Going
back to work after staying home to raise children can
be very rewarding, but it can also cause feelings of uneasiness,
stress, and guilt.
Mothers
are constantly asking themselves questions that seem unanswerable:
- How
can I be the best parent?
- If
I take time off to stay home with my kids, will I be
able to go back to work?
- What
if I decide to keep working?
- Could
I work part-time and have the best of both worlds?
- Which
choice will bring me the most happiness?
Advice
from a Mom Who Knows
Author,
therapist, and life coach, Diane Lang, knows how difficult
the transition from full-time mother to part-time worker
can be. She made the decision to go back to work part-time,
not long after the birth of her own daughter. It was that
experience that made her realize how much smoother the
transition could have been with a little advice and coaching
from someone who’s been there.
That’s
why she wrote the book Baby Steps: The Path from Motherhood
to Career, Reentering the workforce after staying home
with children. She wanted to help other mothers through
the decisions and the steps from motherhood to career.
Written
with the Busy Mother in Mind
As
a mother, herself, Ms. Lang realizes that time is a precious
commodity. That’s why Baby Steps is written
to be brief, simple, and to the point. The easy-to-use
handbook style allows readers to skim the pages to find
what they are looking for. The book can be easily read
in between changing diapers, cooking dinner, and looking
through the classified ads. The book is a reference guide
and journal, with tips, guidance, and questions for reflection.
Ms.
Lang takes moms through the steps toward making a decision
about whether going back to work is right for them. Then
she provides helpful information and strategies to help
mothers succeed. There is advice on updating skills, dressing
for success, brushing up on interviewing skills, and creating
a winning resume, cover letter, and thank you note. Templates
and additional resources are also provided to help get
new job searchers started. An appendix at the back of
the book provides employment ideas and opportunities for
mothers who want to reenter the workplace.
