One of my goals for this year is to read more books. I want to read books that inspire me, encourage me to live my best life and to be my best self. Lisen Stromberg’s new book Work PAUSE Thrive: How to Pause for Parenthood Without Killing Your Career was a the perfect read for me to kick off 2017!
As working mothers, there is a great struggle that we are faced with. Do we return to work or do we stay home to raise our children? Either way, we’re saddled with guilt. What this book taught me is that I am not alone in my feelings.
Working moms can take time out of their careers to raise their children. It is OKAY! Taking a temporary pause allows us to return to the job we love and thrive!
Technology offers us many advantages that moms before us didn’t have. The ‘gig economy’ is growing and more and more women are starting their own businesses. While you may feel paralyzed with fear about leaving the comfortable corporate job with benefits, going out on your own is often more fulfilling. With a computer, you can blaze your own trail and work as often as you want, when it’s convenient for you and your family.
When deciding to have children, it’s important to think about what your life will look like once the baby moves in. Returning to work was something that I thought I wanted to do on a part-time basis. Unfortunately, I grew to resent my job and leaving The Boy on the mornings I worked was making me miserable. I was lucky, though, as I was laid off. Sometimes, the silver lining is in something that is typically looked at as an awful event.
Since 2010, I’ve worked on a variety of projects that have enbabled me to work at my own pace around a schedule that is convenient for my family. As I explore my interests and passions, I’m able to contribute financially to our family, yet still have the flexibility that is needed with young children in the home.
If you’re planning on starting a family now, or a few years down the road, I recommend you read Lisen’s book Work PAUSE Thrive: How to Pause for Parenthood Without Killing Your Career. It’s a refreshing look at how important a woman’s career is and how important family is, too!
Did you put your career on pause when you started a family? Will you when the time comes?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
