Finding That Work/Life Balance

I spent six weeks on maternity leave and then I went back to work – fulltime. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it at that point. There was no “easing into it.” At that point, I listened to my head and not my heart. I did what I thought was best for our long-term financial stability and not what I truly wanted to do. 

Now, I’m having doubts. As the months are passing by and my son is growing and changing, I’m starting to second guess myself. I’m starting to question what I should do. Honestly, I’m not sure. Even now, being able to sit here and tell you how I feel, I’m still not sure which way to go. 

There are some very obvious benefits to continuing to work – financial stability being first and foremost. Two paychecks are almost always better than one. The exception to this, of course, would be if you barely have a paycheck left after paying for your work-related and child care expenses. 

At the same time, staying at home would enable me to spend more time with my son – he’s certainly not getting any younger. It’s killing me that, during the week, I see so little of him. Some nights, we barely get home, eat dinner, and take a bath before he’s ready for bed.  

It would stand to reason that working part-time could potentially be the best of both worlds. You would still have security as well as flexibility. I don’t personally feel that my son needs to be with me every second of every day, but I do feel that he most certainly should be with me more than what he is right now. 

Finding the right balance can be a painstakingly difficult process and one that requires a lot of soul searching. It’s essentially something that we all have to figure out for ourselves. What works for one family isn’t necessarily what makes sense for another –as is life, I suppose. 

How have you gone about finding balance? Do you work fulltime, part time, or not at all? Have you found something that works for you? Leave a comment and share your experience with regard to work-life balance and figuring out what makes sense for you.  

Written by: Cristi Wuenschel