pursue a career, and leading a life without a professional branch who was just not me. I saw quitting as a sign of weakness. If other women managed to juggle a career and kids, why couldn’t I? I realised that even if I blocked out external voices, my own thoughts and feelings bogged me down. After months of trying to quash my true feelings and playing hide and seek with them, I admitted I wanted to experience the challenges of motherhood yet I have a stable professional life too!

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March Second 2019 من Woman's Era.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March Second 2019 من Woman's Era.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.