Career Thinking

Today is my last day before I take off 5 months for maternity leave. My company is very generous when it comes to mommy and baby bonding so I am taking advantage of all they offer. A couple of fellow co-workers who are also preggers or just had a baby are coming back sooner after their babies are born. My theory is that you don't ever get back the time after the baby is born and rushing to get back to work is not worth it to me, although they have they reasons.

However, my company is about to make some organizational changes, plus I have been working on getting a promotion forever now (my company is generous with maternity leave, however, stingy with promotions) and I can't help but worry that I will be overlooked while I am out or that my time away will effect how long it will take to get my promotion once I return. I know these worries will be out the door once the baby arrives, but I just wonder. A lot of people wait until they are at the top or almost at the top of their careers before they have kids. I knew I wanted to be a younger when I started having kids and with that you some times are not as established in your career as you would like. I have come a long way since graduating college, but I have even longer to go before I reach the top of my game. I am highly competitive at work and the thought of coworkers getting promoted before me because I have been out makes me fired up.

Anyways, I guess what I am trying to say is that I want my cake and eat it too. I want to be young with a baby and a blossoming career (which I know I will still get), but I can't help but wonder if I am going to be treated differently when I return because I am now a mother (even though still on my game and sharp as a fox). My boss is super cool and laid back and has already agreed that I can have a very flexible schedule and will promote me within a short period of time upon my return, but I keep worrying. Is this worry normal? Maybe these worries will be tossed out the window when I meet my little girl and I won't care about climbing the corporate ladder like I do now. I don't know. I guess I will find out, and at the end of the day what I care about the most is being with my hubby and my baby, and not about having the corner office.