With Some Grace

Everyday Experiences, Lifelong Learnings

FYBF – The Back To Work Mama Edition

By: mamagrace7147 Comments

And just like that…I’m back in the work force, baby!

Could the universe spin any faster?

In the whirlwind hours of my first day, here are some discoveries of what it takes to get back in the corporate game but also some pearls that other part time Mama friends have passed on:

  1. Prepare two outfits the night before – one that you actually plan to wear and the second that you’ll end up with because WTF? When did those work pants shrink down a size (or three)? Because surely I didn’t put that much weight on in the past five plus  years.
  1. The best accessory I can wear to the office is a smile. Maybe it was just the nerves talking but I smiled at everyone – the CEO, the lady at the photocopier, the photocopier…

Fake it till you make it…and your cheeks get sore.

FYBF Back to Work Mama Edition

  1. As I mentioned on Instagram, I didn’t feel guilty that I didn’t have mother’s guilt because, well, I love my boys. They know I love them. I’m a much nicer mum to be around when I’ve done something for myself and they know that too.
  1. A fellow twin working Mama friend said, “There’ll be days when you think, ‘I’m all over this’ and others where you’re not but it’s all part of the fun”
  1. Another working Mama friend forwarded this gem:

“You’ll no longer worry about the stupid, insignificant office politics because you just don’t have the time or the energy to! You just want to do your job, do it well and pick your babies up on time!”

Oh, and to answer all those lovelies who were concerned about how I had just donated 2 HUGE garbage bags of corporate clothes only weeks before getting this new job…I regret nothing!

Those suits and I have long past our decorous time together. I couldn’t squeeze into them anymore, anyway.

And er, hello? Shopping!

Got any other tips/pieces of sage wisdom to add to my list?

Name one incident where you faked it till you made it? And noooo, I’m not talking about that time *ahems*

 

1. Follow With Some Grace.

2. Sign up to the awesome Digital Parents community ( if you haven’t already done so). DP was created by Brenda Gaddi who happens to be the creator of FYBF. She’s also created 4 gorgeous kidlets. In case you’d like to know. Or maybe not. But we’ll share that info just the same.

3. Add your post URL to the FYBF linky. Please only link up one post.

4. Grab the funky FYBF button and post it on your sidebar. Help spread the blogfloggin love.

5. Visit the blogs of your fellow FYBF’ers and share the comment love

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Comments

  7. Caroline raj says

    Congrats on the new job!! It will be an adventure that is for sure! Advice? Well make the most of every day! Because you don’t know if the next day the kids are sick etc and you might not be able to do a full day – so when you can make the most of it! And enjoy! Enjoy having adult conversation and coffee!!!!!
    Caroline raj recently posted..My, aren’t we dirty!My Profile

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  11. Robo says

    So great that you’re right back in the work force. It’s like riding a bike, isn’t it? My advice would be to make the most of the time you have to yourself – the commute, the lunch break, coffee, a spot of shopping. Mama’s rewards for heading out to work. Enjoy! X
    Robo recently posted..FutilityMy Profile

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  14. Lisa@RandomActsOfZen says

    So nice that you were nice to the photocopier, Grace. Never know when you’ll need that one’s help!
    I’ve been faking it as a mama for almost 12 years now, and almost feel like I’m making it 😉
    Enjoy your fabulous new phase xx
    Lisa@RandomActsOfZen recently posted..Are You A Greeter?My Profile

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  31. Peachy Keen Mumma says

    Congrats. I was all “What? Grace is going back to corporate.” I love the jobs that come up casually. They usually end up being a good work environment. I hope that’s the case for you! I hope you feel valued at your new job.

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  34. Kylie Purtell - A Study in Contradictions says

    It’s so true about not giving a shit about all of the petty office stuff. When I went back part time after Punky was born I was about a million more times productive and way less stressed because I didn’t take everything personally and get involved in all of the office politics like I had before Punky, it was all just so meaningless, I was there to do a job, get paid, and then get back to my baby, end of story. It’s amazing the mind-shift that occurs going back to work with young kids!
    Kylie Purtell – A Study in Contradictions recently posted..Linky Lovin’ Friday {30th January 2015} // BloggingMy Profile

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  37. Holly says

    It was hard going back but it was only 6 months later for me & I felt awful leaving my little miss. But it was never the same. She’s 2 now & I don’t work many hours anymore, plus number 2 is over halfway here. One day I want big dollars again but now I just want my mummy time lol hope you enjoy the back to work… And shopping!
    Holly recently posted..11 Tips for Surviving a Summer PregnancyMy Profile

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  39. shannon @my2morrows says

    Good luck returning to work. Its a constant juggle but I always try and keep this quote from Brian Dyson in mind and live by it. It really reminds me of what’s most important when things get really crazy.

    “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit – and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.” – Brian Dyson

    Xx

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  43. Dannielle@Zamamabakes says

    Congratulations on the new job!
    I have been known to fake being interested in someone’s spiel on a product and made it (got out of the situation) by ‘saying ‘thanks I’ll have a think about it’, I find it hard to be as assertive face to face and always get sucked in, avoiding eye contact is the key with those people.
    Your friend is dead right about the office politics, issues you used to get involved in seem completely irrelevant once you have kidlets, they put those silly politics in perspective.

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