Because She can be exceptional after maternity break!

She looked a little anxious as she moved with her MacBook, a book and a pen to the recreation cum study hall of her society. She was regular there on weekends and in the evenings of weekdays when her spouse was back home from work to take care of their a year and a half old child.

On few days she would find Mrs. A studying in the same hall. Gradually, they started talking and Mrs. A told her that Mrs. A was brushing up her software skills as she was trying to join the workforce back after a gap of her first child.
She realized Mrs. A was in the process of attending interviews after a maternity gap and was glad to find someone in the same boat.

Past few months had been terrifically different for her as her entire world revolved around the child.
Taking care of a newborn had been the most challenging experience for her. Thankfully she had learnt quite a bit and was going through it in almost balanced way!
On many interviews that she attended, discussing her personal status of being married or not, a mom or not was generally not asked till the final stage.
However, it took a very renowned electrification and automation company to make her realize that being a mom might mean she would not be able to extend beyond-working hours! The male interviewer had asked her about a challenging situation at work in her previous organization and as expected it involved working extra hours and weekends. Interviewer was quick enough to put forth his opinion that she could work extra because she was not a mom then and would not be able to do that again! The outcome of the interview did not matter thereafter.

She was happy to finally join an organization know for inverting the pyramid of management by the motto "Employees first, Customers second" and known for providing flexibility. She was happy being a developer again. Surprisingly, she realized that coming back after a gap had caused no harm rather she had become more efficient at her work.
Joining work meant she had a battle to win everyday which is modernized today as "Work life balance". But her priority being clear as "Family/Child first" she could mend her work style that suited the child's routine. It ultimately turns out after an year when her performance appraisal is done that a little effort towards setting up a routined life not only helped her being a fairly good mom but also being a good employee.

This made her to think what really worked for her. It is not that she was any less before being a mom but a working mother is definitely different than a young office going girl.
She summarizes some of her learning from motherhood below:

• You can't start preparing milk for baby when she starts crying for it. You have to pre-plan according to the baby's routine. The same attitude reflected in her work too and enabled her to  become a better planner in most aspects of life. This is also called being proactive by many!
• You can't have two priorities of equal importance at the same time. When you are a house bound mom you just don't take care only of baby but also of house, family (spouse predominantly) and also of your interests. The activities have to be sequenced or when possible pipe lined or even multi tasked. At work it is often the case she had only become better at it than before.
• Having a positive mindset. To have a positive mindset probably is more of a habit that has to be regularly cultivated and grown rather than a one-time attitude. Motherhood definitely helps one to be patient with circumstances till the dawn arrives.
• When she took a break, reading books she always wanted to, unconsciously helped in shaping her towards the personality she always wanted to see in herself. Getting along well with the team you work for majority part of the day only helps to get you better.
• Performing Yoga. Motherhood is the best time to realize importance of being in harmony of body and mind. When a time is fixed for any non-work related activity, one tends to become more productive during working hours.
• Importance of time. The saying,  "Time and Tide waits for none" is having a much deeper meaning with motherhood. "Being in the present" is a powerful message that life either teaches you gradually or forces upon you.
• Having time for no nonsense activity. When you are a working mom you've so much on your plate that you can never be found sitting and contemplating things that have no importance to you or anyone of importance to you.
• Being a mom of a "She" you have to be careful of how you behave in your day to day life as your daughter would need a role model when she grows up.
• Getting up early. If one has to take one learning from her experience, it would be getting up early in the morning. Being a mom, she had to wake up early before baby wakes up in order to find time for herself.

She has realized that being a mom is not a one-time activity and she has no option but to get better with time. Life does not stop throwing challenges in the life of any "She" and its always good to remember nice experiences and its cause. This is probably the reason she has written this blog!