This comment first appeared on the NaomiSimson.com blog post… Now everyone can add their own story … please add yours here… (and upload a picture).

We could talk forever about the topic but you’re right….a lot of attitudes, work practices and support fundamentally have to change.

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Julie wrote:

My husband is very supportive of my career and does his share of childcare himself but just struggles with the housework!

I wonder what corporation you are referring to in your article. If it is my employer we have a way to go. We still have some old mentality even though we have come a long way to support diversity practically. What we struggle to find is an example of a return to work executive mum who’s career improved upon her return. We have an action to actually survey the workforce to find out. The point is trying to find out if we are paying lip service to the diversity angle or really making it work. I returned to a job – not a role. Given tasks that did not fit my skills and little or no support. My restricted hours (8-4.30 and 4 days a week) were seen as the reason I was not provided opportunities despite having greater experience

I really do agree that although we have a change to undertake to be effective leaders of diverse teams – we need the change to happen within ourselves. It took 5 months since my return to the workforce as a mum to finally get a real job – where I am valued and was happily allowed to work 4 days, remotely as long as I could manage the workload. Negotiated a payrise with it! My boss talks about our kids and seems to relish the personal side of his role.

I don’t like spending so much time away from my son but I do need to earn money and if I’m going to worm I’m not going to spend my time unhappily just bringing home the bacon. Life is too short and too damn good.

Free childcare…..how amazing. I have to consider whether I can have a 2nd child from a purely financial front due to the cost of childcare. Just horrendous. The rebate is the ONLY benefit I can claim from the Govt as my earnings push me out of any tax relief. Amazing that so many talented women and men are forced to stay at home as they cannot afford the support otherwise.

My friend cannot rely on the long day care hours – 7.30am – 6pm as she works an hour from home and runs a division of a large corporation so cannot guarantee the traffic or last minute issues won’t have her knocking on the door of a closed child care centre. So she has hired a nanny for the small sum of $70k p.a. which is taken from her net salary! She is no millionaire but has no choice if she wants a house.

Ahhhhhh…..anyway things are looking up…gradually.

Julie