Posted by: McKenna Shuler
For me, nothing exemplifies the word “bittersweet” like maternity leave. The days, the hours, the minutes, even the seconds can seem to crawl at an excruciatingly slow pace. And then poof – somehow weeks or months have gone by and it’s over. The truth is, no matter how long or short your leave is, no matter how much you love what you do – it’s never easy to return to work.
Returning to work means splitting yourself in two while still remaining fully present at both places. You’re leading a meeting while subsequently planning your family calendar. You’re at a child’s doctors appointment while brainstorming creative ideas. It means guilt if you miss a milestone moment or a team happy hour. It’s like a circus and you’re on the mainstage as the juggling act – no balls in the air can drop. Maternity leave gives us that much needed, brief pause between welcoming a new child and reentering the working world.
I am meant to be a working mom. This was reaffirmed to me in 2020 after having my first baby. I am proud of the work I do outside of the home and I know it makes me a better mom within our four walls. But of course, this comes with a tradeoff - time. Missing precious moments when your little ones change so constantly, seemingly by the minute. So it never gets easier, even when you’re confident in your choice to do it, to step away from the maternity leave bubble and reenter the working world.
Do I still have what it takes?
Do I still mesh with my team?
How can I balance it all?
Do my kids know I still love them and miss them?
The questions and doubts are endless. And my heart breaks for the mothers who have no leave time to soak in all the good, bad, and exhausting that is a newborn baby. I am forever thankful for the invaluable time Elanco gives new mothers. It’s our culture to recognize each other’s humanity and show up in these moments. It never gets easier as a working parent. But it helps to know I’m not the only act at the circus – my Elanco team is right there with me.
McKenna Shuler
Consultant - Communications
