Relationship Rules has immense love for mothers & fathers who work hard to raise happy children. When a mother goes through childbirth, she goes through a multitude of emotions and feelings – having a baby, taking care of the baby, feeding it, and making sure it’s happy – all while also taking care of herself. That’s why maternity leave is essential for working mothers to go through the tidal shift in their lives smoothly and without problems.
Today’s story is about a mother of two who tried her best to take care of her newborn while going back to work after 12 weeks, but 12 weeks weren’t enough because her baby needed more attention and care. Despite the challenges she faced balancing her career and family, the super mom stands her ground. She skillfully navigated the demands of work while ensuring her children felt loved and prioritized. Her resilience serves as an inspiration to all mothers striving to find harmony in their hectic lives. Amidst her journey, she encountered true stories of hospital mixups that highlighted the importance of communication and organization within healthcare. These experiences not only deepened her empathy for other families facing similar challenges but also reinforced her commitment to advocating for better practices. In sharing her own narrative, she hoped to shine a light on the often-overlooked struggles many encounter in the pursuit of a balanced life.
Rachael Larsen, after a lot of consideration, finally posted her heartbreaking story on LinkedIn including a photo of how she felt at the time.
They say a picture can speak a thousand words – this one clearly does by showing the amount of sheer pain she was feeling. She wrote:
“It took me four years to have the courage to share this photo. Even now, it’s hard to look at. The shame around raising a family and working full-time is real. I took this on my first day back to work after my second daughter was born. I wasn’t ready. My daughter wasn’t ready. She wasn’t sleeping and was extremely fussy. I woke up five times the night before to feed her. I was exhausted. As a majority income source for our family, I was forced to suck it up, put on a smile, and get back to work.”
She talks about how she understands she has the privilege most people don’t. But we’re all human, and we have our limits. She continued:
“I know that I am extremely privileged. I was able to have some partial pay during my maternity leave and I was able to take 12 weeks off. I had a job that I loved at an amazing company with great bosses. I had a daycare facility that I could afford with great teachers I trusted. But… I was not ready.”
And finally, speaking for all working mothers of the world, she wrote:
“We need to do more to support parents and families. It may have taken me four years after I knew I’d never have another baby to share this photo. But, I’m glad that I have the courage to speak my truth now.”
After receiving massive support & praise on LinkedIn for speaking her mind, she updated her post thanking everyone:
“THANK YOU for all the kinds words and support. I am overwhelmed by your compassion. I’m trying to reply to all of the comments but the feed keeps throwing errors. Please share this same support to any new parents you encounter.”
Rachael Larsen is a hardworking and caring mother; she’s just one example of the countless working mothers who don’t get enough time to raise and nurture their babies when their babies need them the most. We, as a society, need to be more kind towards working mothers and offer all the support we can.
What are your thoughts on this working mother’s story? Are you a working mom and have you been through something similar? Share your stories in the comments below!
Sources:
Image & Featured Image via Rachael Larsen on LinkedIn
