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Ask the Expert: Finding Balance Natalie Gahrmann is a success coach and owner of N-R-G Coaching Associates, a private coaching company that specializes in helping working parents achieve mastery of work and life. Her clients experience more clarity, direction and alignment while reducing stress in their busy lives.
Returning to Work After 5-Year HiatusKim writes, "My two children are 4 and 1 1/2. I am going back to teaching after a 5-year hiatus. I am very very nervous about leaving my children with a babysitter all day. How can I feel more comfortable about this situation?"Answer: Let me first assure you that your feelings of anxiety are normal. You've been the primary caregiver for your children for the last five years, so it's natural to be nervous about letting someone else handle that role. First things first, select the right caregiver for you and your children. There are a number of options available when selecting the childcare that best suits the needs of you, your children and your family. To determine what's best, it's important to consider their disposition, your work hours, your needs, and your comfort level in each situation. Be open-minded when researching and evaluating your options. Seek recommendations from other parents you know and trust. To prepare for the transition after you have selected the right childcare provider, help your children adjust gradually and get to know the new caregiver (and place, if they won't be at home any longer). Start with just a few hours or a few days before beginning the regular full-time routine. Gently ease them into the new situation. It's also important to minimize your own anxieties because your children will pick up on them and react similarly. Remain positive and matter-of-fact about the situation. If you've consciously made decisions by weighing things out and deciding what's best, you needn't feel guilty because you have made the best decisions for you and your family. Good luck!
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