The Parental Leave Playbook

Chapter FourteenTouchpoint 9 Adjustment

WHEN YOU RETURN from leave, it is not uncommon to experience that transition shock I mentioned in Chapter 5 as you reintegrate into the team, take back your duties, and learn how to navigate the dual roles of worker and parent. If you have a new manager or role change, recognize that your double or triple adjustment will take some time. This touchpoint reminds you to be kind to yourself as you acclimate to your new normal and make both macro- and micro-adjustments to maximize your work-life enrichment and minimize the work-life conflict I talked about in Chapter 12. It can be helpful to think of adjustment like the various controls on a radio that allow you to change the volume, bass, and treble. Think about how you can finely tune the music to give you the exact sound that brings you the most enjoyment. One effective way to adjust to your working parent role is through boundary management techniques such as examining and redrawing or redefining what you want your boundaries to look like between work and home. In this chapter we'll spend time exploring what boundaries are and aren't and how you can get them to work for you as you adjust to working parenthood.

I've Still Got My Raising Kids Head On

Source: Betsy Streeter/Cartoonstock.com

Identify Your Integration Points

The first step to maximizing work-life enrichment is identifying ...