Some time ago I was concerned with how maternity leave would impact my career. Am I thinking at this anymore? NO.

“Why not?”, you’ll be tempted to ask me. Because… please find my answer below (funny, it seems I miss my work related emails).

Soon it will end my full-time job as a stay-at-home mom. It was such an amazing and well spent time that I could not ever regret it. I learned so many things, and I improved a lot as an individual. All these new experiences made me a better professional. This is an unproven theory at this point, but I promise I will write a new post after a few months of work. I am sure my theory will be confirmed.

Why will I be a better professional even though I was not a developer for about 250 days?

1. I am much more tolerant, calmer, adaptable, and I have great results with a small amount of sleep 😀

During this time I learned it can be much more difficult to understand child’s needs than understanding some unclear requirements, colleagues/managers actions.

2. I am not counting anymore left days until vacation.

When I was working I would start doing a count-down of days remaining until a lengthy vacation about 2 months before. Now I haven’t even had time to book the accommodation for the next month holliday that’s coming up in less than 3 weeks :)) Every hour I have for myself is a blessing.

3. The technology addiction did not change

I do have the same desire to find out about new technologies. The problem is that I do not have the same allocated time for this. Currently I cannot plan to see a live tech event because my daughter “asks” for my entire attention. I started an Android course, but I did not finish it. My Feedly is overflowing. And the list can continue.

Wait… This means I will become better on finding synthesized resources to feed my technology addiction 🙂

4. I am still a fast learner (only that I am learning more about parenting),  and I am better at multitasking

I do have 15+ books about parenting and children’s food in backlog. Do you know how difficult it is to read all these books with an energetic baby around you?

Now I can attend courses, and take care of my baby in the same time. I attended a first aid class, a workshop about kids and pets, I wrote this post, I am cooking, and all these activities with my baby in my arms, and sometimes while breastfeeding her.

5. I do prioritize better, and I am not as stressed as before

I like to believe that now I have a better view of the day-by-day experiences, and that I learned to analyze and filter them much more efficient.

6. My socialization skills improved

I was always shy, but this started to change after we got the dog. Now is better. I attended a few activities with my daughter, and I do feel they had an impact to my socialization skills, also. No need to pay an experienced trainer for mommy too 🙂

7. I do enjoy life more

Will this make me more enjoyable?

8. I am a better leader and organizer

Can you imagine how funny is to “lead” both your baby and your dog? If not, I encourage you to get a dog and have a baby. Managing a team will be piece of cake (don’t forget I was never team lead).

9. I am better at planning

I am using Google Calendar and a Kanban app for several years, but now I am an expert at this. What’s not in my calendar does not simply exist.

I do have in my list a post idea about how efficient can be Google calendar for the family. Hope I will write it soon.

10. I am a better team worker

Now I can work with teams with moms, babies/toddlers and coordinator.

And the story can go on… Maybe I did not write as many lines of code as I would have written being at work (definitely I did not do that), but being a developer is more than that. It is about your soft skills too, and I am pretty sure I improved them.

It will be fun if other parents will share their experiences and how better professionals they became during their maternity leave.