By Zeena Jackson | Principal Recruitment Consultant, Honeycomb Jobs | 3-minute read
Returning to work after maternity leave is daunting enough. Returning to work in a brand-new job after maternity leave? Bold.
Doing it while parenting a 16-year-old and a 1.5-year-old? Slightly unhinged.
I came back to work full of optimism. This time, I’d be organised. Calm. Thriving in my new role. Present at home. The kind of woman who somehow balances career and family without dropping anything.
That version of me lasted about a week.
Two Children. Two Extremes. One Mum.
Let’s start with the children – because they are the heart of everything. On one side, I have a 16-year-old. A nearly-adult who doesn’t need me physically, but emotionally? Constantly. This child needs lifts, advice (only when I’m asked for it), constant reassurance, exam support, apprenticeship applications and help with life decisions.
On the other side, a 1.5-year-old who communicates exclusively through sounds and gestures always needs hands-on care, and attends the childminders mostly to collect germs and share them generously with the household.
One wants independence.
One screams if I leave the room.
Both need me now.
Starting a New Job After Maternity Leave with Mum Guilt Alongside It
I wanted to be excellent in my new role. Reliable. Focused. The kind of employee who doesn’t need time off in their first few months. I wanted to prove myself and not be that mum who’s always apologising.
But children don’t respect new jobs.
In the first few months back at work, reality showed up quickly: sickness bugs, School issues, and appointments that couldn’t move. Each time I needed flexibility, my stomach dropped before pressing send.
Instead of judgment, I received understanding.
No sighs.
No passive comments.
Just support and a simple, human response: “Life happens.”
And that makes a bigger difference than people realise.
The Pressure to Do Everything Perfectly
Alongside returning to work after maternity leave comes the internal checklist:
✔ Excel at work
✔ Eat well
✔ Exercise
✔ Keep a tidy home
✔ Be present
✔ Be calm
Reality is messier. Life feels like a not so fun game of Tetris trying to fit everything into a manageable day. Work calls squeezed between appointments and a house that’s “kind of” tidy.
What I didn’t expect was how much easier it feels to manage all of this when work isn’t another place where you’re constantly apologising for being human.
The Difference a Supportive Employer Makes
There’s something deeply uncomfortable about needing time off early in a new job. It can make you feel unreliable, even when the reasons are unavoidable.
But there’s a significant difference between a workplace that allows flexibility and one that genuinely supports working parents.
When your employer:
- Trusts you
- Treats you like an adult
- Understands you have responsibilities outside of work
- Leads with empathy instead of suspicion
You stop carrying the guilt.
You stop feeling like you’re failing everyone.
And ironically, you perform better.
Supportive employers for working mums don’t lower standards, they remove unnecessary fear. They understand that flexibility isn’t a favour; it’s what allows talented parents to stay, grow and contribute fully.
Why This Matters in 2026
In 2026, conversations around flexible working and return-to-work support aren’t optional. They’re essential. Real life doesn’t pause for office hours.
Children get sick.
Teenagers need support.
Childcare arrangements fall through.
When organisations lead with trust, empathy and flexibility, working parents don’t have to choose between career and family, they can show up fully in both.
And to any mum reading this, feeling torn in two: You’re not asking for special treatment. You’re asking for understanding.
And when you find an employer who genuinely gets that? It changes everything.
If you’re thinking about returning to work after maternity leave, or simply looking for a role that understands real life, you don’t have to settle. Explore our latest opportunities today.
