Baby = new perspective on work?

summer80 · April 2010

How has having a baby changed how you feel about or do your job? I find the things I used to worry about with my job don't really matter too much to me anymore. I actually think I work faster and manage my time better because I don't want to work late and I find I don't relate as well to my co-workers who don't have kids and sort of get annoyed when they waste time and don't work efficiently because they can stay later but I can't. And I definitely do not take work home with me in the emotional sense, once I leave there it's out of my mind. Anyone else? I was pretty surprised by the shift in how I worked and felt about the job when I went back, I wasn't expecting that so that's why I ask.

mrstarawalsh · April 2010

Well I have a completely different job than I did pre pregnancy. Pre pregnancy I was a home health aid and I went to school. When I got pregnant I was placed on bedrest and could no longer do the job that I once did so I ended up taking almost two years off of work to finish being pregnant, and then finish my degree (took a leave off of school too since I couldn't physically go). Pre pregnancy I was a total work a holic. I worked 70+ hours a week plus went to school full time. My "day off" was Saturday where I worked 9-12. Pregnancy slowed me down, made me appreciate my family more.

When I went back to work after I graduated, I originally wanted a straight up 9-5 job with set hours (something I didn't have before). That didn't work... I hated being away from my son that much so I looked for something that could help me acheive my need for work life and yet still have some flexability for home, and I found where I am now; working 3rd shift 3-4 nights/ week. It's wonderful. I looked more into how I could make work work for me than how I could dedicate myself to work. I've always been good about leaving my job there, and leaving my home life at home. So that wasn't really an issue.

My view of life changed so that my family became much more important to me than some job. But also I view my job as something that enriches me and makes me a better wife and mother. I didn't have that work/ home balance before when I was working non stop. It's hard some days, though, because I do love to work so much and I can def. pull 45-50 hour weeks some weeks.BUT I am much more blanced a person now and it doesn't seem as important.

shopgirl78 · April 2010

Yes. I do case management for adults with disabilities, many live with their parents. I think I better understand their commitment, love, hopes, aspirations, challenges, etc for their children.

cookingdude · April 2010

Yes and No.

Like the poster above,I have definitely become a much more efficient worker; not wasting a single second of the day so that I can leave as early as possible. I've also switched my schedule a bit to start the day much earlier when I can be most productive. Little things that used to get me aggravated at work no longer aggravate me quite as much. At the same time, I am taking my job even more seriously b/c I know I need it to support not just myself and my DH, but now our child. DH and I both work, but my job is really important to our financial well being. I always knew that, but realize just how much we depend on it now that DC is here.

RachB · April 2010

Yes it has changed a little. I have always been the one in my office to make sure I leave at 5pm and don't work after hours or on weekends (some in my office do). That hasn't changed. But, before DS, I always said if we ever made enough $ that only one of us had to work, DH could be the one to stay home. My perspective on that has totally changed and I find myself wishing most days that I could stay home with DS all the time (even though we can't afford for me not to work).

Christmasbaby18 · April 2010

I'm a teacher and I think becoming a mother has made me love the kids more and understand the families better. Also, I don't sweat the small stuff as much...I leave at 3:30 each day, ready or not, and it all works out the next day:)

sju · April 2010

I don't worry about little stuff anymore. Also, I always thought I would want to be a SAHM after having #1. I can say that after spending a couple of months back at work after having him and falling into a routine I realized that I had made the right decision.

alli2672 · April 2010

yes. I work in mental health, and becoming a mother has completely changed my outlook on everything.

megs68 · April 2010

I am really struggling to care about my job now that I have a baby. Being off for three months and having such a wonderful part of my life outside works makes it extremely hard to focus at work. Suddenly it all seems so petty and unimportant and I just can't get into caring anymore about my job. I work in a very very dry profession so I find that I can't get enthused anymore during the work day and I feel like I'm wasting so much time sitting at my desk doing stuff that now seems so trivial when I could be home with my wonderful boy. I used to work until like 6pm each night but now I'm watching the clock all day. I'm hoping this is just a phase that will pass when I get more into the routine!!

smiles377 · April 2010

I've been back at work for almost 4 weeks now and yes, my feelings about work have definitely changed. The work I'm doing seems trivial and unimportant, however, I have to work FT because I carry the insurance. This has also made me question my profession, as I don't feel fulfilled in my current job (finance industry), and when I look for other jobs out there in my industry, I don't see any that seem remotely interesting to me. Maybe I need to rethink my career path so I can be happy during the day.

Regardless, I never work more than my 40 hrs/week and I always look forward to leaving at 4:00pm on the dot so I can hurry to pick up Boston and see his smiling face.

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