The Bright Side of Mommy Brain

Becoming a mom had a remarkable impact on my career journey. It feels like I've grown five years in just one, so after participating in the Aspire Program*, I took some time to reflect on how my career will unfold, given my revised priorities in life.

Indeed, the “mommy brain” is real, but I won't discuss the phenomenon since ample studies already support this notion.

However, I sense there's a discrepancy in the way people perceive the effects of maternity leave on a mom's brain, as they usually ignore the benefits. Let's be honest: if you choose to be the primary caregiver, you dedicate all your time to the little one— and by "all," I truly mean it. And if you’ve decided to do so, you might get exhausted from time to time. (There are many variables, so it’s not necessarily true for everyone) In my case, being the main caregiver was challenging as my "chief mom officer" duties led to sleep deprivation, memory lapses, lack of focus, and so on. BUT things gradually improved.

As my little one got more manageable (and keeping her alive was less daunting), I’ve also discovered that I’ve acquired new skills that were needed in my career as a professional, as well as a leader. Here are the top three skills I've developed as a mom:

1. Prioritization: I've come to realize that there simply isn't enough time to accomplish everything I'd like to. As a result, I've significantly enhanced my prioritization skills. I understand that I can't invest much time in casual coffees with colleagues or late nights at the office, working on tasks that I think are not important enough in the bigger picture. Efficient work is now essential to balance my various responsibilities, and prioritization - crucial for structuring my work-related to-do list.

2. Negotiation: Parenting a toddler has improved my negotiation abilities big time. From meal choices to playtime decisions and more – everything becomes a negotiation. Funny though, the same principles apply when dealing with adults. And who can do this better than a mom that is practicing these skills on a daily basis?

3. Managing challenging scenarios: I never anticipated that selecting the wrong spoon during breakfast could trigger such unexpected drama, or that denying my child's immediate wishes could escalate into a big fuss. A skill I've improved is staying calm during these tough moments. I’ve learned to remain fully engaged, demonstrating genuine empathy and understanding in the face of such challenges. This ability to stay centered is invaluable not only in parenting but also useful when working with different types of personalities.

So, is it really that detrimental to have a 'mommy brain' in today's world? Well, it's subjective. I'm not denying that there are challenges, as I certainly faced many. However, I believe that 'maternity leave' shouldn't be considered a complete break from actual work, as taking care of your little one is often more demanding. Yet, I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to enhance my professional skills during this time.

So, I'm really looking forward to using these new skills as I transition #backtowork! 🚀

*I will soon write an article with more information about the Aspire Professionals program.