Navigating Motherhood and Career: A Personal story with real feedback from career Moms.

In the contemporary hustle and bustle of the world, the delicate balancing act of motherhood and a career has become increasingly prominent. This write-up delves into the intricate journey of career-driven mothers, shedding light on their challenges, resilience, and the imperative need for a supportive work environment. The transformative experience of motherhood brings not only joy but also substantial changes in personal and professional life. This is underscored by significant statistics revealing the impact of motherhood on women's employment and earnings.

The Challenge Begins: My Story

My personal journey through pregnancy and into motherhood, while maintaining my career as a senior staff member in a demanding role, has been a testament to resilience, support, and the gratitude for understanding in the workplace. My job role, which requires critical thinking, analytical skills, report writing, market strategies, etc, became increasingly challenging as I navigated the effects of pregnancy. Commonly referred to as "pregnancy brain," this phase affected my cognitive abilities, time management, and overall physical and emotional health. After giving birth, returning to work was fraught with obstacles. My daughter, currently six months old, added a layer of complexity to my professional responsibilities. Sleep deprivation, unexpected hospital runs, and managing work with a baby in tow became my new normal. Apologising for background noises during presentations and constantly juggling maternal and professional roles became part of my daily routine. At one point, the strain of balancing these dual roles led me to consider becoming a stay-at-home mom (SAHM). However, my drive for financial independence and career aspirations held strong. What made a significant difference was the understanding and support from my bosses and colleagues (shout out to Tegence AI and Innogence Consulting ). Yet, despite this support, challenges persisted. Missing a critical deadline and losing a potential contract for my company was a stark reminder of the difficulties faced by working mothers.?

I thought, maybe I am just looking for an excuse for my laziness, or a reason to butter up the feeling of imbalance and increased workplace pressure, but after having conversations with other working moms in different industries, various work levels, different locations and ages ranges, I quickly realised that I even had it easy.

The Reality for Many Career Mothers

My experience is not unique, as many women confront similar, if not harsher, circumstances. Some have been fired for seemingly minor reasons, struggling to find new employment opportunities. The corporate world often lacks forgiveness for those stepping away to focus on motherhood and attempting to return. Just to summarise, here are a few insights from brief interviews with career moms as they reveal diverse experiences following the journey to motherhood while maintaining ambition.

• Damilola, a marketing executive, exemplifies strength by handling crucial projects in late pregnancy, navigating forgetfulness, insomnia, and constant absences due to pregnancy-related illness while meeting professional targets.?

• Sarah a software developer, showcases exceptional multitasking skills in managing deadlines while caring for her six-month-old. Although this is not without difficulties and imbalances with her personal and professional life.

• Jessica, a senior operations manager, resigned due to the overwhelming pressure to balance personal and professional activities. Although she would have loved to continue to build her career but due to her demanding role and the fact that she had difficulties keeping up, she had to choose between a demotion or resignation.

• Ketura, facing stress and lacking maternity leave pay, decided to quit while searching for more mother-friendly job opportunities but has not been able to find anything as the discrimination she experienced has been high as no one wants to hire a mother in their mid 30s even though she has exceptional product management skills and experience.?

Statistically, the earnings gap between working mothers with one child and those with multiple children is negligible. However, a significant report by SHRM underscores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment, revealing that 1.1 million women left the labour force between February 2020 and January 2022, constituting 63 percent of all jobs lost during this period. This departure highlights the additional challenges faced by mothers, especially during crises, further exacerbating the existing trend of women leaving the workforce due to caregiver responsibilities.

The Need for a Robust Support System

This journey emphasises the critical need for support systems for career mothers, acknowledging the distinct hurdles they face. These statistics underscore the complex challenges faced by women balancing motherhood and career, emphasising the urgent need for supportive workplace policies and societal understanding of their unique circumstances.

As I continue this journey, the importance of supportive workplaces becomes evident. For many career mothers, this support can make the difference between continuing their professional journey and stepping away. It is crucial for organisations and society to comprehend and address the unique challenges faced by working mothers, fostering environments where they can thrive both at home and in their careers. Urgent action is needed to develop systems that mentor, support, advocate, and help balance the dual responsibilities of motherhood and career.

Action Points for Change

There is so much we can do as business owners, leaders, team players, etc. Sometimes, just the acknowledgement of the fact that there is a problem could be a great start. We can provide:

1. Equitable and Inclusive Family Leave Policies: Reframe "maternity leave" as "parental leave" to accommodate diverse family structures and address caregiving responsibilities by offering inclusive leave policies.
2. Flexible Work Schedules and Locations: Promote flexibility in work schedules and locations to enhance overall employee productivity and retention.
3. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Establish ERGs within companies, particularly for caregivers, offering networks for support and advice.
4. Leadership Development Opportunities: Provide flexible opportunities for leadership development, aiding working parents in balancing work and family responsibilities.
5. Coaching and Mentorship Programs: Implement coaching and mentorship programs to align personal values with career choices and offer valuable guidance and support.
6. Support Groups and Networks for Women: Develop specific support groups and networks for women, fostering connections and proactive support for women leaders.

Many concessions have been put in place for different fractions of the society so it would not be a bad idea to include career moms as well as they are truly hardworking. Not everyone has it as good as I do, so I beseech organizations, particularly startups and business organisations in Nigeria, to prioritise the creation of inclusive policies for a better working environment for returning mothers.

PS:

Following my interactions with different Moms in various locations around the world, I have decided to help address a few pain points mentioned, which are; the need for support groups and difficulty re-entering the workforce.

• If you are a startup, organization or business who would like to hire skilled women who may have taken a few months off to care for their kids, please reachout to me as I have a pool of mothers with different skill sets looking for jobs.
• Also, for women with outdated skills, particularly in the area of tech, if your organisation or company offers affordable training, reach out to me. Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani if Federal Ministry of Communications, Nigeria or NITDA Nigeria has anything in the works for women please include this category.
• Lastly, as a career mom, if you need to talk or be mentored by other amazing career moms, send an email along with your CV to [email protected] so that we can contact you and add you up on our titan-moms channel.

Additional note: No feminist should come for me, if your opinion is "she should bear the consequences of her actions (i.e, bearing children), I DO NOT have your time :)