20 years ago, finding child care was a challenge that many working parents will recognize. Juggling between work obligations and caring for children often brought logistical problems, such as picking up the children before nursery closing time. These struggles were not uncommon, especially in urban areas where workloads were high and flexible child care was not as easy to find.
For some families, this situation led to radical decisions, such as accepting a job offer in another country where the lifestyle and availability of child care were more favorable. This change not only brought relief to family life, but also opened up new opportunities for social contact and community involvement in the new environment.
Benefits of a part-time job or staying home with children
Some take the leap from a demanding job to a part-time position close to home, where the work-life balance is easier to maintain.
Many of them have not regretted this decision for a moment.
Why not?
It gave them the opportunity to build strong bonds with their children and consciously set aside time for family activities. For some, it also meant a conscious decision to step back. Despite any professional expectations and possible comments, they seized their opportunities after their transition. They took responsibility for their careers, consciously created rest periods and discovered a renewed energy and motivation to go to work every day.
Staying home only works if you're behind it
Staying at home only makes sense if you are 100% behind it as a couple and continue to treat each other as equals!
Changes in your career or temporarily quitting your job have a profound impact on your life. Working means more than simply earning a living.
At least one of our six areas of life is affected when you make career changes: work, family and relationship, finances, social interactions, health and personal development. These largely determine where you stand in life and how you feel. If you want to maintain balance, you will have to work with these.
Children are best served by a parent who feels good about themselves. You have to remember that you remain the same person you were before: in need of me-time, in-depth conversations and self-development. So if you want to purely enjoy your time at home and avoid falling into a hole or isolation, you will need to respect your own needs. A new phase brings new challenges, such as reorientation and reorganization. From now on, you are your own CEO. A review of your valuations and flexibility can help you make this time an enjoyable and instructive one. With your re-entry into the job market in mind, it is good to fill your free time with purpose. Therefore, choose activities that add value in your field, or that you know will be useful for your personal development.
Sense-making tips for stay-at-home parents
- Take a course you like or a new language
- Immerse yourself in a hobby
- Read books and magazines that captivate you
- Maintain your social contacts
- Bring structure to your days
- Take care of yourself, when you go to work you automatically tutor yourself, now sometimes you have to make an effort to do so
- Stay up-to-date in your field to make your reintegration easier
How to avoid frustrations as a stay-at-home parent:
If you are home full-time, you may be tempted to take on the role of the "eternal servant. Your family members may, perhaps in all innocence, assume that you now have all the time in the world. Before you know it, you are the house slave. So that is not the intention. Discuss this with your family. Your self-confidence and self-esteem must be nurtured and protected.
Are you considering a break in your career? Some golden tips:
- Consult an employment lawyer through your union or the NEO before deciding whether you want part-time, 4/5 or a career break. There are lots of interesting schemes you can take advantage of, think time credit parental leave, etc.
- Make a cost calculation of the relationship between a full-time job, nursery costs and a part-time job.
- Light up with friends who work 4/5. Often you are given full-time tasks that you have to accomplish in less time. This is not the point.
- Discuss your wishes with your employer. He may come up with an agreeable proposal.
- Keep in mind that working less or quitting temporarily may affect your pension rights.
Resuming career after staying home? Time for a reintegration
I am often asked the question: Does the period that I was at home play into my disadvantage in re-entry? Largely, this is within your control. Everything depends on your "personal brand," or the way you make your talents visible and enhance them. This is a distinguishing value to realize greater joy, energy and success. Staying at home does not mean that you have stood still in your development.
Successfully resume career thanks to the STAR method
One of the biggest challenges in reintegration is naming the qualities you acquired while at home. A big help is using the STAR method (Situation, Tasks, Activities, Result): you write down your own "success stories," and filter out which qualities you needed to achieve them. You may have organized a neighborhood party. Then organizing is definitely one of your qualities. But also: networking, looking for sponsors, delegating, communication ... Many things you may take for granted, but by writing them down you make yourself aware of their value. Moreover, it gives your self-confidence a boost. If you focus on your qualities, and how they can add value to the new job, you will increase your chances. You can name the gap in your resume as a sabbatical during which you developed different skills.
A career switch after staying home for the kids?
Many come to surprising career-related conclusions after a break. The chances are very real that you will come to the realization that you want to take your life in a different direction. The knowledge you have gained, combined with the rest you have had, may underlie this. I have seen more than once that after a career break people return to work stronger, more convinced and with much more satisfaction!
Written by Sofie Vanham, reworked by Rita Termote