1/ Polite request to colleagues for when I return from mat leave.

Avoid making us feel more guilty than we already do about vacating an unfilled post

The likelihood is your colleague is emotionally vulnerable & just as exhausted as you.

Say ‘are u ok?’ Instead

#everyoneICM https://twitter.com/rachaelmoses/status/1199396952129052672
2/ Most women end up doing two jobs (at least for a while) when they return

It’s exhausting.

When you’ve been largely responsible for family life for months, it’s hard to return to the balance you had before mat leave.

Striking that balance needs time. The adjustment is huge.
Maternal guilt.
Feeling inadequate in your clinical skills & judgement.
Sensing the weight of colleague angst about your absence.
Wondering if your peers view you as less dedicated because you need to prioritise family life.

Returning to work is a shaky business.
#everyoneICM
4/ We all know Critical care is rewarding but seriously hard work.

Often done by people who have high standards of both themselves and others.

Mums won’t need *another* stick to beat themselves with when returning to work.

Self flagellation is our specialist interest
5/ That doesn’t mean I’m not grateful that you worked harder during my maternity leave.

I’m grateful for all my #NHS colleagues

Most of them know I’ll happily reciprocate when they are in a challenging season of life.
You can follow @LJMottram.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: