COMMUNITY LIVING
before returning – getting ready , taking your child to childcare , and then making your way to your workplace ,’ advises Vicki Renz , IT consultant and YouTuber who is well known internationally for talking openly about women ’ s bodily and emotional changes as they journey into motherhood .
2 . Be open to change
Things may have been changed around and responsibilities that were once yours may have been dished out to others . There may also be a couple of new employees or managers .
But don ’ t feel pressured to get up to speed all in one go or to grab back your power and responsibilities .
Renz says : ‘ Remain open to changes that have happened during your absence . Remember you will need a good two weeks to catch up with what you have missed and get back into the working rhythm . Go for lunch with your team colleagues to gradually fit back into the group dynamic .’
3 . Be honest about workload
If you are struggling , be open about it . ‘ Ensure that responsibilities are discussed with your colleagues as soon as possible . Take on workload in the first couple of days . Be clear on how many hours you will be working and what you can fit into your day ,’ says Renz .
You may not feel comfortable talking about what you can do so early on after taking parental leave , but doing so will ensure that there are boundaries and that expectations on both sides are managed .
If there ’ s resistance , suggest other ways of working . ‘ Consider offering flexibility in terms of working from home and a change in working hours . The change in working patterns could include offering more compressed hours ( for example , working longer days and taking one day a week off ), or changing start and end times ,’ says Lee Biggins , founder and CEO of CV-Library .
4 . Know your rights
Breastfeeding mothers in South Africa are protected by the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and are legally entitled to two 30-minute breaks per day for breastfeeding or expressing milk if their infants are younger than six months .
If your HR department or manager is not aware of this rule , point it out in a discreet manner and work out how you could fit this into your schedule if you are still breastfeeding .
5 . Make sure you eat right
Prof . Lisanne du Plessis , spokesperson for the Association for Dietetics in South Africa , recommends a diet that is healthpromoting and disease-preventing .
She explains : ‘ It provides adequacy , without excess , of nutrients and health-promoting substances from nutritious foods and avoids the consumption of health-harming substances . Nutritious foods include whole foods ( as close to their natural state as possible ) from a variety of food groups : wholewheat starchy foods , plenty of vegetables and fruit , dry beans , split peas , lentils and soya , milk , maas or yoghurt , fish , chicken , lean meat , or eggs . Remember to drink lots of clean , safe water .’
Du Plessis adds : ‘ Fats should be used sparingly ; rather use vegetable oils than hard fats . Avoid sugar and foods and drinks high in sugar , and also high-fat salty snacks .’
6 . Take time for yourself
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Don ’ t forget to take some time out for yourself . ‘ No doubt you will feel tired and just want to crash ! So , make time for a short exercise routine . As a parent , you need time for yourself once your child is in bed . Allow yourself to wind down and re-energise ,’ says Renz .
Lauren Whitehead and Angelique Ruzicka