‘Since I became a mother, I have become much better at my job’

Image: Getty Images

They’ve gotten better at asking good questions, saying no, or just enjoying their job more. These women have gotten better at their jobs since becoming mothers.

Tina (38), business journalist, mother of Florentine (9) and Valentijn (7).

“Asking good questions is one of the most important tasks of a journalist. Yet I was never that good at it. Too complicated, too well thought out, and at the same time not critical enough. Maybe I was also afraid to ask stupid questions.

Kids do that so much better! They ask what comes to their mind. And a simple question is often very difficult to answer. In addition, children are not easily put off. They always keep asking questions and thus lead to the best conversations. They are an inspiration in this area. Since becoming a mother, my interviews have gotten much better.”

Pure pleasure

Sanne (29), accountant, mother of Noud (3).

“I don’t know if I’ve gotten any better at my job, but I’m enjoying it more. The change of one day paw patrol and the other day sitting dead serious in the office garden is wonderful. A satisfied employee is a good employee, right?”

Imaginary Headphones

Marigje (34), management assistant, mother of Maas (4), David (2) and Evi (0).

“With three kids in diapers, my last maternity leave was pretty tough. What a noise. Towards the end of my leave I managed to ignore the chaos completely. Then I put my imaginary noise cancelingheadphones on and everything passed me by.

“Those imaginary headphones also work well in the office”

Back at the office I had to get used to my boss again. He is quite demanding and extremely critical. Before my leave, I was very concerned about that. If I got knocked over, I would have a knot in my stomach for the rest of the day and I could barely work. I no longer suffer from that. Because it turns out: those imaginary headphones also work well in the office. Carry on with your lament, I can’t hear it anyway.”

Time pressure

Willemijn (42), entrepreneur, mother of Sweder (9), Magnus (8) and Boyan (5).

“What did I used to do on a working day? Working, sure. But also: getting coffee countless times, having an extensive lunch, checking my socials once more, breaking out a bit on Monday morning and chatting with colleagues. Only the week before I went on vacation I really got a lot done. Time pressure isn’t it, then I suddenly go like a spear.

Since I have to be in the school yard at three o’clock, every day feels like that last day of work before the holidays. Man, I get a lot done these days. It’s a pity that I don’t get on the plane but I’m just folding the laundry.”

Also read – ‘I work and my husband is at home full-time, because he hates work’ >

So cozy

Suzanne (31), beautician, mother of Davey (0).

“Customer contact is very important to me. Now that I am a mother myself, my experience is much closer to that of my clients. Just about everyone in my treatment chair has children or grandchildren; that is the age that you visit a beautician more often. And women like to talk about their offspring.

Previously I also liked to listen to all those stories, but I didn’t have any input of my own. Now I have so many more topics to talk about. Not only does it make my work more enjoyable, it has made the relationship with my customers even better.”

Much more efficient

Laura (36), market researcher, mother of Sjoerd (5) and Olivier (3).

“What do I want to stay away from home for? Now that I have kids, that’s the question I ask myself before I start my workday. So you won’t see me lingering so soon, because then I would have been better off staying at home. I also quickly ignore activities that do not interest me or that have no priority.

“I’m more likely to ignore activities that don’t interest me”

The result is that I not only work more efficiently, but I also work much more often with things that I genuinely find fun and interesting. It may sound selfish, but it actually made me work better. What you like, you do well. For me that is absolutely true.”

Setting the example

Femke (39), communication advisor, mother of Floortje (10) and Lisette (8).

“With daughters you start thinking about gender inequality. I want to tell them that you can easily combine financial independence with good motherhood. Moreover, I like to radiate that it is fun to work. Sounds logical, but in a world where women take on most of the care tasks and still earn less than men, there is only one thing you can do: set an example yourself.”

This article appears in Kek Mama 08-2022.

With a subscription to Kek Mama you enjoy great benefits:

* Cheaper than in the store

*Read Kek Mama first every month

*Free shipping

Subscribe now and pay only €4.19 per edition.