My previous three maternity leaves have been the standard. Filling out the paperwork, working up until I was in labor, “luckily” receiving six weeks at home, and 80% of my pay (for a majority of those six weeks). Sounds like the American dream, huh? 🙄 But I’ll spare you from the rabbit hole argument regarding the maternity leave America is lacking.
Things Are Different This Time Around
This time around, I am working full time for myself. There was no limit to my maternity leave. There was no paperwork. There is no “return to work” approval needed. I can start it and stop it when I please. I can stay home cuddling my precious babe for as long as I’d like without a 9-5, return to work calendar in the back of my head. And while all of that sounds glorious (and trust me, IT IS!), there are so many other factors that I had to consider that I never needed to before.
My pay. This time around nobody is paying me to take time off. I don’t have a corporate business paying my salary while I take time at home with my newborn to recover. I had to make the effort to save and prepare for the time I would take off.
My business. As a business owner comprised of one, solo employee- me, it is difficult to walk away for an extended amount of time without feeling like my business will plummet (which is a real possibility!). So where is the balance? How do I balance taking time off but still ensuring my business is operating? This is a huge worry of mine as I walk into an extended period of time off. I want to still be present in operating my business, but also very present at home.
How Am I Balancing Things?
While I wish I had the road map to “Maternity Leave in Entrepreneurship,” I unfortunately don’t. But the advice I do have is this: simply do what works best for you and your family.
This time around I will be pausing/slowing down on photoshoots for two months and completely halting capturing weddings. Having been through this newborn stage enough times before, I know my body will not be able to handle long days outside of the home, nor will the baby attachment that is needed in those first few weeks.
My emails and social media will still be up and running. The back end sides of my business, which are always needing some attention, is what will still be operating: updating my website, going through my finance books, still booking clients- sending out contracts/invoices, responding to messages/emails, etc. This gives me the flexibility and freedom to work when I feel able to do so. I have the most amazing social media marketer working with me to keep things up and running during this time as well (seriously! check Aspen out on IG: @strong.strategies).
Embracing the Flexibility
Like everything else in life, there is no perfect balance. Embracing the flexibility I have with my time, now that I work for myself, is exactly what I am going to lean into during this time “off.” I am a workaholic at heart. I love being productive. I love running a business. I love doing what I do. I do not feel good under long durations of “stillness.” So I know I would never be able to pull myself away from it 100% for very long. But now more than ever, I am going to do what feels good in the moment- good for me, my family, our sanity, and what we can manage day by day. And yet again, I find myself so completely blessed to be able to do so. To be able to embrace all of the magic that comes with entrepreneurship.
