Going on maternity leave is one of the most daunting and exciting stages of your pregnancy. You know that the end is near, your life is about to change forever, and you have months ahead of you to care for your little one. If you are passionate about your career, you must start taking steps to prepare your company for your departure and pave the way for your return. Of course, you may find that your plans change somewhere down the line, but it will still give you peace of mind when you know that you have made all the necessary preparations.
Achieving a work-life balance is the ultimate goal when you return to your job, which is something that more and more women intend to do. So, let’s look at some ways that you can prepare your company and yourself for your impending departure.
Inform Your Boss and Clients Though you will be very excited to tell your friends at work about your big news, it is also a good idea to inform your boss at the earliest possible opportunity—preferably before your bump starts showing! Speak to them in person at first, and then draft a maternity leave letter that outlines your intentions. Of course, these are just preliminary plans that may adapt and change over time. You will also want to inform your clients about your big news, preferably with plenty of time to spare, and when the plans about covering your absence are firmly in place. This way, you will be in the best position to explain how things will work while you are away.
Plan Your Leave Once you know the date that you will be going on maternity leave, you can start preparing for your departure. Make a list of all your tasks at the company and who will take them over. If it is a current team member, you can start getting them up to speed as soon as possible. If someone is going to be covering for you on a short-term basis, you can make a document that helps them to transition into the role.
Crunch the Numbers Making a detailed budget is always a good idea, no matter your financial situation, but it is essential if you are about to have a child. It may be quite challenging to calculate all your expenses in detail, but it is a good idea to make a rough estimate. You can then weigh this up against the amount of money that you receive from your maternity leave and any other sources of income. If you can also accumulate some savings, it is always a good idea to have a contingency plan in case your expenses turn out to be much higher than expected.
Plan Your Childcare Though this may seem like a very early time to start planning your childcare, you can never be overprepared. It is worth visiting different centres to look at their facilities and see how they operate on a day-to-day basis. You can also find out about their availability and how far in advance you need to apply. The other potential option is hiring a nanny, so it is worth considering the pros and cons of this approach. A nanny gives your child individual attention and care. You can also look up 3 month old milestones to see how your baby is likely to develop. On the other hand, a daycare centre allows them to interact with other kids. A big influencer in your decision will be the standard of care available in your local area, and how your and your partner’s jobs will fit around what is available.
Stay in the Loop at Work In most workplaces, things tend to change at a fairly rapid rate, and it is worth keeping track of what is going on—even if it is just the occasional update from a close work friend. Even better, if you have a colleague who is just returning from maternity leave, you can find out the inside scoop about how easy or challenging it has been. Of course, when your baby arrives, you will find your attention very much pulled in another direction. But if you are passionate about returning to work, it helps to stay up to date on what is going on. As the return-to-work date approaches, you could start coming in to meet with your boss to discuss how you will manage the transition phase together.
Create a Resources List The balancing act between your family and your job is so challenging to get right. So, to give you a helping hand at this early stage, you can start pulling together a list of people and resources who can help you in all eventualities. For example, someone who can clean the house, look after the dog, and take care of the baby in an emergency. You are entering a daunting new world, and you never know exactly which direction it will take you. Creating this list will help you feel better about the challenges ahead. You will probably find that organising your life becomes much more difficult when the baby arrives!
Wrap Up Any Outstanding Work In the last weeks and days before your maternity leave begins, you should be wrapping up any projects that are still ongoing. Since babies often arrive ahead of schedule, it is a good idea to address the top-priority items first in case your little bundle of joy decides to make an early appearance! One of your final tasks will be to draft an out-of-office email that explains who people should contact in your absence. You can help out whoever is monitoring your emails by unsubscribing from any newsletters or email lists. Keep a note of them, and you can subscribe again once you are back at work.
I think everyone you talk to says they need peace in this world. Whether it is civil unrest, political debates, or financial worries, people are afraid. If they do not have the Lord, they have nowhere to turn to. Breakpoint Colson Center said that Bible reading has declined by 61%, and only 22% American adults read the Bible outside of religious services. To have peace in our lives, we need the hope found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I recently had the opportunity to preview the new Peace of God Bible: Discover and Experience God’s Shalom Throughout The Bible, by Jeremiah Johnston, Ph.D. This amazing Bible, published by Thomas Nelson, is available in the New King James Version. The Bible I received is brown leather, red-letter comfort print, soft, aesthetically beautiful, and pliable in my hands, and it also comes in a variety of cover options.
Features – An introduction for each book of the Bible and how PEACE can be found in that book. – 365 devotionals based on a key verse or passage to guide you in how to receive and live by God’s peace. That is one for every day of the year. – 365 peace notes offering short, powerful insights to help you understand more deeply the wholeness you have in Christ. When we are short on time, this is an easy way to seek out peace for that day. – Topical indexes to help you study on your own how God’s peace can shape different relationships in your life. – Articles explore what the peace of God is, how to find or recover it, and how to experience eternal salvation because of what God has done for you – Concise concordance and index of features
There is a section called Peace Notes that gives great encouragement for peace inside.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”John 14:27 (NKJV)
The Peace of God Bible: Discover and Experience God’s Shalom Throughout The Bible invites you to experience peace with God as you trace this vital theme throughout Scripture. By meditating on it daily as you read 365 devotions and application notes, you will find the encouragement you need to live out of the wholeness you have in Christ and be equipped to share that peace with others.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)
Giveaway:
In conjunction with the release of this fantastic new resource, we are offering our readers an amazing giveaway. To enter, please leave us a comment and let us know in what area of your life you need to find more of God’s peace.
One comment will be selected at random, and that person will receive a copy of the Bible.
The giveaway runs through Saturday, November 8th at 11:59 pm (Central).
The winner must be a current subscriber to our blog and a US citizen. (Click HERE to subscribe.) They will be emailed on November 9th and will have 24 hours to confirm their mailing address. If no response has been received, a new winner will be selected until the mailing address is confirmed.
Disclosure: Many thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
CDC data suggests that over 50 million people experience chronic pain every year in the US. Physical pain can take its toll on your mental and emotional well-being, as well as making even the most basic everyday activities more challenging. If you’re dealing with pain, this guide contains proactive tips to help you cope.
Seek medical advice The first thing to do if you experience long-term pain or symptoms that are getting worse is to seek medical advice. Whether you’re recovering from an accident or injury, or you’ve had pain for months with no obvious cause, it’s wise to get checked out. Sometimes, it’s not possible to pinpoint an underlying cause, but often, it’s possible to diagnose and cure health conditions or utilize treatments to manage symptoms. The healthcare professionals you see will depend on the severity of your condition, your symptoms, your health status, and your treatment preferences. You may be advised to wait and see if your symptoms improve or try physical therapy, or you may be referred for specialist treatment, such as a surgical procedure.
Explore pain relief solutions There are multiple treatments, therapies, and solutions you can try to alleviate or eliminate pain. It’s important to understand that everyone is different, and certain measures or methods recommended by others may not work for you. You may need to try a range of products or therapies to find something that is effective. In recent years, pain support with CBD & THC has become more common. CBD is generally recommended for helping people feel more relaxed and easing acute symptoms of discomfort, while THC can be beneficial for chronic pain. Ice and heat therapy, massage, and targeted exercises can also reduce pain. It’s beneficial to seek advice from your doctor or a professional, such as a physical therapist, before trying new treatments or supplements.
Try distraction techniques We often experience heightened symptoms of pain when we stop. It’s common to be more mindful of pain when you try to get to sleep or you sit and rest after work. Distraction techniques take your mind off the symptoms you’re experiencing, providing a new focal point. You may decide to call a friend, watch TV, listen to music, go for a gentle walk, spend time outside, do a puzzle, or play online games, for example. Some hobbies or activities may be more effective than others. Figure out what works for you and try to keep busy without giving yourself too much to do or think about.
Developing coping mechanisms If you live with chronic pain, you will probably endure good and bad days. When your pain intensifies, it’s helpful to use coping mechanisms to help you manage. You can try self-help techniques or explore therapies, such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). Examples include exercise, meditation, being in nature, and talking to a therapist, friend, family member, or partner.
Millions of people experience chronic pain every year. In many cases, there are no quick fixes, but there are steps you can take to try to manage symptoms and protect your mental health. Examples include seeking medical advice, exploring pain relief solutions, trying distraction techniques, and employing coping mechanisms.
If you haven’t seen the exhibition Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, make sure to visit before it closes, especially if you live nearby in New York.
This groundbreaking exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City details how Dandyism is contained within black fashion. A Dandy is someone who “studies above everything else to dress elegantly and fashionably.” According to The Met, the exhibition is organized into twelve sections that build a specific, but not definitive, vocabulary of Black dandyism inspired by writer Zora Neal Hurston in her 1934 essay “Characteristics of Negro Expression.”
The 2025 Met Gala, as a prelude to the exhibition’s opening, featured Dandyism as its theme for the annual fundraiser. The gala inspired me to create my own dandyism style.
We are showing you some of the exhibition highlights.
This exquisite jockey jacket looks to be screenprinted; however, each strip of fabric is hand-sewn. It can be found in the Champions Section. The level of detail needed to create this flawless jacket is fantastic.
Monica L. Miller served as the guest curator for the exhibition. She is the chair of African Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University. She gives her overview of the exhibit in the video below. She also wrote the groundbreaking book “Slaves to Fashion”.
Beauty Section
In the Beauty section, you will see Prince’s ruffled shirt featured on display.
I laid out above eight pounds of my money for a suit of superfine clothes to dance with at my freedom.
Olaudah Equiano, 1789
The great quote by Olaudah Equiano, which states freedom and liberation, is the inspiration for the exhibition’s title.Equiano’s autobiography is featured in the exhibtion and is shown above.
In the disguise section of the exhibition, the fantastic story of William and Ellen Craft, who wrote a book about their run for freedom, which is highlighted in the exhibition, see below.
Respectability, gallery view
Another favorite was the feature in the Respectability section of Frederick Douglass’s topcoat, hat, sunglasses, and pocketwatch. His attire represented being a free man, and he knew just how important time was to him.
I thought this image was so good because it features men of African ancestry tailoring and crafting bespoke garments.
Tailor boys at work 1899-1900. Platinum print. 7 1/2 × 9 7/16″ (19.1 × 24 cm). Gift of Lincoln Kirstein.
We learned so much in this exhibit that you keep wanting to know more. I bought the book, Slaves to Fashion, from Amazon. To purchase the book by Metropolitan Museum of Art book on the exhibition, you can click this link: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style
Many thanks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, for providing the team with the images from the exhibition in order to write this post.
If you need inspiration to pursue your dreams, I have just read a book that I know will help. This book will get you on your path to success in life and in your business.
“I hope you enjoy the journey within these pages.” Ron Rubin
I want to share some background on Rubin’s remarkable achievements.
In 1971, Rubin dreamed of owning a winery while studying viticulture and enology at the University of California at Davi . Forty years later, in 2011, that dream came true when he purchased the River Road Family Vineyards and Winery located in the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley, Sonoma County.
Rubin begabegan n his beverage career in 1972 with his family’s business, Central Wholesale Liquor Co. in Mount Vernon, Illinois, where he remained for the nex22 yearsrs.
In 1994, Ron purchased The Republic of Tea, a specialty tea business in Marin County, California, which his son, Todd, currently leads.
In 2017, Ron funded The Maynard Amerine Wine Label and Menu Collection at U.C. Davis by providing the seed funding to create a searchable online database, making the collection usable around the world. He also began the TRAINED FOR “SAVING LIVES” program in collaboration with the American Red Cross and ZOLL Medical Corporatio. River Road Family Vineyards and Winery is covering the cost of one ZOLL AED PLUS (Automated External Defibrillator) unit. To date, 450 United States wineries have joined this program, resulting in over 2,000 newly trained staff members in CPR, AED, and First Aid.
What touched me about this book is that he always prioritized his family over his busines. Rubin gives you a step-by-step process of how he achieved success in life, valuing every step of the way.
“The deepest satisfaction you will find will come from your family, from your spouses and children, from those who shared their love and supported your dreams.” Ron Rubin
The book is an easy read, and the chapters are very short.
Order your hardcopy of an actual success book of wisdo . This book should be a required read for every university business class. Gold in Your Backyard Book
GIVEAWAY
In conjunction with the release of Rubin’s book, we are offering our readers a chance to win an assortment of Republic of Tea products.
Leave us a comment below, letting us know what your favorite flavor of tea is. One winner will be selected at random and recieve this gift set.
The winner must be a current subscriber of our blog (click HERE to subscribe), must be a US resident and must submit their full mailing address. The giveaway runs through October 26th at 11:59pm CT). The winner will be selected on October 27th and will notified via email to submit their mailing address. They will have 24 hours to reply. If they do not respond in that timeframe, a new winner will be selected and the process will repeat until the mailing address has been confimred.
Learn More About JT Bubbling with Elegance and Grace is a place for life long learners. The Bubbling With Elegance And Grace team was created 14 years ago. A passion for fashion sparked a lifestyle blog for our Elegant Community to enjoy. We are thankful and in gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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