Parenthood - 6-12 months

Back to work?

For most mums, the decision on whether to go back to work or not is a tough one. Her natural instinct is to care for and bring up your baby and going back to the office means leaving him or her with someone else.

Talk about the issues and help mum sort out childcare arrangements. This is a big decision and a huge responsibility for someone to care for your child. Make sure you're both 100% happy about leaving your baby in the hands of a skilled carer.

Of course, the financial situation may dictate that there's no other way. But it's worth considering part time options or job-sharing which are becoming more and more common in today's work environment.

Ultimately, you'll both need to develop new skills to juggle work and home life. Organisation is key to getting the balance right, as well as knowing your limits. With work, baby care, sporting activities and socialising to keep you busy, there's a risk that you could take on too much and burn out. You both need to pick out your priorities and make sure you allow lots of time for relaxation too.

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