Coming back after maternity leave – nervous but excited!
Hey community,
I took 2 years off after giving birth and coming back to joining a startup has been… exciting, but also pretty intimidating. Things move fast. Tools, trends, expectations, everything feels like it kept running while I was away. Has anyone here started (or joined) a startup after a career break? What was that transition like for you?
And if you’re comfortable sharing: What would you tell your past self who was just coming back?
I know Product Hunt is very maker-driven and growth-focused, but I also feel like a lot of us are navigating life changes alongside building products, and we don’t really talk about that part as much.
Would really appreciate hearing your stories, whether you’re a founder, early employee, or indie maker or a struggling parent trying to juggle work and life.
Replies
@june_son, Welcome to Product Hunt!
I have to admit, your post moved me.
I am a full-time writer, so I hope u won't mind me writing a deeper response to your post.
Joining a startup has been intimidating since time immemorial. The whole ecosystem changes pretty quick and I understand how you must have felt returning after 2 years.
Not speaking for myself, but my manager did find it difficult to manage work post her maternity break. She always used to tell me how the whole year zapped the energy out of her and how her newborn continues to do so. She often felt unsupported at work and nobody really offered her any emotional support. I was out of her team back then, so I wasn't even aware of her dilemmas and her subsequent exit from the company.
Now if I were to tell my story, I have often started from scratch and that too when I was at my rockbottom. To answer your question: I would tell my past self to give zero hoots about his feelings and emotions, and focus on his actions and take it one day at a time. No need for him to shoulder the weight of the entire mountain.
Overall, I would say it's okay to have a chain of good days and bad days at work (including personal life). More often than not, it won't be under your control. Post-break, be absolutely okay if people tend to change around you, and you will adapt pretty quickly. It's a good time to focus on what makes you happy, what purpose you carry (Ikigai), and what impact you wish to make.
Take care.