It's working for Melissa Gerstein
New York
3 children
“I wish that I could have prepared myself better for the aftermath, the breastfeeding and the separation from my babies by going back to work.”
What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former expectant self?
I wish that I could have prepared myself better for the aftermath, the breastfeeding and the separation from my babies by going back to work.
What was your primary motivation for deciding to return (or not) to work? How early did you tell your employer?
I was self-employed and on and off work with all my pregnancies, so this didn’t impact me at all.
How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?
I returned to work when our first was 6 weeks old, by choice, because we needed the money and my mental state was suffering. The same happened with our 2nd, and with our third I took an entire year off and was working on the launch of The MOMS (Moms & The City).
Who was your biggest source of support in returning to work? What was your biggest pregnancy indulgence?
My biggest support to go back to work was my husband.
Hamburgers and french fries everyday with my first. I had not eaten red meat in 7 years and I guess my body needed it, minus the fries.
Fill in the blanks: As a working parent, I never expected ____ would be so hard and ____ would be so much easier!
As a working parent, I never expected that time away would be so hard and nothing has been so much easier!