I’VE LOST MY CONFIDENCE BEING A MUM

Dear Coleen

I gave up my job three years ago after having my daughter. I loved being at home at first and was consumed with being a mum, but now I find I’m really missing work and the life I used to have.

My daughter now goes to nursery three full days every week, so I should be looking for work to fill that time, but something stops me.

I used to be very good at my job, but after three years out of the workplace I feel nervous about going back and worried about whether I’d be able to pick up where I left off. Any advice?

Coleen says Having a crisis of confidence after taking time out of work to be a fulltime mum is common. And it’s not easy to turn your focus away from your child and start thinking about yourself again.

But I’m sure the fear of stepping into an office for the first time in a while is worse than doing it. And I bet it wouldn’t take long for you to feel like you’d never been away!

As your confidence grows you’ll start to enjoy that side of your life again, even if it’s just for three days a week.

It’s always tricky to find the right balance between family and work life and you do have to make compromises, but you know your daughter is well looked after at nursery. And, if you’re a happy and fulfilled person, she’ll benefit from that, too.