“I didn’t know what to expect”: Mum praised for her brutal honesty about maternity leave

Maternity leave is a far cry from a holiday.

One mum's post about maternity leave has seriously hit the nail on the head. The new mum stressed that it is so wrong to say maternity leave is a break. Far too many people believe it's a bliss-free few months where we go for lunches and strolls in the park. What they don't see are the sleepless nights, the tears, the sore nipples, C-section cuts healing, the topsy turvy house and the mountain of dishes and bottles in the sink. "Maternity leave is not a holiday. Maybe someone thinks it is, but this couldn’t be more distant from the truth. "I admit that before having a baby I didn’t know what to expect," she said. "I even thought “I can use this time off work to read more books, do some Mindvalley programs I have on my list”. "My experience is that it is a full-time job. Actually more, considering that is 24/7. Day shifts and night shifts, one after the other." She explained that being on maternity leave has opened her eyes so much. "I doubled, tripled my respect for all mothers." The mum stressed that it is so unfair when people dismiss motherhood as a job because it is. She said that the work, commitment, and time put into every single day of motherhood deserves more respect. It isn't an easy way out or a long-term break from the career world. For some mums, it's the toughest and most exhausting role they'll ever have. She stressed, "Being a parent is a job." "It is a beautiful one but let’s admit it, it is also a demanding one," the mum acknowledged. Preach it!