As my mat leave comes to an end and a daycare spot has been secured my second job begins: the job hunt. Oh yea, even though I’ve been on mat leave, I’ve been working, working as a mom. Mommying and mat leave is no vacation. Not gunna lie, a few years back I was that person asking: what does a stay at home mom do all day? doesn't she get bored? doesn't her brain get tired of not doing anything? How wrong was I!! Being a mom is an all time consuming 24/7 job. No pay, no sick days, no vacay. Being a mom is by far the hardest and most stressful job on this earth. Kudos to all of us women who survive it.

Tired of hearing how taking a well deserved proper mat leave isn't necessary, such that there are still so many countries in this world that don't legally require one or if they do it's the shortest thing ever and in honor of all moms who are worried that their stay at home mom stint will set them back here’s a list of the skills we’ve gained by taking care of what will possibly be the most irrational, crazy, demanding, picky bosses we’ll ever have. Use them to sell your resume

• Multitasking
  • Kids require, or should I say demand, multiple things at once. The ability to prepare a meal, while calming a baby, and talking to the cable company over the phone shouldn’t be undermined. Being able to keep track of multiple activities at once and performing them well is no easy task. A skill that can easily carry over to multiple projects at work. Essentially being able to go back and forth between projects without losing focus and your line of thought is an invaluable skill.
• Efficiency
  • Never underestimate how time consuming a child can be, no matter how young or small. Moms quickly learn that in order to survive efficiency is key. Whether it means coming up with schedules, reorganizing the household, or dividing and conquering you can always trust a mom to find the least time consuming method to get things done. No need to explain how this skill transfers to the work place or how it benefits a company.
• Resourcefulness & Creativity
  • Do you know how quick kids get bored? Extremely quick. Moms develop the skill of resourcefulness through creativity. You can’t go out and buy toys every time the kid is bored, just like you can’t go out and pay for new software, technology, or outsource when you have an issue at work. A mom will automatically switch into creative mode and start looking for solutions with the resources already provided.
• Attention to detail
  • The devil is in the details. Gave your kid the wrong food? You might regret it later. Left out tiny objects? You might find yourself running to the ER. A mom’s brain rewires and adapts to pay attention to the tiniest of details. And not only for safety hazards or things having to do with kids. This skill transfers into all aspects of life, budgeting for the family, planning trips, even leaving the house requires detailed planning and that just becomes the brain’s default. Imagine how handy this skill will come if you have to sift through tons of data, plan an event, prepare a presentation.
• Working under pressure
  • This is a skill that can only be developed through practice and boy will you get practice, especially during that first year.
• Prioritizing
  • As a mom it doesn’t take long to start prioritizing it becomes second nature. When you see a list of to dos whether it’s in your head or written down, you automatically start weighing the importance of each item, the consequences of delaying one or the other, and ranking them based on how essential they are. Carry over to work, no explanation needed.
• Flexibility
  • You were planning on going out to dinner with the girls, but then baby got sick. You were going to go for a run, but baby decides to nap. You had a whole day of outdoor fun planned and then it rained. Life constantly throws curve balls at you when you have kids and that is something that one has to get used to. Understanding that things change and that one needs to accept, reflect, and adapt is fundamental to preserve one’s sanity. Another skill easily transferable to the work place, whether a project is going to be going in a different direction than planned, or that presentation will now happen on a different day, or personnel changes. Whatever comes your way you will have had enough practice under your belt to know how to handle change and adjust promptly.
• Communication
  • Kids ask questions, constantly! And you can’t always use technical terms and “big words” to answer, so you will become a pro at explaining even the most complicated concepts in very simple words. You will also improve your communication skills with others by practicing with your partner. Stay in touch, keeping each other updated, and making sure you’re both on the same page. These skills are just as important in a workplace where teams need to stay communicated and in sync.

I’ll be the first to admit, maybe in this past year I haven’t developed any new “technical “ skills, but those skills aren’t forgotten and I’m fairly certain I can pick right where I left off and catch up quick. Although many of these “soft” skills were already mentioned on my resume I do believe I now have taken them to a whole other level and have a lot more to offer in this realm. I can't imagine going back to work any sooner, juggling a newborn/infant, a job and life in general. I admire the millions of mommas out there who do so and I thank the Lord  or destiny for placing us in a country who values a mom's needs through out a childs first year. I don’t regret taking my full mat leave for one second and I hope whoever is hiring, knows that thanks to it, I’m stronger, better, and more qualified than ever.