From Big Business to Baby Business

On that life-changing day when you are handed a phenomenal, helpless little person, a new line is added to your resume: Mom. With your new title come new job responsibilities, very different from those of "business woman." As your heart fills with love, a little internal guilt switch may be flicked on, and you become aware of the heavy burdens that this new lifelong career brings. The question is, how will you cope? Will you have the same confidence as a mom that you had as a business woman? Will you lose your old self and miss the control you once had? Can you see past the bathing, burping, changing, feeding, rocking, and worrying to find fulfillment as mother?

If you take some steps to pay attention to your needs, as well as your child's, motherhood will bring more joy and fulfillment than any job you've ever had!

Just as at the office, being organized and keeping your energy up will help you cope with your new role as a stay-home mom.

When working in business, adult interaction is common. Bosses, colleagues, coworkers, and clients can reinforce our confidence and help us gain better perspective on work-related challenges such as tight schedule demands or creative differences with another department.

Who will do this for the stay-home mom? It takes effort to connect with other adults with any regularity during the week; but the support and friendship are well worth the effort.

There are times we are unsure as mothers—perhaps when the baby is extra cranky, has a temperature, or is moving into a new phase of development. At these times, a mom with older kids can provide much needed advice and support to help lift our confidence levels. Frequent communication with other moms also provides a healthy perspective on raising babies, showing us that teething will eventually subside, that Baby may not spit out his vegetables forever, or that not every baby is actually walking by his first birthday.

You can find other moms through phone calls, lunches with friends, message boards, or—perhaps best of all—by joining a local moms' group, gym, church, or hobby group. Assistance from other mothers not only makes life a bit easier, it also allows some much needed adult conversation! Although life at home can be isolating if you allow it to be, the good news is that moms love to connect and share.