Asking for help
I felt I had to write in with regards to the editor’s letter from Claire in your Christmas 2019 issue. She talked about avoiding going to events after having children because she felt exposed. It struck a chord with me.
I recently had gone back to work after having my first child and was having trouble fitting back in. I wasn’t able to socialise with co-workers in the same way as I did before I had my son. My job hadn’t changed, but I felt disconnected.
What struck me most was Claire’s comment on the fear not being able to hide behind the safety of an email. I think this sums it up one of society’s problems: the destructive way in which we can hide behind social and digital communications instead of seeing people face-to-face. I hope that Claire’s comments made people feel that they are not alone in feeling this way.
I spoke with my co-workers about how I felt. What surprised me was that they had no idea, but they were supportive and we’ve worked out a few things to help me keep connected.
NP, via email
Claire replies NP, thank you for writing in. I’m glad you managed to speak with colleagues to work out a way forward. Most of us in work are striving to cope with our own workloads and home issues, so we may miss a chance to peel back the layers to see what’s underneath an issue with a fellow worker. It’s here in places just under the surface, that we’ll spot signs that someone feels left out or needs extra support.