I’m Elisha, a parent now too! It’s great to be back in my role as Operations Manager following my maternity leave, and I wanted to say ‘hi’ to you all.
Becoming a mum
Maternity leave is a transformative whirlwind experience – a beautiful mix of overwhelming joy, tiredness, personal growth, and learning in real-time. I wonder whether any of this resonates with you?
The day I became a parent everything shifted. In both the most profound ways and in the small, everyday moments of my new reality. I always knew becoming a parent would be life-changing, but nothing quite prepared me for how deeply it would change my life; my priorities, my daily routines, my identity, and the way I view the world around me.
The first part of maternity leave felt intense. I had this deepest sense of love and connection, something I had never experienced before. A newfound responsibility for this little person that meant every decision, big and tiny carried so much weight. Becoming a parent opened my eyes to the emotional and mental load that comes with becoming a parent, but not something openly discussed – an invisible but very real part of parenting; always there, silently running in the background of every thought and action.
I have always been passionate about the skills of mental resilience and their importance across life, but becoming a parent really solidified it for me. The idea that every parent must find their own way – trust in themselves in using the skills; that there really is no one-size fits all, now makes more sense than ever before. There are no perfect parents, just mums and dads doing their best, and learning every single day.
Becoming a mum felt like a crash course in flexibility. No matter how much I planned my day, the curveballs kept coming at me disrupting the day. Resilience is about letting go of perfectionism and being able to adapt and find rhythm in and amongst the unpredictability and I have used these ideas in bucket loads in the last year.
Those small moments of self-care? Wow! Even if it was as simple as a hot shower without feeling rushed, the little pauses that helped me to recharge and the moments to feel grateful for the people around me. This should be a reminder to all of us; that taking care of US is vital – we are allowed, we have permission – so please don’t forget to make time for you
The anticipation of returning to work
The thought of returning to work felt both exciting and daunting in equal measure. It’s a big adjustment – not just for me as the parent, but also for my baby, my partner; indeed, the entire family dynamic. For me, returning to work wasn’t just about getting back to my role at Bounce Forward but also about imagining how I was going to successfully balance work, motherhood, and everything in between.
As the return to work drew nearer, I found myself reflecting on my role both at Bounce Forward and as a new parent. The first years of a baby’s life are full of new milestones, and I don’t want to miss out on those precious moments. At the same time, I love being part of the team at Bounce Forward and our work to transform how we think about mental health, and I wanted to return with the same level of passion and energy I had before becoming a mum.
It really helped to spend time thinking about and imagining what my new normal would look like. Reminding myself that it’s okay to not have it all figured out. What’s important is the ability to adapt, being patient as I enter yet another new normal and accepting that it’s a part of the wider journey I am on.
For a word we hear talked about A LOT, don’t you think the idea of ‘balance’ can often feel like a bit of a myth? The reality is, there is no perfect, static, balance where everything fits neatly into a place. Instead, it’s about being able to move with the flow of life, adjusting when needed, and being kind to yourself when things don’t go to plan.
I often feel that there is a societal expectation that we need to work like we don’t have children, and raise children like we don’t work. There is so much strength in acknowledging that a return to work doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your role as a parent, nor does it mean you have to be a ‘less’ committed professional. I realise I can show up for both roles, just in different ways. I am extremely lucky that Bounce Forward has made it possible for me to ease back in and find a rhythm that works for my family.
Ultimately, the build-up to returning to work is another process of self-acceptance. You don’t have to be perfect at everything. I simply have to show up – both for my baby and my work – authentically, flexibly, and a willingness to learn as I go.
Re-connecting to my role at bounce forward
I am returning to my role a different version of myself; I feel even more connected to our mission, and I have a renewed sense of perspective on the work we do as a charity.
I have always believed in the importance of what we do, but becoming a mum has deepened everything I believe about the difference we make. Providing helpful information, practical tools that really do work in the real world and resources for parents to use with their children, that help them to navigate the ups and downs of everyday life, build mental resilience and connect with self and others to help be the best we can be – these are things for every person.
Thank you
I want to thank you for being a part of the Bounce Forward community. Whether you are a parent, caregiver, supporter or professional working with young people, your involvement with Bounce Forward is what allows us to create lasting impact.
We are on a mission to inspire and transform the narrative about mental health and how to nurture and build psychological fitness. Why wait until there is a problem to think about building mental resilience and emotional wellbeing? Bounce Forward’s focus is prevention, not crisis management. We want to teach every child the skills and strategies and give them the tools to look after their psychological fitness, and so they know what to do when they are experiencing a challenge, but also so they can be the best version of themselves, see opportunity and thrive in this unpredictable world.
can you help connect us?
Bounce Forward is looking for individuals and organisations to work with who care about and want to invest in our future generation. If you are connected to an individual, or work for an organisation you think we’d be a good charity partner fit for – please get in touch!
Thanks again for being part of this journey with us and supporting our mission.
