76 THE TOP 10 1. Childcare: Leaving my child. Will they be happy in the childcare we chose? Am I doing the right thing? 2. Finance - Childcare costs. The BBC reported recently that the annual cost of a full-time nursery for a child under two in Great Britain averages £14,836. Despite additional support announced in the latest budget, parents are still worried. One in four parents said their childcare costs exceed 75% of their take-home pay, according to a survey of 24,000 parents by the charity, Pregnant then Screwed. 3. Logistics: How will I cope? How will I leave the house, manage the drop-off and get to work on time (not covered in breakfast!) Will I get away on time? How will my partner and I share responsibilities? 4. My job: Do I still have the skills to be successful? A survey published by TENA found almost a quarter of new mums said the working environment they returned to was “completely different”. 5. My Team: Will I fit in?Will I still feel part of the team because I won’t make it to socials? What will people think if I leave ‘early’? Will they think I’m not committed? 6. Flexibility: Will I be able to work flexibly, and what does that actually mean? What if my baby is sick and needs me? How will we balance work and family time? Will going part-time ultimately mean I do 5 days’ work in less time, for less money? 7. Confidence: I don't feel as confident. I have changed and I feel tired and vulnerable. Rachel Jackson says, "I called my company A Different Me in recognition that you are a different person to the one that left for maternity leave. It takes time to get comfortable with your new identity as a working parent". 8. My manager: Will they understand and support my new situation? Will I need to prove myself, and how I can make this work? Will I be judged negatively against my peers if they have progressed while my skills have stagnated or even regressed? 9. Career development: Can I still be ambitious and have a family?Will my development be on hold? Will I be discriminated against, or side-lined for promotions and other opportunities? I cannot see anyone around me doing this. 10. Guilt: I feel guilty about going back to work. I feel guilty about not being at home. I feel guilty that I want to go back to work. I feel guilty about not being able to work enough. I feel guilty that I may enjoy getting some independence and freedom back.
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