How old was your child / children when you returned to work? My daughter was 11 months old when I returned to work.

How hard was it for you to find child care? It was very hard finding childcare, especially in centres for under 2s in Syndey’s Inner West. Luckily, through a friend’s recommendation, we found a place with a fantastic woman in home based care.

How did you cope with the combined challenge of your child going to child care and you returning to work? At first it was hard, especially with tears at drop off time, but having a very supportive partner made it easier. Being organized was the key.  Packing bags and lunches checking your clothes the night save morning panics.  Also making it easy, through distraction, was a rewarding job.  It soon became a refreshing break from the 24/7 demands of being a mother!

Did you return to the same job? If no, why? I returned to the same company but in a different department and role.

Are you part time, full time, job share or contract? I was offered 2 days work, with the intention to build this to 3 days. Eventually this third day was added and I worked from home. While I didn’t job share, I did share a desk with another part timer, so working from home suited the company as well as myself.

What industry do you work in? What do you do? I work in the Finance/Funds Management industry.

Is your employer understanding of the work/family balancing act?  If yes, can you give an example? My employer was very understanding of how important (and hard) it can be to balance work and family. It helped that he had a young baby, but I can see that bosses without children will never be quite as in tune as those with them.  Before commencing work my boss and I sat down and set out the hours and job requirements, so that if I left at 5pm there was no sense of participating less that those that work until 6pm or later.  They were also flexible in that when I had to take sick days when my child was unwell, I had the option of working from home or making it up another day, which was usually on my request.

Now that you are a mum, have your expectations of work changed? Since becoming a mum, my expectations with regard to work have changed. Part time work suits me well, I know there are some roles I can not do because personally I do not want to put in the hours required at the moment. I am lucky to have flexible working conditions and a role that suits as some roles do not suit part time.  Given the projects I was working on and my experience, the company also saw the benefit of having me part time rather than not at all.

As a mum, what positive attributes do you think you have brought back into the workplace? I keep my head down all day, work efficiently and see lunch as something to eat.  While I work shorter hours than some of my team, my output is comparable and other team members can see how a contribution can not be measured in hours spent in the office.

How do you benefit personally from returning to work? Being at work is a rewarding break for me. I have always enjoyed work and like many of my friends and peers I have studied and worked too hard to be able to let it go completely, so to have time at work is a bit like time to myself. My mind is focused on things that interested me before becoming a mother, yet I can walk back in the door at home and switch right back to the wonderful world of my children.

Do you have any time-saving tips and hints for other mums juggling work and family? Cook meals in advance and menu plan your week, make sure your partner knows how to use the kitchen and the laundry, and where to pick up or drop off the kids for daycare.

What are your top 3 hints for other mums returning to work? Find child care arrangements you are really comfortable with, to help you worry a little less about your child.   If you live a long way from work, think about childcare closer to work, this will reduce the number of panic pick ups. Ensure you have good communication with your boss and other workers right from the start. Have a clean shirt on hand in case of a vegemite covered hug!