Life after maternity leave

One whole glorious year of maternity leave. What an amazing opportunity we have here in Canada to care for our newborns and ourselves. We join groups for new moms, do postpartum fitness and mom and baby yoga classes, hang out at cafes, and find ourselves with a new circle of friends who support us through the changes.

What happens when the year is up? We may choose to return to work full-time, create a job-share or part-time employment, work from home, or choose to be a stay-at-home mother. As we choose our path, also in the balance are the friendships we have nurtured over the past year.

Whether we are back to work or full-time mothers, the transition can be equally challenging. While working mothers may feel the loss of daily support and camaraderie, stay-at-home mothers often find themselves wondering who to call now that many friends have returned to work. It takes a conscious commitment to both maintain and nurture these relationships over the years to come.

Whether you are at home or at work, below are a few ideas to help you stay connected:

Go to lunch

Make individual monthly lunch dates with mama friends. You will appreciate the chance to reconnect, and those who are working will enjoy a break from the routine to nurture themselves as mothers.

Take a class

Enroll in a class together with your toddler to help extend your circle and meet others who are also at home, or working. Many working parents choose classes that meet on Saturday mornings.

Celebrate

Identify key times when your group can come together - monthly family potlucks, girls night out, or annual beach picnics. Create traditions that will carry you beyond new parenthood and create a circle of support for years to come.

Stay connected

Sites such as facebook can allow you to easily stay connected to your wider mama circle with updates and photos sharing your life and family. Services such as the babyvibe and kindervibe Around Town family events e-mails help keep you connected with the wider community.

Helpful links

Sarah Juliusson is the mother of two boys, and co-founder of Mama Renew, offering groups for new and seasoned mothers. To learn more or enjoy their blog, visit www.MamaRenew.ca. She also mentors Birthing From Within prenatal classes with Dancing Star Birth.

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BIG birthday sale!

It's been five years since Milk Factory Designs launched their collection of Performance Gear for Kids on the Go, and to celebrate, they're having one mega sale!

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