Returning to work after maternity leave can be exciting but also challenging. Parents often need to find a new rhythm, catch up on updates, and balance childcare with professional responsibilities.
Personal Perspectives
Two members of our team have shared their experiences of coming back from maternity leave:
Abi Murray, Director of Internal Operations: “I have now gone through the “return to work” transition twice following the end of maternity leave with my two sons.
It is a rollercoaster of emotions for sure! I remember with my first son, I was obsessively checking the nursery app for the first couple of weeks to ensure my child was being fed! (Of course he was!)
For me it was like returning in time and gaining a bit of “me” back – me as just myself and not the me as the mum, which was refreshing and energising. I found it really nice to be able to use my brain again for something other than milk, nappies and naps!
Fast forward 3 years and two kids later, there is always going to be the odd difficult or stressful moment, for example when you have a jam packed day with really important meetings, and your child is conveniently unwell and gets sent home from nursery. However what is important in all of this is to have a supportive employer to turn to, which is what I have found in Managementors.
Being able to come up with a plan and feel supported when these situations occur is really valuable and helps elevate the mum guilt.”
Emma Sacchi, Delivery Manager: “Just like that, ten months of maternity leave were over. When I switched my out-of-office on, I could barely imagine what life with a baby would be like, let alone returning to work months later as a working parent.
On my first morning back, I paused before logging in and reflected on everything that had happened since that out-of-office went on – the final weeks of pregnancy, the hazy newborn days, months filled with baby sensory classes, swimming lessons and playdates, and even a month travelling around Japan as a family.
In that time, life had completely changed. I’d gone from travelling between client sites and leading transformation projects to working for the most demanding boss I’d ever had, our newborn son, where some days simply leaving the house felt like an achievement.
Before returning, I did a KIT (Keep in Touch) day at our head office, which was incredibly helpful. It gave me the chance to catch up on updates, reconnect with colleagues, and start preparing to rejoin the business after nearly a year away.
My official return began with a memorable moment: attending the MCA Awards the evening before my first day back, where one of the last projects I worked on before maternity leave received a ‘Highly Commended’ award. It felt like a lovely full-circle moment.
Despite some nerves, I really enjoyed my first week back. I spent time catching up with my manager and colleagues, working through ten months of emails, and gradually getting up to speed again. It didn’t take long before the pace picked up and I was back on site kicking off new engagements, soon it almost felt like I had never been away.
The biggest adjustment has been balancing work with nursery runs and spending less time with my son during the week. The first few weeks were tougher than expected, especially when sleep became a rare commodity again. But a couple of months in, we’re settling into a new rhythm as a family. It’s been the biggest shift since starting my career as a graduate, but it’s also energising , approaching work with a fresh perspective and embracing this new chapter.”
